HISTORY
The forty-six and eight tenths acres that now make up Shadow Wood were a filbert orchard with a stand of oak trees at the north end until 1973. In that year, Wedgewood Homes, Inc. subdivided the plot and began construction on the first of five phases. The first houses were built along SW 203rd and SW 204th from SW Johnson road to SW Imperial. Subsequent phases filled out SW Imperial to SW 198th and SW 203rd to SW Rock Road with six cul-de-sacs branching off from SW 203rd and with SW York bisecting the development.
The design of the subdivision took advantage of the existing trees to provide a woodsy setting for contemporary houses of a natural, unobtrusive appearance that blend into the landscape. Even the name, “Shadow Wood,” was taken from the environment, referring to the play of light and shadow among the filbert trees. Most of the filberts were later removed by the homeowners and replaced by evergreens and other ornamental and shade trees, but the rustic look still prevails.
Wedgewood has won several awards, from Parents Magazine, McCall’s, and American Builders Magazine, for house design, and in 1972 the firm received an award from the City of Beaverton for “aesthetic contribution toward community beautification for architectural design, landscape design, and site layout design.”
The hallmark of Wedgewood design is an integration of the natural attributes of the area with those that are man-made. The development is contained, focusing inward, and set apart from the surrounding area. One or two through streets are collectors for cul-de-sacs and courts. A most attractive feature that fosters community interaction is sidewalks. Even though the houses are secluded, residents can meet each other and see the neighborhood by walking. In addition, the quiet streets and sidewalks are a boon to families with young children who play outdoors.
Prize winning features of architectural design include distinctive but simple exteriors that are stained or painted in earth and sky tones and interiors planned for traffic flow, separation of bedroom and living areas, and attractive, easy access to the outside, both at the front entry and the rear patio.
The original purchasers of homes in Shadow Wood and representatives of Wedgewood formed a homeowner’s association whose purpose was to maintain the quality inherent in the design. Restrictive covenants that are legally binding set forth the conditions to be met by the homeowners and to be enforced by the Shadow Wood Homeowner’s Association Board of Directors. In 1979, after the developer had sold all houses, the Shadow Wood Homeowner’s Association became autonomous. Through the years, it has continued to represent the desire of its members to live in a beautiful environment.