Grow Community on Bainbridge Island is a shining example of how thoughtful design and sustainable building practices can create vibrant, connected neighborhoods. Certified as a 5-Star Built Green development, the community seamlessly integrates eco-friendly principles with modern, convenient living. Over a decade in the making, Grow Community culminated in mid-2024 with the completion of The Trillium, its third and final phase. This final chapter reaffirms the project's dedication to environmental stewardship and innovative residential design.

Project Background

Since its inception in 2013, Grow Community has been driven by a vision of creating a sustainable neighborhood that prioritizes both people and the planet. Each phase built upon the successes of the previous, refining green building strategies while strengthening the sense of community. The final phase, The Trillium, was constructed by Green Canopy NODE, whose expertise in high-performance, sustainable building helped bring Grow Community’s long-term vision to completion.

Location & Lifestyle

Located in the heart of Bainbridge Island’s Winslow district, Grow Community offers residents a true “5-minute lifestyle.” With shops, cafes, restaurants, top-rated schools, parks, beaches, and the Seattle ferry terminal all within a half-mile radius, residents can comfortably live without reliance on cars. This prime location not only reduces transportation-related emissions but also enhances residents' quality of life through easy access to amenities and nature.

Community-Centric Features

At the center of Grow Community lies The Park, a generous green space intentionally designed to encourage interaction and foster neighborly connections. Seasonal events like summer concerts, community picnics, and informal gatherings bring life to this space throughout the year.

Complementing The Park is the community center, a vibrant hub offering a variety of resident-driven activities. Whether it's Mahjong games, Tai Chi sessions, book clubs, or casual gatherings, the center strengthens social bonds and promotes a spirit of inclusion and engagement. These thoughtful design elements distinguish Grow Community from more isolated suburban developments, emphasizing connection over separation.

Sustainability Highlights

Grow Community’s sustainability efforts extend well beyond certifications—they are embedded in every aspect of the development. The third and final phase, The Trillium, continues to reflect the community’s commitment to responsible land use, resource efficiency, and long-term environmental stewardship. From the start, careful attention was paid to the project’s location within Bainbridge Island’s Urban Growth Area (UGA). The site was previously developed, minimizing the impact on undeveloped natural areas, while promoting a denser, walkable neighborhood pattern. This conscious choice supports regional growth goals while preserving surrounding ecosystems. Landscape design and site improvements were integral to reducing long-term environmental impacts. Grow Community preserved and reused topsoil onsite and implemented compost-amended planting areas, providing residents with opportunities for food production. Strategically selected tree species were planted throughout the neighborhood to provide natural shading during summer months, mitigating heat gain around homes and parking areas. Planting beds were mulched with at least three inches of organic material to retain soil moisture and reduce the need for irrigation.

Energy efficiency and indoor air quality were prioritized at every stage of construction. Third-party inspections conducted by BEE Engineers ensured that each home had a continuous air barrier, verified after the framing phase. Insulation was carefully inspected to confirm consistent, thorough application, maximizing thermal performance. To support healthy indoor environments, Grow Community specified only low- or non-VOC, non-toxic paints, sealers, adhesives, and finishes throughout all units. Flooring choices further reflected this emphasis on health, with over 85% of hard-surface flooring meeting strict emission standards, such as CDPH 01350, certified by GREENGUARD and other third-party programs. Carpet was intentionally omitted from all homes, reducing dust and allergens. Each home includes a designated shoe removal area, featuring a built-in natural fiber mat to limit pollutants entering the living space.

Recognizing the growing importance of renewable energy, the project integrated solar readiness throughout the development. Type 1 units are equipped with 8.40kW grid-tied solar electric systems, utilizing high-efficiency Silfab Solar modules paired with SMA inverters and rapid shutdown devices. Type 2 units are pre-wired for easy solar panel installation in the future, allowing residents to expand their renewable energy usage over time. Similarly, each home is wired with conduits for future electric vehicle charging, supporting the transition to cleaner transportation options.

Material efficiency was another key focus. Working closely with Green Canopy NODE, the project incorporated prefabricated elements—such as panelized framing walls, I-joists, trusses, Glulams, and prefabricated mechanical/electrical/plumbing walls—to reduce construction waste and streamline building processes. All insulation materials contain a minimum of 40% recycled content, while environmentally friendly, formaldehyde-free, and CFC/HCFC-free foam products were used throughout. Composite wood windows contribute to durability and performance, complementing the project’s overall sustainable approach. Taken together, these strategies underscore Grow Community’s role as a model of sustainable development, blending thoughtful design with practical innovations that benefit residents, the broader community, and the planet.

Resident Experience

One resident captured the essence of life at Grow Community:

"I was grateful to move into two new homes in the Grow Community knowing there was little off-gassing from the materials. Both homes were designed by Jonathan Davis with a lot of attention to light. This is very important to me living in the cloudy Northwest. Also, I feel more a part of the outside surroundings than I would in a condominium style. Both of my homes have circulating, cleansed air. This has been so great, especially the few times we had the smoke from the fires. The people in this community are diverse and in some cases quirky. I appreciate the different points of view and yet the willingness to help each other."

Conclusion

Grow Community is much more than a residential development—it's a blueprint for how sustainability, livability, and community can coexist in harmony. Its third and final phase, The Trillium, constructed by Green Canopy NODE, stands as a testament to the power of intentional design and long-term environmental thinking. Through its exemplary commitment to Built Green principles, Grow Community offers residents a balanced, modern lifestyle rooted in environmental mindfulness and a strong sense of connection.