Background

 

In the beginning were the prune orchards and land owned by Bill Salotti. When the land was sold, River's Bend began its life as the J.L. Bruce retirement subdivision, destined to include 118 homes on 23 acres of land between the Russian River and South Fitch Mountain Rd. Homes were to be sold only to adults over age 45, with no one under 18 permanently living in the homes.

 

This was a new type of subdivision, and various issues had to be worked out by the City Council and the developer. For example, the developer proposed a small scaled "country club appearance," which would substitute "rolled curbs" for traditional squared off curbs and gutters. The plan would also not require traditional sidewalks and it would place a walk network in the rear of the the development. The proposal for no sidewalks and "rolled curbs" met with resistance by some on the Council, but the developer insisted that these elements were critical to his design. Council members were also very concerned about the future maintenance of facilities to be held in common by owners of homes in the subdivision, not wanting the City to end up obligated for the swimming pool and other features held in common by owners. (Who would support these features if some of the owners "reneged" on the facilities or if not all the units sold or the subdivision was never completed?)    

 

After successfully making its way through the City Council and the State of California real estate division, River's Bend finally became a reality. Ground was broken in March 1965.

 

By 1968, there were 40 houses in the subdivision, and in October 1968, the City issued permits for houses #41-50. Houses were valued at $12,840 and were spotted throughout the already built-up area rather than constructed as a new 10-unit segment. City permit valuations for the homes were based on a unit of $10 per square foot.  (Healdsburg Tribune, Enterprise and Scimitar, Number 7, 10 October 1968, p. A1)

 

River's Bend women were very active in the early decades of the community, and their activities were often reported in the local paper, the Healdsburg Tribune, Enterprise and Scimitar. The River's Bend Women's Club, later the River's Bend Women's Association,  met regularly for social activities and outings and to perform charitable deeds such as making lap robes, ponchos and other gifts for hospital patients and residents of rest homes. Occasionally, they sponsored speakers at their meetings, and they planned and prepared holiday meals and events at the Clubhouse. A social group which named itself the Rivers Benders was also active, offering barbecues and other events.

 

In 1970, the first River's Bend Residents' Association was formed and elected its officers.

 

In 1971, a proposal for a smaller but similar subdivision next door to River's Bend was presented to the City Council. There was vigorous discussion about aspects of the proposal, based on the experiences with River's Bend. The issue of sidewalks was raised again. Some thought it a mistake that River's Bend had been built without sidewalks and thought that the new development should have them. The developer insisted that he had heard no complaints about the absence of sidewalks from residents of River's Bend, and the new subdivisions went forward without them. By 1980, houses in River's Bend were selling in the $90,000s.

 

Despite any early resistance, River's Bend fairly quickly came to be considered a success and an asset to the city of Healdsburg. Today, River's Bend has 118 homes, a clubhouse, a swimming pool, a tennis court, a small private greenway  and beautifully landscaped commons areas. Owners are now required to have reached age 55, and non owners living in the house with them must be at least 45 years old. In recent years, housing prices have reached as high as the $500,000s - $700,000s.  While there do not seem to be as many formal organizations and activities as in some earlier years, residents are still invited to take part in a monthly potluck as well as in other events such as Halloween and other holiday activities. Life is good in River's Bend.