The proposed Montgomery Drive location of the Creekside Village Townhomes is grossly inappropriate. We advocate for the City to find an alternative site where construction would not obliterate the very place where Santa Rosa began.

Why This Site Matters

The 14.9-acre site at 2327, 2611, and 2809 Montgomery Drive is a unique and irreplaceable cultural treasure.

  • 2,400 Years of History: Home to a Pomo Indian village site occupied as early as 400 BC.
  • The Carrillo Adobe: Built in 1838-1839 by María Carrillo, it was the heart of the vast Cabeza de Santa Rosa land grant.
  • Birthplace of Santa Rosa: This is where Santa Rosa was named by Padre Juan Amoros in 1824 and where the first non-indigenous family settled.
  • A Momentous Archaeological Landscape: Beyond the visible adobe ruins lies a complex, multi-layered record of Pomo, Spanish, Mexican, and early American history, including buried foundations, work areas, and ancestral remains.

Expert Perspectives

“This is Santa Rosa’s birthplace, and these people were our founding mothers and fathers. Nor should we neglect the Native people who first settled the land and who sustained themselves on this exact part of the Santa Rosa Creek terrace for not less than 24 centuries.” — Michael J. Moratto, Ph.D., RPA, Archaeologist with 60+ years of experience

“This property is not the answer to this pressing need [for housing]. It is the centerpiece of the long, diverse, and rich history of Santa Rosa that needs to be recognized, protected, and celebrated. I feel strongly that the entire 14.9-acre area should be preserved, protected, and interpreted as a public historic park.” — Kent G. Lightfoot, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Anthropology, UC Berkeley

Our Vision: A Protected Historic Park

We urge the City of Santa Rosa to:

  1. Declare Intent to Preserve: Protect the entire 14.9-acre site from development.
  2. Establish a Historic Park: Work towards creating a protected historic park open to the public for interpretive and compatible uses.
  3. Relocate the Project: Support new housing on appropriate alternative sites while saving this 2,400-year-old cultural testament.

Significant Cultural Designations

  • California Tribal Cultural Resource and Native American sacred site.
  • National Register of Historic Places (Eligible).
  • California Register of Historical Resources (Listed).
  • Santa Rosa Historic Landmark.

Take Action

Engage with the City’s Design-Review-and-Preservation Board and City Council to save the Pomo village site and Carrillo Adobe.

Contact the Project Planner: Ms. Sheila Wolski swolski@srcity.org