Tukwila Homeowners Association – Tukwila: A Golfing Community For All Ages

Tukwila History

We want to share the legend of tukwila, the official state nut. The word "tukwila" is the Chinook name for filbert (hazelnut, as it is known now). In her book, "Legends of the Pacific Northwest", Ella E. Clark relates a favorite Native American legend, "The Hazelnut, a Guardian Spirit".

One time a man was cracking hazelnuts on a large stone, using a smaller stone as a hammer. When he struck one of the nuts an ordinary blow, it sprang away and landed at a little distance from him. The man picked it up and struck it a second time, but the hazelnut sprang away. "You are brave," said the man as he picked it up, "but I will break you anyway". He seized the nut firmly and tried to strike it a heavy blow. But a third time, it leaped away in the grass. He hunted and hunted but he could not find it. Some nights later, a young boy in search of his guardian came to the hiding place of the hazelnut. He heard a voice speak to him. "Look at me, boy", said the spirit of the hazelnut, "and listen to what I tell you. No one can hold be or hunt me, even though I am struck heavy blows. When I hide, none can find me. I am strong and I can give you strength. If you will always do as I bid you, you will have my power. The enemy may surround you and catch you, but they cannot hold you. You can spring from their grasp and hide before their eyes. They will never find you if you obey me." The boy told no one about the hazelnut, but ever after he followed its direction and its warnings. When he became a man, he had a strange power of escaping and hiding from anyone who attacked him. Even when he was seized and surrounded by a large band of the enemy, he was always able to break away. He became a great warrior among the innate people through the help of the hazelnut, his guardian spirit.)

The Tukwila community was once a hazelnut orchard. In 1991 a group of investors, the Tukwila Partners, proposed the Tukwila Planned Unit Development around a golf course. The land for the golf course was donated to the Oregon Golf Association.

The business plan for the rest of the land was to sell portions of the property to developers and have the total property developed in phases. The city of Woodburn gave final approval for the first phase in August 1992. And thus, the Tukwila Homeowners Association was formed. The property was named the Tukwila Planned Community. Coincident with the establishment of Tukwila Homeowners Association, the first separate property development and its concurrent homeowner’s association, Miller Farms, was established. Over the next several years six additional developments were established. As each phase was established, a separate HOA was formed for that phase. The additional six are:

Ironwood
Orchard Greens
Links at Tukwila
Renaissance at the Links
Renaissance Reserve
Goose Hollow

Each of these seven homeowners’ associations are independent entities and neighborhoods, each with their own CCRs and webpage. All seven have their own Board of Directors that make decisions for their own association. You can find specific information for each association on their webpage. (See “Associations” tab)

Tukwila Homeowners Association (THOA) was established solely to manage and maintain the properties that exist for the common use and benefit of all the Tukwila community. These common areas were defined and deeded to Tukwila HOA by the founding partners. They include the office and Rec Center, the tennis court, Glatt Pond, the water feature at the main entrance, the Nature Trail and the Fitness Trail. THOA has its own Board of Directors. There are no homes in the association. The budget to maintain the common areas is funded by the individual homeowners in each of the associations. The goal as stated in the CCRs is to preserve the value and desirability of the properties in the Tukwila Community.