At the geographical heart of Loma Rica Ranch is the Ranch Center Neighborhood, centered around the historic Ranch structures that have served as an emblem of the site for decades. The 75-acre Ranch Center Neighborhood will be located east of Brunswick Road and north of Idaho-Maryland Road. Growing out of the historic Ranch Center, it will integrate a variety of new uses with a network of streets creating blocks of single- and multi-family residences. Its physical structure will be defined by revitalized, agriculturally-oriented Ranch Center along its western edge, public access to the Wolf Creek Linear Greenway to the south, public access to White Water Creek to the north, and a new, public “Manzanita Walk” looking up to a new hillside overlook to the east. A formalized east-west linear park will serve as the focus for the neighborhood and axially connect the historic Ranch Center to this overlook, called “Lookout Point”.

Although the ranch buildings have not been publicly available in the past, those of historical significance will be preserved and adaptively re-used to form a focal point of a vibrant heart of the neighborhood for the public and agricultural tourism. As an attraction for tourism, the Ranch Center will add support to the local economy by adding job opportunities to the region and by attracting visitors to the neighborhood and the Grass Valley region as a whole.

A functioning, sustainable organic farm and agricultural demonstration center will be open to the local community and tourists. Farm grown and local produce will be sold along with other agricultural products and local arts and crafts. Demonstrations on organic and sustainable farming will be available.

To the eastern side of Loma Rica and sited in a valley created by the natural topography is the 25-acre Manzanita Village, inspired by the small, rural hamlets of the Sierra foothills. Located east of the Ranch Center, this neighborhood capitalizes upon the landform of a “bowl” between Wolf Creek and the adjacent hillside to create a compact, pedestrian-oriented community. Although nearly contiguous with the Ranch Center neighborhood and directly accessible from Idaho-Maryland Road, the neighborhood will be characterized by its small, intimate scale, attention to detail and community-oriented public spaces.

Manzanita Village will seek to be a model for environmental sustainability, both through its careful site planning and solar orientation, as well as through an integration of the latest in green building technology. Residential blocks will be designed to accommodate housing on small lots that take advantage of communal recreation and open space, and the neighborhood may offer alternative transportation opportunities such as car-sharing for residents who might wish to remain car-free.

The neighborhood will integrate single-family homes, apartments and neighborhood-serving retail space. Two prominent sites will be reserved for community-oriented structures, and a system of trials will link Manzanita Village to adjacent neighborhoods as well as nearby open space amenities.