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What’s happening

News & events.

Coverage of the project, upcoming gatherings, progress reports, and longer reads on how Petaluma goes from vacant to vibrant.

125A Petaluma Blvd exterior with Sapo Coffee under construction Blog posts The Vacancy Project Update October 2026 The Vacancy Project continues to gain traction in Petaluma with new subscribers signing up every week. It’s been great to see and a little overwhelming. Residents… October 21, 2026 Streetscape graphic Blog posts Petaluma is rewriting its zoning code. We need clearer rules. We need clearer rules, fewer discretionary permits, and a better path for bringing vacant properties back to life. Petaluma is overhauling its zoning ordinance. The Planning… September 28, 2026 La Via empty retail space on Petaluma Blvd North Blog posts Retail Is the Heart of Downtown—But Only If We Get It Right By The Vacancy Project, an initiative of Petaluma Urban Chat Downtown is the economic and cultural heart of our community. Its historic buildings, walkable streets, restaurants,… July 30, 2026 Haystack property as seen from Copeland. Blog posts Vacant by design? Why change takes intention Why does redevelopment in Petaluma move so slowly? In this provocative post for Renaissance Petaluma, Stuart Sutton (Associate Professor Emeritus, University of Washington) details the high-friction… July 21, 2026 Historic photo of the Petaluma train depot, with a text overlay. Blog posts Take a deep dive into the history of vacancies in Petaluma The Vacancy Project’s map highlights vacancies in Petaluma’s urban core within a half-mile radius of the intersections or Petaluma Blvd North and Washington Street. Many parcels… May 5, 2026