Designing the Future of Neighborhoods | Devon Zuegel on Esmeralda

Devon Zuegel, founder and CEO of the Esmeralda Institute, joins us on the latest episode of The Coral Capital Podcast. After building online communities, scaling open-source programs at GitHub, and hosting Notion’s Pioneers series, Devon Zuegel is now bringing her expertise offline to create a family focused village north of San Francisco. In this episode, she shares the challenges of shaping a people centered village, from navigating complex land use rules to balancing environmental realities. Topics explored: Designing multi-generational, walkable communities with a balance of density and nature The concept of “traveling neighborhoods” and fostering connection through shared experiences The hardware and software of building a physical community Integrating seniors, families, and diverse age groups into a cohesive community Creating lasting culture and connection through deliberate programming and shared experiences If you're working on something ambitious, we’d love to hear from you at Coral Capital! Get in touch with us here: bit.ly/contactcoral Connect with Devon X: https://x.com/devonzuegel LinkedIn:   / devonzuegel   Connect with Tiffany: X: https://x.com/tiffanykayo LinkedIn:   / tiffanykayo   Connect with Alexandra Silverman X: https://x.com/AlexandraFayeS LinkedIn:   / afsilverman   00:00 Intro 00:46 Meet Devin 08:19 Placemaking and Traveling Neighborhoods 16:51 Building Esmeralda 31:12 Supporting Families in Northern California 33:23 Incorporating the Elderly in Community Planning 38:17 Learning from Other Towns and Cities 47:09 Building a New Town