The North Richmond Ecovillage (NREV)

Richmond LAND is advancing Community Driven Development & Community Ownership in North Richmond CA

Richmond LAND is focused on creating and implementing a vision for community-controlled land and housing initiatives in Richmond and the surrounding West Contra Costa County area. In 2019, Princess Robinson & Alfonso Leon participated in Richmond LAND’s Building Power Fellowship where they co-created the North Richmond Eco-Village project concept through participatory design and decision-making processes. The Project is located at 1927 & 1932 Giaramita Street, two former public housing scattered sites that are part of the Housing Authority of Contra Costa County’s (“HACCC”) Las Deltas housing portfolio. Richmond LAND intends to transform the two parcels currently consisting of five vacant and dilapidated duplexes.

The North Richmond Ecovillage is a transformative, community-led housing development designed to preserve affordability, prevent displacement, and establish permanently affordable homeownership opportunities for low-to-moderate income residents in North Richmond. Led by Richmond LAND, a community land trust (CLT), this project advances equitable development by combining sustainable site design, resident ownership, and long-term stewardship under the CLT model.

The Ecovillage is intentionally phased to ensure financial feasibility, community engagement, and long-term operational sustainability. Across both phases, the development will create 12 permanently affordable condominium homes under CLT ownership, alongside shared green infrastructure and community-centered amenities that reflect the cultural and environmental values of North Richmond.

Phase 1: East Giaramita Rehabilitation

Phase 1 focuses on the rehabilitation of four existing duplex buildings located on the east side of Giaramita Street. These structures will be substantially renovated and converted into eight high-quality, permanently affordable condominium homes.

Phase 1 will stabilize existing housing stock, prevent speculative acquisition, and immediately place eight homes into permanent affordability. By preserving and upgrading existing buildings, this phase maximizes sustainability while minimizing displacement and construction waste. It establishes the first cluster of the Ecovillage and anchors the long-term community vision.

Phase 2: West Giaramita Cottage Redevelopment
Phase 2 expands the Ecovillage across Giaramita Street to the west side. This phase involves the redevelopment of one existing duplex into four newly constructed small cottage-style homes designed around a shared green and community-oriented layout.

Phase 2 introduces a new housing typology that reflects ecological design principles and community cohesion. The small cottage model supports multigenerational living, right-sized homeownership, and environmentally conscious development. This phase strengthens the identity of the Ecovillage as a shared neighborhood ecosystem rather than a traditional subdivision.

The North Richmond Ecovillage is designed to generate long-term, measurable impacts that extend beyond housing production. Through permanent affordability, ecological design, and community ownership, the project aims to produce structural change in North Richmond and West Contra Costa County.

Upon the full development of the North Richmond Ecovillage will:

• Deliver 12 permanently affordable ownership homes

• Protect families from displacement pressures

• Strengthen neighborhood stability

• Provide climate-conscious, community-centered housing

• Establish a scalable CLT condominium model for future expansion

The project serves as a replicable blueprint for equitable development in North Richmond and throughout the region. By combining rehabilitation, new construction, ecological design, and community land trust stewardship, Richmond LAND is building not just housing—but generational stability and community power.

CALL TO ACTION:

Help us reach our goal to create community controlled assets in Richmond CA by contributing to this vision of the North Richmond Ecovillage. You support will help us fill a gap to offer homeownership to low to very low income residents.

Interested in receiving updates and opportunities by signing up to our interest list now!

Resident Testimonies:

It would allow us to focus on preparing for our first child. We already live in a trailer, so living in a tiny home eco village would be a dream come true.

Tania & Luis Jacobo | North Richmond Farm, Urban Tilth