A group of local residents and self-described “aspirational farmers” are proposing a new kind of neighborhood in Newhall – one where residents can pick up fresh produce from a working farm, walk to dinner through an orchard and unwind in a sauna surrounded by nature.

The concept, known as “Matilija,” would transform 15 acres in Placerita Canyon into a small agricultural-focused community featuring 22 homes, a private farm club, restaurant, market, wellness amenities and a butterfly conservatory, according to project materials.

Unlike a traditional housing development, Matilija is being envisioned as an “agrihood,” a neighborhood built around agriculture and shared community spaces. Organizers say the goal is to reconnect people with the land, their food and one another.

“Somewhere between the drive-throughs and the subdivisions and the corporate supply chains, we stopped living in community, and started just living near each other,” the project’s presentation files states.

Plans call for homes arranged around a working organic farm where members could receive weekly harvest baskets filled with seasonal produce grown steps from their front doors. 

The proposal also includes a members-only farm restaurant, small market selling preserves and herbs made on-site, a clubhouse and pool, outdoor yoga areas, cold plunges and fire pits tucked into the landscape.

The team behind Matilija includes founder Robert Younkin – the owner of Hart and Main off Main Street and the current Chairperson of the Old Town Newhall Association, farm manager Hannah Miller, designer and longtime Newhall resident Kim McBride, culinary director Mike Miller, project manager Travis Teel and facilities manager Brian McBride. According to project materials, the group sees itself as a collection of neighbors, farmers and builders hoping to create a community centered around local food, wellness and preserving the rural character of Placerita Canyon.

Project organizers say the land itself has deep roots in Santa Clarita history. 

Long before becoming the site of the Newhall Dairy Farms in the 1940s, the area was used by the Tataviam people, who gathered acorns from oak trees growing throughout the canyon.

The proposal also includes a glass conservatory and seasonal butterfly pavilion, which developers say would offer educational opportunities for children and families while providing a gathering space unlike anything else currently found in the Santa Clarita Valley.

While the vision for Matilija is ambitious, organizers acknowledge the project is still in its early stages.

“We don’t have a finished business model yet,” the team wrote in its presentation. “This is a genuine opportunity to contribute — your input shapes what Matilija becomes.”

The proposal remains in its early stages, with Younkin saying city planners are reviewing the concept and will provide input on whether or not it will be moving forward soon.

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