Club Meeting June 25th – New Spirit Village

This week, we had the privilege of hearing from Barry and Kathryn Thalden, who shared the story behind their groundbreaking project, New Spirit Village. This planned affordable housing community in west Medford is dedicated to helping Alameda fire victims and first-time homeowners. With 87 homes priced from $185,000 for a one-bedroom house to $235,000 for a three-bedroom house, New Spirit Village offers a unique solution to the region’s housing crisis and aims to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty.

Barry and Kathryn, through their nonprofit Thalden Foundation, have been the driving force behind the planning, design, financing, and construction of this project. Their vision involves not only building homes but fostering a sense of community by working with over 20 service organizations and state representatives.

Having moved to Ashland in 2012 after retiring, the Thaldens have a long history of community involvement. Kathryn, a city planner and landscape architect, and Barry, a former CEO of an architectural firm, have sponsored numerous local initiatives, including the ongoing hanging flower baskets on Main Street in Ashland, outdoor murals at the Ashland Emergency Food Bank, and the Thalden Pavilion at Southern Oregon University. They also designed and developed Village at Valley View in Ashland, a residential memory care center, and have been involved in a wide range of other community projects.

We are excited to see the impact of New Spirit Village as it continues to grow and provide affordable housing to those in need!

You can watch the meeting if you missed it using this link;  https://youtu.be/2zS4TKMkmrw?si=J9beWT32aSRNgFZh