Churchill Highlands Neighborhood (Eugene, Oregon)

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The Churchill Highlands Neighborhood was, essentially, the first phase of Breeden Brothers' sprawl into the south hills of Eugene. Construction began in about 1968, and prices at that time averaged anywhere from (approximately) $22,000 to $35,000, respectively. Brittany Drive (later changed to Brittany STREET) serves as the neighborhood's main artery which begins at W. 18th Avenue, and ends at Windsor Circle, which was/is the beginning phase of the Sumerset Hills neighborhood, which was also developed by Breeden. All homes in the Churchill Highlands neighborhood are essentially considered to be middle-class ranch-style homes. As with nearly all mass-produced tract developments such as this one, Breeden used a handful of floor plans and simply rearranged each one to appear different from other surrounding homes. Single level homes are generally 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, while many of the split-level and two story homes have 4 bedrooms. Thematically, each home initially sported a "British" flavor (note the names of the streets), blended with Northwest contemporary/ Split-level design. As the upper phases were built (Sumerset Hills, phases I and II), the floor plans changed only slightly, and took on a truer Northwest Contemporary design, in keeping with the natural surroundings. McCornack Elementary School was erected in 1968, and served (and still does) the surrounding Churchill neighborhoods. Two surrounding neighborhoods are, again, Sumerset Hills I and II, and an HOA neighborhood built by Ellison and Platt(s). Not long after the Churchill Highlands neighborhood was built, the Bailey Hill Shopping Center, across from Churchill H.S was built (I don't know the year), and a grocery chain called "McKay's" moved in. Because W.11th Avenue was LARGELY undeveloped at that time, McKay's served as the neighborhood's primary market. While the Churchill Highlands neighborhood has seen changes demographically in recent decades, it continues to maintain a largely family-oriented middle-class flavor.