The Shire of Bend, Oregon is an unusual housing development:
The Shire is a development that borrows its basic design concept, styling and features from an era where the sense of community, the beauty of the land and the interaction of the residents with the land had high value. The Shire brings the spirit of a great age to daily living. The Shire has many flavors of eighteenth century English architecture and landscaping chosen because the style of the period was enchanting, evoking good feelings of a simpler lifestyle than the present. The Shire is a place where just the beauty and charm of the grounds and the structures make you relax, smile and be happier. We set out to create a lifestyle rather than a subdivision.
This was my development. The 2008 crash ended the dream and the death of my partner. If you see it today, you will find the energy of good feeling still being served… I’m still proud of how it turned out and thank others for keeping the spirit alive.