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startup developer, Esmeralda Land, is planning to build a tech utopia in Cloverdale, Sonoma County, with the charm of an Italian hill town. The 266-acre site, formerly a lumber mill, would be transformed into a master-planned neighborhood with terracotta-roofed buildings, flagstone alleys, and vineyards along the Russian River.

    Founder Devon Zuegel envisions Esmeralda as a community where creative and high-agency people can live in a small town atmosphere. She promises "affordable-by-design" housing options, including one-bedroom cottages and larger homes with attached ADUs, as well as deeply affordable family housing. The development would be anchored by a high-end hotel.

    Zuegel, a Stanford University graduate and software engineer, refutes comparisons to California Forever, a stalled utopian city project in East Solano County. She emphasizes that Esmeralda aims to be inclusive, with thoughtful urban design and programming inviting the Cloverdale community to participate.

    The price of the land, largely owned by the city, remains undisclosed. It's unclear how Esmeralda Land will fund the purchase and development of the site. Zuegel lives in Miami Beach, while her company is based in St. Petersburg, Florida.