Overview

. . . . Concept View of Trillium Creek Neighborhood Looking Southwest . . . . .
(Buildings shown are close to where custom homes designed by new owners will be located)

Our vision is a multi-generational community of neighbors who share a commitment to developing a model of energy and materials sustainability and to protection of the surrounding redwood environment. Additionally, we wish to attract neighbors who live their lives in creative, “alive” ways, such as raising children who will contribute to our world; facilitating growth and learning in others; inventing solutions; sharing their personal energy to contribute to the Trillium Creek community; or…something completely different!

We are creating the space for this community on a 3-acre portion of a 24-acre parcel of third growth redwood forested hillside near the Arcata Community Forest and Humboldt State University. Eight home sites and an access road will be developed within this 3-acre portion, while the remainder of the 24 acres will be retained as natural area and most of that protected as watershed and forest preserve.

Many Cohousing elements have been integrated into Trillium Creek. Essential to the vision are shared community spaces, including a neighborhood common building, a shared outdoor area, trails, and quiet, park-like relaxation and meditation spots. Lay-out will be pedestrian-centered, with trails connecting homes to common spaces, keeping cars on the periphery of the cluster of homes.

The Neighborhood Common Building will be available for Trillium Creek community gatherings including optional shared dinners, movies, dances, yoga, various classes and childcare. The building will house a kitchen, weight machines, sauna, and a dance/workshop space. Fitness and life skills are important values that will be supported by programs held at the common building. The common building will be inclusive of the broader community around Trillium Creek; many of the programs and gatherings will be open to neighbors who live in the surrounding community.

A Homeowners Association will be formed to administer common building, common properties, and conservation preserve; maintain the roadway and common landscaping; enforce the CC&Rs; and manage all other common concerns associated with the development.

Affordability is a primary guiding principle. It is our intention to keep costs as reasonable as possible for new Trillium Creek residents. One of the ways that we can do this is to facilitate the purchase of home sites by partnerships of individuals, couples or families. Also lot owners may choose to design and build together for cost savings. Some of the green building practices we are exploring may actually be less expensive, as well as more energy and materials efficient than conventional designs. We have embarked on this project to create the community in which we want to live; not to make a profit.

Environmental stewardship is vital to us. Home sites will be clustered on approximately 3 acres of the overall 24 acres, with 15 acres in a permanent conservation easement and the remaining forested land modified only to the extent necessary for safety and solar access. The preserve includes two beautiful creeks and hillside forest made up of redwood, fir, spruce, alder and maple. One of the streams was partially covered over by logging that occurred approximately 60 years ago. Restoration of this creek is part of the Trillium Creek project. Trails constructed with environmental preservation in mind will allow residents to enjoy this beautiful, quiet place.

Standard green building practices will be required on all buildings including limits on home size to 2,000 square feet, material and energy conservation, placement of windows for solar gain, use of thermal mass, solar electricity and solar water heating. Homes will be sited and spaced to make the most of passive solar design, considering the angles of sun at all times of the year.

In addition we are developing and making available new strategies to make the homes even more efficient, including: site-built thermal glazing; multilayered, built-in, roll-up thermal shades; compost digestion bins; and north wall passive assist cooled pantries and refrigerators. One of the most exciting developments is site-built concrete and recycled Styrofoam “sandwich” walls that minimize the use of lumber and maximize recycling and insulation qualities. In addition to energy and resource saving benefits, the exterior concrete layer of the wall can be designed to look like wood or stone, will last much longer than wood, and will require minimal upkeep.

An innovative road design for access to the homes will create less runoff and will be more attractive than a typical paved roadway. We will use “open space paving” with alternating tracks of reinforced, patterned concrete divided by compacted gravel, planted with a low-growing ground cover. Impervious surfaces will be minimized and rain falling on impervious surfaces will be returned to the ground as close as possible to where it would have fallen otherwise.

All in all, it’s going to be a wonderful place to live! We’re excited about this project, and welcome your inquiries. We’re especially looking for new neighbors who might like to join us. Fill out our survey and contact us: roger or peggy@trilliumcreek.org.