An old Napa cottage that keeps its holiday spirit on display all year could soon lose more than its twinkle. The longtime landmark known as the Christmas Tree House may be partially or fully taken to make room for a pair of long‑planned roundabouts at the awkward five‑way junction just east of downtown Napa. The change would put 83‑year‑old resident Charlie Rossi, who has lived in the home since childhood, in the tough spot of having to find a new place to live. Planners say the redesign is meant to improve safety and traffic flow, while neighbors worry a familiar piece of the streetscape could disappear in the process.
After years of study and public meetings, local officials settled on a twin‑roundabout concept as the preferred fix for the intersection. California Highways traces the project back to a 2017 council decision that backed a larger four‑leg circle to the north and a smaller three‑leg hub to the south.
What the plan would change
Regional planning materials list the work under the mouthful of a name, Silverado Trail/Third Street/Coombsville Road/East Avenue intersection improvement, and identify early‑phase environmental and design work on the schedule. NVTA shows the corridor on local project lists with planning phases slated in the coming years, while county records and past briefings document that progress was slowed by funding issues in 2021 and that right‑of‑way acquisition remains a major hurdle. Napa County records also indicate related HSIP and corridor efforts under earlier grant cycles.
The house and its history
The property at the center of all this is listed in the City of Napa’s historic resources inventory as 801 Silverado Trail and was built in 1939, making it an 87‑year‑old fixture at the corner. City of Napa documentation shows the parcel as a contributing resource in local surveys and notes its long presence along the corridor.
Rossi's situation
Rossi, now 83, has lived in the house his entire life and told the Napa Valley Register he is not sure when, where or how he will move if acquisition becomes necessary. The paper reports he worked for 35 years at Home Depot and was once recognized as a top garden manager in the chain, and that friends and family are scrambling to figure out relocation options if the project claims part of his property.
City process and legal context
City spokeswoman Jaina French told the Napa Valley Register that a certified appraiser will value the property and that the appraisal will be paid for by the public agency handling the acquisition. Eminent domain is not the preferred option for acquiring property, French wrote in an email to the paper, adding that the cooperative agreement the city needs with Caltrans has not yet been executed.
Because the work lies on a state highway corridor, local officials must follow state procedures and enter formal agreements with Caltrans before construction can proceed, according to Caltrans guidance on cooperative agreements and locally administered projects.
What comes next
With environmental review and right‑of‑way steps still ahead, the project is not expected to break ground immediately. Regional schedules show the planning and environmental phases stretching into the late 2020s. NVTA materials list PAED on the near‑term slate, and earlier city briefings estimated roughly two years of construction once work begins. That means any physical changes to the intersection, including to Rossi’s yard, are likely several years away while appraisals, negotiations and required state approvals move along at their usual government pace.
