Devon Zuegel, a Stanford graduate and software engineer, envisioned building Esmeralda, a walkable and bikeable community in Cloverdale, California, after being inspired by her childhood visits to Chautauqua, New York. During the pandemic, Zuegel realized the need for a place that fosters connections among residents. Esmeralda's development will be incremental, allowing future members to collaboratively shape the town. This initiative reflects a broader trend among millennials seeking more intentional living experiences, reminiscent of America's history of organic, community-driven developments.
"Why aren't there more places like this?" That moment is "burned into my retinas," Zuegel told Business Insider, capturing her vision for community living.
The goal, Zuegel told BI, is to build a primarily walkable and bikeable town within the city of Cloverdale, revitalizing an existing community rather than building one from scratch.
Esmeralda speaks to a larger trend of millennials seeking more variety in where they live, whether they're leaving larger cities - or building their own.
America has a long history of intentional communities, where like-minded individuals band together, believing they've cracked the code for a better life.
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