In the wake of the “California Forever” initiative, a new group predominantly made up of tech professionals is eyeing the creation of a utopia in Cloverdale, a small town in Sonoma County. Following the pause in development for “California Forever” led by Bay Area billionaires, this new project titled “Esmeralda” aims to establish a dream community in the region’s wine country.
According to a report from the San Francisco Chronicle, the Esmeralda development is proposed for the southeastern part of Cloverdale, covering 267 acres adjacent to Highway 101. The vision of the developers is to create a tech utopia inspired by Italian architecture. Although the project is still in its conceptual phase, it has already sparked significant interest.
Devon Zuegel, the founder of the Esmeralda development group, recently shared a series of videos and renderings on social media platform X, illustrating the concept behind Esmeralda. Zuegel, a software engineer and entrepreneur who graduated from Stanford University, previously served as editor-in-chief of the Stanford Review, an independent publication founded by venture capitalist Peter Thiel.
On X, Zuegel expressed, “If you dream of living in a small town with many creative and determined individuals, we are building that dream home for you.”
The Chronicle reports that Esmeralda represents yet another attempt by Silicon Valley tech professionals to establish a new community on vast agricultural lands in the Bay Area, targeting those who wish to escape the hustle and bustle of urban life while still enjoying metropolitan amenities.
For decades, Cloverdale officials have encouraged development on the land that Zuegel’s team intends to purchase. This property previously housed an old lumber mill, and several developers have approached the city with ideas for resorts and golf courses, all of which have ultimately failed. City Manager David Kelley noted that Esmeralda Land Co. is currently conducting due diligence prior to the land purchase.
The Chronicle indicates that the envisioned community of Esmeralda is somewhat reminiscent of “California Forever.” However, unlike the latter, which conducted secret land acquisitions in Solano County before unveiling its concept—leading to rumors and distrust—the Cloverdale community has so far shown support for Esmeralda. Neena Hanchett, the executive director of the local chamber of commerce, expressed her enthusiasm for the developers, noting that Cloverdale has long been seen as a “backwater town at the end of a dirt road.”
However, critics argue that Esmeralda’s vision of creating an affluent community centered around luxury hotels could threaten Cloverdale, the last bastion of affordable housing in Sonoma County.
With a population of just under 10,000, Cloverdale’s residents are predominantly middle and working-class. Nancy Reyes, a cleaning worker in the area, commented, “It sounds like they want to make this place like Healdsburg, which doesn’t seem suitable for people like me.”
Previously, the Mercury News reported on a July report criticizing the billionaires-backed plan for a utopian city being constructed from scratch near Fairfield, known as “California Forever.” Shortly after, the company behind the project canceled a referendum proposal originally slated for voters in the county this November.
