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NAHB Builders Honored for ‘Building With Trees’
Four developers who are members of NAHB received the 2007 “Building With Trees Awards of Excellence” from National Arbor Day Foundation leaders at the NAHB National Green Building Conference in St. Louis on March 26.
A Better Place Group, LLC, of Tampa, Fla.; Rhein Medall Communities of Charlotte, N.C.; Carma Colorado of Englewood, Colo.; and the Daniel Island Company of Charleston, S.C. were recognized for protecting and saving existing trees during the development process.
A jury of developers and urban forestry professionals selected the winners based on the projects’ creativity and attention to detail. Winners were honored for taking an inventory of the trees to be protected during planning, design and construction; planting and providing for long-term tree care; demonstrating a commitment to tree protection by including a certified tree-care professional on the development team; and adhering to tree protection goals throughout the construction process.
“We are delighted to partner with The National Arbor Day Foundation on this awards program, and we are happy to be able to share this great news at our National Green Building Conference,” said NAHB President Brian Catalde. “Site development is an integral part of green building. These winners have great examples of how this is so.”
The winning projects were:
- Residential development, 100-500 lots — Highland Park in Tampa, Fla., developed by A Better Place Group, LLC. Both preserved and transplanted trees were fully integrated into the site planning of this community, with formal parks and natural preserve areas within walking distance of all the homes. Roads and pedestrian paths were lined with newly planted and relocated native trees and landscaping. “Planting trees native to the area helps reduce the need for irrigation, and that reduces the impact of these new homes on western Florida’s fragile underground water supply,” said Dan Lambe, vice president for programs at The National Arbor Day Foundation.
- Residential development, 501 or more lots — The Palisades in Charlotte, N.C., developed by Rhein Medall Communities. This 1,600-acre low-density planned community along the banks of Lake Wylie will contain up to 2,500 homes. The rest of the forested land will be saved as a nature preserve, an important resource in the rapidly developing Charlotte area. Great care was taken to maintain the lake’s water quality by preserving trees and planting new ones to filter water runoff. “The judges were especially pleased by the use of so-called vista pruning rather than the more common clear cutting of trees to provide for views from the homes to the lake,” Lambe said.
- Residential development, 501 or more lots — Tallyn’s Reach in Aurora, Colo., developed by Carma Colorado. On 950 acres of semi-arid rolling plain just east of Denver, this 3,500-home community preserved more than 2,000 ponderosa pines scattered throughout the site. More than 1,900 new trees, 8,000 shrubs and 23,000 perennials were planted along with the installation of 25 miles of irrigation during the first phase of the development. All roadways include an 8-foot tree and landscape parkway between the walks and curbs. “The transformation of this site from a nearly treeless plain into a wooded residential haven exemplifies the meaning of Building With Trees,” said Lambe.
- Non-residential development — Ralston Creek Golf Course in Charleston, S.C., developed by The Daniel Island Company. Designed by Rees Jones and named one of America’s Best New Courses in 2006 by Golf Digest magazine, this development takes advantage of the unique environment of South Carolina’s low country. The inventory of existing trees included specially identified “grand trees,” many of which were relocated to provide landmarks along the golf course. “More than 50 existing trees were successfully transplanted to enhance the aesthetics and beauty of the course,” Lambe said. “That’s a great example of tree preservation.”
For more information, e-mail Calli Schmidt at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8132.
‘Building Greener Neighborhoods’ Available at BuilderBooks.com
“Building Greener Neighborhoods,” available through Digital Delivery at BuilderBooks.com, shows those involved in building new communities the advantages and rewards of saving, planting and transplanting more trees in their developments.
The examples are drawn from decades of experience of land developers, home builders and urban foresters.
To download this publication available in a PDF format, click here, or call 800-223-2665.
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