On June 23, 2026, the Thousand Oaks City Council voted 5 to 0 to approve first phase entitlements for the Downtown Thousand Oaks Project, a mixed use district on roughly 17 city controlled acres at the Civic Arts Plaza with 240 apartments, a boutique hotel reported at 142 rooms, shops, restaurants, a park and an amphitheater. A resident referendum effort and a court challenge followed in July 2026, and the city has said construction is still years away even with approvals in hand.
Key Takeaways
- The Thousand Oaks City Council voted 5 to 0 on June 23, 2026, to approve first phase entitlements for the Downtown Thousand Oaks Project near the Civic Arts Plaza.
- The approved plan covers about 17 city controlled acres and includes 240 apartments in buildings up to seven stories plus a boutique hotel reported at 142 rooms and six stories.
- The council redesignated 5.33 acres from institutional to mixed use and amended the Civic Arts Plaza Specific Plan, separate from the older Thousand Oaks Boulevard Specific Plan.
- The Planning Commission had recommended approval 4 to 1 on May 18, 2026, before residents launched a referendum campaign and court challenge in July 2026.
- City officials say construction remains years away even though the project cleared environmental review and council approval in June 2026.
The downtown Thousand Oaks plan cleared its biggest hurdle in June 2026, when the City Council voted unanimously, 5 to 0, after a meeting that ran from 6 p.m. until past 1 a.m. For anyone who owns or is shopping for a home in Thousand Oaks, the practical question is simple: what exactly is coming to the Civic Arts Plaza area, when, and how settled is it? Here is what the city has approved, what is still in dispute, and how to think about it as a homeowner or buyer.
What did the Thousand Oaks City Council approve on June 23, 2026?
The council took four actions in one vote. It certified the Final Environmental Impact Report, approved a General Plan Amendment that redesignates 5.33 acres near the Civic Arts Plaza from institutional to mixed use, amended the Civic Arts Plaza Specific Plan (SP No. 11) to create a downtown area within it, and approved first phase entitlements for the Downtown Thousand Oaks Project, known as DTTO. The city's official project page describes the goal as housing, walkable shops and restaurants, a boutique hotel and arts facilities in one connected destination spanning the existing Civic Arts Plaza and the vacant westside property across Dallas Drive.
One detail matters for the "thousand oaks boulevard specific plan" searches we see: DTTO amends the Civic Arts Plaza Specific Plan, which is a separate document from the older Thousand Oaks Boulevard Specific Plan listed on the city's Specific Plans page. The two should not be confused. The project also includes partial reconstruction of the existing City Hall and a park plaza, per the city's environmental review page.
| Item | Approved or proposed figure |
|---|---|
| Site under city control | About 17 acres next to the Civic Arts Plaza |
| Acreage redesignated to mixed use | 5.33 acres |
| Apartments | 240 units in buildings up to seven stories |
| Hotel | Reported at 142 rooms, six stories, rooftop public space |
| Public amenities | Park, playground, amphitheater, splash pad, tree decks |
| Planning Commission vote | 4 to 1 on May 18, 2026 |
| City Council vote | 5 to 0 on June 23, 2026 |
What will be built in the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza area?
The residential program is 240 apartments in buildings up to seven stories. The hotel is a boutique property reported at 142 rooms, planned at six stories with a rooftop designed as active public space, according to Planning Division Manager Krystin Rice. Earlier proposals placed the hotel on a new street running parallel to and between Thousand Oaks Boulevard and Highway 101 on the west side of City Hall, with a mixed use residential building across from it. Phase 1 pairs those two buildings with a public park, playground, amphitheater, splash pad and tree decks, and Phase 2 concentrates on gathering space: amphitheater, children's play areas and green space.
Downtown Thousand Oaks Project: Reported Residential and Hotel Counts
Source: Reported figures from the June 2026 DTTO entitlement approvals
Why a hotel? Testimony at the hearings cited local occupancy around 68.4 percent, above a statewide average of 67.25 percent, with the Conejo Valley commanding the region's highest average daily rate at more than $162 per night. One speaker argued that high occupancy plus climbing rates points to a supply shortage, noting the city had not added a hotel in a long time. Nearby, a new Erewhon grocery store was set to open at The Lakes around mid 2026, which we covered in our look at what the new tenant means for the center.
How did the downtown Thousand Oaks plan get here, and is it final?
