Inspiration
When it comes to creating communities, we know the little things
are actually the big things.
There is no simple formula for creating a thriving, mixed-use community. But Costa Pacific Communities, an Oregon-based development company, proved to be more than equal to the task with the creation of Orenco Station. Awarded "America's Community of the Year" in 1999, Orenco Station immediately garnered Costa Pacific Communities national attention, and is still considered a shining example of transit-oriented, mixed-use development. Building on the experience of Orenco Station's unprecedented success, Costa Pacific laid the foundation for three key philosophies that have driven the creation of Villebois: Connectivity, Sustainability, and Diversity.
In Villebois, these three core values form a community that is far more than a place to live. It is a place that can actually change how you live.
Connected. Sustainable. Diverse. Read More>>
Connected. When you walk, you connect with the world around you on a much deeper level. That is why all three of the neighborhoods in Villebois have been designed with walking —and connectivity—in mind. Imagine miles of uninterrupted sidewalk, bike lanes, terminating vistas, 160 acres of parks and open space, and a noticeable lack of cul-de-sacs. All these elements make it much easier to connect to each neighborhood, the abundance of natural areas, and of course, the people who live around you. Our Village Center, complete with parks, live music, retail services, loft-style living, and the vibrant Piazza Villebois, makes it easy to run errands — and meet up with friends— without ever getting in your car, expanding their community from direct neighbors to those who live around the corner and down the street. And while we may never want to leave Villebois, sometimes the real world calls. So with close proximity to Portland, Salem, and other major cities via I-5 and commuter rail, it's easy to connect with everywhere else.
Sustainable. You'll be glad to know we started the development process in Villebois with sustainability in mind. We recycled over 90% of the materials from old, on-site buildings. We were careful to preserve existing trees and incorporate native plants into our landscaping. And thanks to an EPA Grant for rainwater management, we were able to incorporate permeable pavers, permeable asphalt, retention ponds, rooftop gardens, and state-of-the-art bioretention cells in planter beds.
The same commitments to sustainability and the responsible use of natural resources you'll find throughout the land planning is also evident in the homes. Eco-friendly building techniques and energy-efficient appliances help lower your utility bills, and also help protect our natural environment. And, in order to become economically sustainable, Villebois will offer a diverse variety of charming, locally owned shops and restaurants—perfect for our equally diverse residents who have come to Villebois to escape big box developments and strip malls.
There is another part of sustainability, and that is the social factor. In order for a community to thrive people must interact, meet, and greet new acquaintances and old friends at the local coffee shops, parks, and plazas. For a community to have a local character and endure, people must know their neighbors and feel a sense of place where they live so they take pride in their neighborhoods. While this social factor is not something that can be built, the master planning helps give it the opportunity to surface.
So what, exactly, does all this mean for you? It means we're committed to keeping Villebois—and the earth—beautiful for you to enjoy today, and for the generations to come. It means the value of your home will grow along with the community. And it means you can enjoy the environment, and protect it at the same time.
Diverse. To begin with, we've brought together Oregon's best builders to offer a wide range of land uses, home styles, and prices, including single-family homes, townhomes, row homes/condominiums, and mixed-use living, as well as loft-style living right above Piazza Villebois. Even the transportation options at Villebois are diverse: from walking, to biking, to bus services, to commuter rail, how you travel is up to you.
But it doesn't stop there. We also seek to promote a heterogeneous mix of land uses. We incorporate private and public spaces. Within the public spaces, some are actively used like the playgrounds and retail areas, while others have passive uses, as open spaces to look at or for an occasional game of catch. The private spaces are used for housing, office, and retail.
We have found that when people interact with their community in parks, local businesses, or from porch to sidewalk, they are happier. Further, people are out and about, they know their neighbors, and they start to know who belongs and who doesn't, thus the communities become a lot safer.
Now that you've read about the guiding principles that helped create Villebois, register to learn even more about this incredible new community. Of course, no matter how much you read, you won't be able to fully experience what makes Villebois such a special place to live until you pull on some comfy shoes and experience a walk through the neighborhoods for yourself.
