Fox Point Farms in Encinitas Named Mixed-Use Community of the Year
Fox Point Farms, a 21-acre mixed-use community in Encinitas, California, has been recognized as Mixed-Use Community of the Year at the 2026 Gold Nugget Awards. The community, which combines 250 homes with a working organic farm and a broad range of wellness, agricultural and lifestyle amenities, received the top honor during the Gold Nugget awards ceremony held July 29, 2026, in San Diego.
Developed as an “agrihood” community, Fox Point Farms is designed around the idea that residential living can be closely connected to agriculture, wellness and the surrounding environment. The project was created by Shea Homes and Nolen Communities and is located at 1200 Fox Point Farms Lane in Encinitas, a coastal community known for its residential neighborhoods, beaches and outdoor-oriented lifestyle.
The Gold Nugget Awards are presented annually by the California Building Industry Association (CBIA) and the Pacific Coast Builders Conference (PCBC). The awards recognize outstanding achievements in residential, commercial and mixed-use development, with projects evaluated for their planning, design, innovation, architecture and overall contribution to the built environment. The 2026 competition attracted more than 800 entries from across the United States and internationally, making Fox Point Farms’ recognition particularly significant.
In addition to being named Mixed-Use Community of the Year, Fox Point Farms earned Gold Nugget awards in two other categories: Best Community Land Plan and Best Community Amenity. The development also received Gold Nugget merit awards for Best Infill Community and Best Landscape Architecture.
Together, the awards highlight the project’s approach to integrating housing, agriculture, open space, recreation and community amenities into a cohesive residential environment. Rather than treating the farm as a separate feature, Fox Point Farms places agriculture at the center of its identity and community planning.
At the heart of the development is a 5.5-acre working organic farm. The farm reinforces the community’s farm-to-table concept and provides residents with opportunities to connect with food production and agricultural practices. The development also incorporates edible gardens, a produce market and farming classes, creating opportunities for residents to learn more about growing food and sustainable agriculture.
Paul Barnes, President of Shea Homes San Diego, described Fox Point Farms as an agrihood community built around its working farm and agricultural themes. He also emphasized the project’s focus on resident health and well-being.
One of the development’s most notable distinctions is its WELL certification. Fox Point Farms is California’s first WELL-certified residential community, reflecting an emphasis on design elements intended to support healthier living environments. The WELL approach considers factors related to the health and well-being of occupants, and Fox Point Farms incorporates features such as advanced air and water filtration systems as well as low-VOC and low-emission building materials.
These elements are part of a broader effort to make wellness an integral component of the residential experience. Instead of limiting wellness to fitness facilities or recreational spaces, the community incorporates health-conscious considerations into the design and construction of the homes and shared environments.
The project’s amenities further support its emphasis on community-oriented living. Residents have access to a brewery and coffee roastery, along with walking trails, gardens and other spaces designed to encourage interaction and outdoor activity. The produce market connects the agricultural component of the community with residents’ everyday lives, while farming classes provide educational opportunities centered on food and agriculture.
Wellness programming adds another dimension to the development, complementing the agricultural and recreational offerings. Together, these amenities are intended to create a community where residents can participate in activities focused on food, fitness, education, nature and social connection.
Fox Point Farms also demonstrates the potential of infill development in an established coastal market. The project received a Gold Nugget merit award for Best Infill Community, recognizing its contribution to creating a new residential environment within an existing community rather than relying solely on development in undeveloped areas.
Landscape architecture was another important component of the project’s design. The Gold Nugget merit award for Best Landscape Architecture recognizes the role that outdoor spaces, agricultural areas, gardens, pathways and community landscaping play in shaping the overall character of Fox Point Farms.
The project brought together a multidisciplinary team that included Shea Homes, Nolen Communities, Stark Architecture, SteinbergHart, Schmidt Design Group, Catalina Design Group and PLSA Engineering. Their collaboration contributed to the planning, architecture, landscape design, engineering and development of the community.
Although Fox Point Farms is now sold out, its recognition at the 2026 Gold Nugget Awards extends beyond the completion of its residential sales. The community provides an example of how residential development can incorporate agriculture, wellness and shared amenities into a unified planning strategy.
The project’s combination of homes, a working organic farm, community facilities, educational programming and wellness-focused design reflects changing expectations for residential communities. Increasingly, developers and homebuyers are looking for neighborhoods that provide more than housing alone, with access to nature, recreation, healthy living environments, locally produced food and opportunities for community engagement.
Fox Point Farms brings these concepts together through its agrihood model. Its award-winning land plan, community amenities, landscape architecture and wellness-oriented features demonstrate how development can be structured around a strong sense of place and a distinctive community identity.
The 2026 Gold Nugget recognition therefore marks an important achievement for Fox Point Farms and its development partners. With multiple awards across planning, amenities, infill development, landscape architecture and overall mixed-use community design, the project has established itself as a notable example of innovative residential development in Southern California.
Even after reaching sellout, Fox Point Farms continues to illustrate how agriculture and residential development can coexist within a carefully planned community. Its working farm, farm-to-table focus, wellness features and diverse amenities offer a model for future developments seeking to combine housing with healthier lifestyles, environmental awareness and stronger connections to food and nature.
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