We’re not an average neighborhood.

We’re an “agrihood” — and our values are baked into our bylaws.

Thoughtfully planned outdoor spaces, walking and biking paths, gardens and orchards, community gathering places right outside your front door, and a commitment to innovation, sustainability and diversity.

  • A community taking care of the land as a parent nurtures a child, and the land providing for the community

  • Embracing all of Salem and its surroundings, all age groups, diverse in its economic and ethnic make-up, with individuals interested in protecting the future of the area's eco-system by living lightly on the land. Mixed-use across the site, within buildings, and over time, will contribute to the vitality and sense of place within Pringle Creek Community. A range of public spaces (plaza, park, and open space), owned either privately, by the Pringle Creek Community Association, or even publicly, are possible amenities that could provide for and encourage active uses and opportunities for social engagement.

  • Recognizing that education and learning are central to the health of a community, that arts and humanities are essential to a vibrant and active mind, and that nature and the environment are the source of our sustenance to be honored, celebrated and respected. Sustainability requires that social equity grow along side of environmental stewardship and economic opportunity. A culture of diversity, tolerance and fairness will be nurtured within this dynamic livable community.

  • The Pringle Creek Community land is forever bound to the historical tradition of building and maintaining a community that was at the heart of the largely self-sustaining former Fairview Training Center with its farming, heating and repair facilities, some of which remain on this site. In this new phase of the land's existence, Pringle Creek Community envisions a renewed attention to the crafts by building a new village center from the regeneration of the existing facilities and proposed buildings, crafting a regenerative architecture that provides a sense of place, tradition and a vision for the future community to build their values upon. The community will encourage and nourish the crafting of small community oriented businesses and workshops dedicated to sustainable working in the environment. It will develop community gardens to foster connectivity to the land and among the residents. It will foster learning about the sustainable use of the natural resources available at Pringle Creek Community and in the greater Willamette Valley.

Pringle Creek is a sustainable neighborhood in Salem, Oregon

AN AGRIHOOD IS A TYPE OF PLANNED COMMUNITY that integrates agriculture into a residential neighborhood. The purpose is to facilitate food production as well as provide green space, recreation, aesthetics, and value for a community. The Urban Land institute defines agrihoods as “single-family-multi-family, or mixed-use communities built with a working farm or community garden as a focus.”

PRINGLE CREEK

Our namesake, Pringle Creek, runs through the length of the community. Our creek has been restored and certified as Salmon Safe, meaning the watershed is clean enough for native salmon to spawn and thrive. Benches along the creek allow quiet contemplation of the surrounding beauty and appreciation of the gentle sounds of water wandering and flowing with your thoughts.

GREEN SPACE

Pringle Creek Community’s shared green space totals 35% of the neighborhood. These green spaces provide a rooted feeling, where people connect with the land, wildlife and growing things at every turn.

COMMUNITY GARDENS

Whether you want to have a space in the community garden or simply have your CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) basket delivered to your porch, fresh wholesome fruits and vegetables are part of the Pringle Creek Community experience.

GLASSHOUSES

Our vintage glasshouses provide an opportunity to get back in touch with the earth and experience the joy of growing delicious greens and vegetables year round. They are attributed to Salem engineer Sam Emery, who designed them in 1940 and 1941.

ORCHARDS

Orchards and berry patches – cherries, apples, plums, pears, peaches, blueberries and strawberries – make up our edible landscape, another community amenity. Nibbling while picking is expected!

MODEL FOR THE FUTURE

Pringle Creek Community is a model for the future with balanced, sustainable development focusing on land preservation, energy efficiency, green building, walkability, high density building, agriculture, and community living for multiple generations.

The most sustainable features in the Pacific Northwest.

GEOTHERMAL

Ground source water is always 56 degrees, year round, and circulates in a closed loop under our streets. Each home on the geothermal loop, using a water furnace, can heat or cool easily and efficiently. When using geothermal energy you’re not making heat, you’re moving heat. Geothermal energy is really captured solar energy. A geothermal waterfurnace is 400% more efficient than a gas furnace to heat and cool your home.

Our community center, Painters Hall, is also connected to the geothermal loop, keeping the center at a comfortable temperature all year-round – sustainably and ecologically! Some of the extra energy generated by Painters Hall’s 20.2kW rooftop solar array is used to power the geothermal system pump. How is that for efficiency!?

SOLAR

Painters Hall, the community building and events venue, is solar powered and a Net Zero energy building, producing more energy than it uses over the course of a year

Our Net Zero neighborhood, with a south facing slope, is designed for homes with solar arrays capable of producing 100% of their energy needs on a net annual basis

LEED CERTIFIED

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a third party rating group who ensures homes, community buildings and businesses are energy efficient, built with materials that use resources wisely (recycled, reused, sustainably managed), are healthy (reduce or avoid toxic chemicals) and built in a manner that preserves the environment and reduces waste.

All PCC homes are certified LEED gold or platinum, ensuring they are built to the highest level of green-building standards resulting in a comfortable, healthy home. Bottom line – a healthy home that is inexpensive to operate and maintain.

ON-DEMAND WATER HEATERS

High efficiency on-demand, or tank-less, water heaters save fuel, cost less to operate and never run out of hot water!

WALKABLE AND BIKEABLE NEIGHBORHOOD

A network of trails and pathways connect open spaces and parks throughout the neighborhood. They also connect with adjoining neighborhoods. Walking or biking through beautiful, inspiring places is important for our physical and emotional well-being.

PERVIOUS PAVING

Our “green street” system allows 90% of the rainwater to filtrate through the streets and into the soil, recharging the aquifer. The narrower than usual streets use less material, provide more space for natural vegetation, and slow auto traffic.

RAINWATER HARVESTING

Rainwater is collected for later use both for irrigation and in Painters Hall, our community center, rainwater is used to flush the toilets.

DEVELOPMENT

Over 200 tons of concrete and 100 tons of wood and steel were recycled through environmental stewardship efforts.

Heavy equipment and construction vehicles ran on bio-diesel.

Historic buildings were preserved, reused bridge, recycled concrete slabs.

Pervious pavement extends 9,000 linear feet and includes bioswales and natural verge.

LIVING ROOF

A living roof is a roof that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. It acts as a giant sponge, absorbing storm water and releasing it slowly over time. The plants and soil help insulate the building from extreme temperatures in winter and summer, and provide habitat for pollinators and insects.

Two of our buildings have beautiful living roofs modeling all of the benefits of this innovation.

SHARED GREEN SPACES

More than 80% of existing trees were preserved during development of the infrastructure

The creek is Salmon Safe and adjoining wetlands are being protected and enhanced