KCRA, The farm on the site of The Cannery in Davis, California

Taking the idea of farm-to-table to the next level

Although the definition of “agrihoods” is evolving, the Urban Land Institute currently defines them as “master planned or residential communities built with a working farm as a focus.”
Agrihoods are not new, but they’re becoming more and more popular as homeowners move out of crowded residential areas in search of homes with room to roam. According to an article in The Huffington Post, agrihoods offer suburban living built around community farms rather than golf courses or other formulaic green spaces.
“The foodie generation has come of age,” Ed McMahon of the Urban Land Institute told Bloomberg. “The mainstream development community has come to think of these as a pretty good way to build a low-cost amenity that people seem to like and that also adds authenticity.”
A growing number of agrihoods are springing up nationwide. These developments center around a real, functional farm as their crown jewel. According to CivilEats, there are currently about 200 of them across the country. New to the mix is The Cannery, located about a mile outside downtown Davis, California. This 100-acre project is considered to be the first agrihood to take root on formerly industrial land. According to KCRA, NBC’s Sacramento affiliate, all of the development’s 547 energy-efficient homes are solar-powered and electric car-ready.
The concept is not new. As Modern Farmer points out, the broader concept has roots dating back to the mid-1800s. The nation’s first planned community, in Riverside, Illinois, had a decidedly pastoral feel falling somewhere in the middle of city and country life.
Many established agrihoods have been around for some time, such as the Agritropia community in Gilbert, Arizona, the Serenbe development outside Atlanta and Prairie Crossing in Grayslake, Illinois; all of which were established over a decade ago and appear to be flourishing.
There are no agrihoods yet in or around Santa Barbara, but you can count on me to let you know when the trend arrives. I’ve been a Santa Barbara real estate agent specializing in Montecito, Hope Ranch or any of Santa Barbara’s upscale communities for more than 26 years. If you’re ready to buy or sell now, just check out my comprehensive website then give me a call at 805.886.9378 or email me at Cristal@montecito-estate.com.