The council made downtown a formal priority in 2017 and adopted the Downtown Core Master Plan in 2018, covering a larger planning area along Thousand Oaks Boulevard. Deputy City Manager Akbar Alikhan has framed the 17 acres as "the nucleus of a downtown" that could spread east and west along the boulevard, and he has pointed out that Thousand Oaks lacks a true downtown district compared with Ojai, Fillmore and Ventura. Because the city owns the land, the city itself is the applicant. The site has history: before 1969 it was Jungleland USA, and today it holds City Hall at 2100 E Thousand Oaks Blvd, the Bank of America Performing Arts Center and The Lakes shopping center.
It is not final. The Planning Commission recommended approval 4 to 1 on May 18, 2026, with Commissioner Mic Farris dissenting, after roughly 40 residents spoke. Opponents raised traffic and evacuation capacity, and the EIR itself identified unavoidable impacts to air quality and transportation. The city contends the project is exempt from a public vote requirement because it is necessary for a viable use of publicly owned surplus land. Residents launched a referendum campaign in July 2026, and the dispute moved to court, where a filing deadline became the central issue, as the Thousand Oaks Acorn reported. Resident Jessica Resendiz summed up the opposition: "Growth should complement Thousand Oaks, not overpower it." Resident Andrew Ceco framed the other side, describing the housing as being for people who grew up here and cannot afford to stay near family.
What does the downtown Thousand Oaks development mean for homeowners and buyers?
Timing. Even with approvals, the city described building as still years away. The next step is issuing requests for qualifications and requests for proposals to identify a partner developer for the mixed use portion. The council's approval was covered in detail by the VC Reporter. Nobody should buy or sell on the assumption of a specific completion date.
Housing supply. 240 apartments is a meaningful addition of rental housing. For renters and young professionals weighing Thousand Oaks against LA, a walkable district with a hotel rooftop, restaurants and an amphitheater changes the lifestyle math. It does not change the fundamentals of single family neighborhoods across the city, which still trade on lot size, schools and condition. Our breakdown of Thousand Oaks neighborhoods by price shows how wide that spread is.
Sellers near the Civic Arts Plaza. Buyers are already asking about the project. If you are preparing to list, know the facts above cold, because a vague answer about "that big development" costs you credibility. Our guide to selling in Thousand Oaks in 2026 covers how to position a home when the neighborhood story is still being written. Owners who want to understand their own assessed value can start with the Ventura County Assessor.
Buyers relocating from Los Angeles. A true downtown has been the one thing Thousand Oaks could not offer. If that was holding you back, the plan is worth watching, and first time buyers making the jump from LA apartments now have a reason to look at the central corridor they used to skip.
Hotel Occupancy Cited at the DTTO Hearings
Source: Public testimony at Thousand Oaks downtown hotel hearings, as reported by the Thousand Oaks Acorn
Frequently Asked Questions About the Downtown Thousand Oaks Plan
Where exactly is the downtown Thousand Oaks development?
On the roughly 17 acres the city controls at the Civic Arts Plaza, anchored by City Hall at 2100 E Thousand Oaks Blvd, plus the vacant westside property across Dallas Drive, between Thousand Oaks Boulevard and Highway 101.
Has construction on the downtown Thousand Oaks project started?
The city has approved entitlements and is moving to select a partner developer through a requests for qualifications and proposals process. City officials have said building remains years away, and a referendum effort and court challenge filed in July 2026 add further uncertainty to the schedule.
How tall will the buildings in downtown Thousand Oaks be?
The approved plan allows buildings up to seven stories on part of the site. The hotel is planned at six stories with a rooftop designed as public space, and the residential buildings hold 240 apartments.
How can I look up the official project documents?
Visit toaks.gov/downtown. The entitlement applications are EIR/CEQA 2025-70002, General Plan Amendment 2025-70001, Specific Plan Amendment 2025-70001, Tentative Tract Map 2025-70003, Development Permit 2025-70015, Protected Tree Permit 2025-70093 and Special Use Permit 2025-70022. The staff contact is Justine Kendall, Senior Planner, at (805) 449-2355.
Thinking About Buying or Selling in Thousand Oaks?
Davis Bartels and the DB Real Estate Group have served families across the Conejo Valley and Ventura County since 2009, with 500+ closed transactions and more than $500 million in career sales volume, including a career-best 99 closings and $103M+ in 2025. Whether you're exploring your options or ready to make a move, reach out for a no pressure conversation about your goals.
Contact Davis: davisbartels.com or (805) 341-6125
