An Olson Kundig–Designed Neighborhood Is Taking Over an Old Lumberyard in Sonoma County
Now under construction, the Mill District is slated to bring new residences, affordable housing, a boutique hotel, and public green space to Healdsburg, California.
Now under construction, the Mill District is slated to bring new residences, affordable housing, a boutique hotel, and public green space to Healdsburg, California.
Located at the epicenter of four major wine-producing regions—the Russian River Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Chalk Hill, and Alexander Valley—the town of Healdsburg, California, has long been a favorite getaway for city dwellers looking for a diverse wine list and the serenity of the Sonoma Valley.
Former World Tour pro cyclist Ted King (left) leads a group ride from the Mill District Velo Club. The cyclists are among the few who've had the chance to peek behind the gates of The Mill District, still under construction, thanks to pop-up events in the old lumberyard.
Photo by Bryson Malone
But on a sunny Friday afternoon last May, a long line of cyclists pedaled through the outskirts of town, eschewing Healdsburg's historic downtown plaza for a grittier destination: a retired industrial site. One by one, the riders disappeared through an unmarked door at the back of an old kiln building, snaking past enormous fans to emerge in what will soon be Healdsburg’s newest—and perhaps most attractive—neighborhood: the Mill District.
Cyclists return from a ride with the Mill District Velo Club in Healdsburg, California. The club officially launched in 2018, and this spring it hosted 17 events in five weeks, drawing 350 people in to ride Sonoma County's scenic roads, drink wine, eat food—and consider investing in the future of Healdsburg.
Photo by Bryson Malone
The site doesn’t look like much from the outside. Its post-industrial vibe is authentic, not contrived, and you can almost feel the grit of sawdust in your teeth from its 170-year history as a lumberyard. For decades, the 10-acre plot had a Willy Wonka-esque aura; despite being less than a quarter-mile from downtown Healdsburg, very few people knew what went on behind its gates. But when lumber company Nu Forest Products quietly announced its intention to relocate to a larger site in 2015, Vancouver-based developer Replay Destinations snapped up the entire parcel, seeing the vast potential despite the machinery sheds and heavy equipment that dominated the space.
A historical view of what is now the Mill District when it was a fully operational lumberyard.
Courtesy of Mill District
See the full story on Dwell.com: An Olson Kundig–Designed Neighborhood Is Taking Over an Old Lumberyard in Sonoma County
