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Entries for AARP-NAHB Livable Communities Due July 23
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The Riverwalk at Winooski Falls in Vermont |
 Entries in NAHB and AARP’s third annual Livable Communities Awards are due by Thursday, July 23.
The award recognizes builders, remodelers and developers for creative and unique homes and community projects that improve the daily comfort, ease and safety of their residents and highlight the critical elements needed for a livable community. New categories also have been added this year to recognize architects and planners for home and community design.
Winning entries will be honored for:
- Design elements that accommodate the needs of all residents with all levels of physical ability, from children through grandparents
- Easy access to community services and features such as retail, restaurants, medical, social and cultural activities, as well as viable transportation options
- Improved energy efficiency that reduces long-term utility costs
- Enhanced site design that enables residents of a neighborhood to commute easily to the broader community
To apply, visit www.NAHB.org/livablecommunities.
2008 Award Winners
Last year's winners feature a variety of ideas on livability. The 2008 winners include:
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Winooski Falls in northwest Vermont | Winooski Falls, Winooski, Vt.
On the banks of a breathtaking river in a small Vermont town of 9,000 residents, the largest downtown redevelopment project in the history of the state of Vermont began coming to life in February of 2006. Described as Vermont’s downtown neighborhood, Winooski Falls features mixed income, intergenerational housing, retail, office and open natural space in a vibrant urban setting.
Developed by HallKeen, The Braverman Company and New Boston Fund, Winooski Falls won in the category of “developer, more than 250 units.” The project is an example of using town planning principles to promote, sustain and preserve Vermont’s signature small-town way of life.
This innovative mixed-use development in northwest Vermont incorporates four well-appointed residential and commercial structures bridging downtown Winooski and the riverfront.
A riverfront walkway and easy public transportation options connect residents to vital services, shopping, restaurants, two college/university campuses, the largest hospital in the state and even nearby downtown Burlington.
The development partnership with local, state, federal and nonprofit agencies has remained steadfast in its commitment to creating a smart, mixed-use downtown that honors the past while embracing the future with optimism. Equally compelling was the commitment to community building, adaptive reuse and historic preservation — major cornerstones of the neighborhood culture and vision.
The project embraces a triple bottom line by actively promoting environmental, lifestyle and economic sustainability.
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Vineyard Lane in the heart of Bainbridge Island, Wash. |
Vineyard Lane, Bainbridge Island, Wash.
Vineyard Lane, on a beautiful four-acre site, is just a stone’s throw from the heart of Bainbridge Island, Wash. The developer, The Winery LLC, has created a welcoming, diverse neighborhood of uncommon beauty that has yielded a strong sense of community.
Vineyard Lane received the award in the category of "developer up to 250 units."
Vineyard Lane features affordable and accessible housing units that, along with transportation choices for residents and visitors, are key features of a livable community. The centerpiece, a meticulously landscaped 45-condominium campus, is a testament to “green standard” building design and easy accessibility.
This rustic development is linked to healthcare, shopping, recreational and cultural activities, banks, shops and restaurants by a footpath and pedestrian bridge that encourage walking. The bright lights and attractions of downtown Seattle are easily reached via frequent ferry service.
In each of the 45 units, the principle of keeping people safe and comfortable inside their homes is addressed by extra-wide doors and hallways, no-step front entrances, security grips in all washrooms, extensive elevator access and many other similar features.
Aesthetic integrity is maximized by screened parking, oversize windows and a lattice of well-lit paved walkways.
Above all, the site design fosters community. The centrally located community “coffee house,” the many public patios and the strong ties with the nearby town of Bainbridge Island have all contributed to an inclusive and eminently livable home for people from all walks of life.
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Universal design and personality go hand-in-hand at the Freedom home in Tampa, Fla. | The Freedom Home, Tampa, Fla.
New Millennial Homes set out to fashion a universally designed home with abundant personality. The result is the Freedom Home, a pioneering, life-enhancing, turnkey home perfectly suited for disabled returning veterans, older adults and people with special needs. The Freedom Home received the award in the category of "builder up to 2,500 square feet."
Slip-resistant interior/exterior surfaces, extra-wide doorways, ADA-compliant plumbing and kitchen appliances and adjustable shelves are among the many features that make this home easy for everyone to navigate. In an effort to keep the design affordable, the builder paid special attention to energy efficiency to reduce long-term utility costs. This included state-of-the-art insulation, energy-wise light bulbs, ceiling fans and Energy Star appliances.
The kitchen offers full extension hardware on all drawers and pullout shelves. The continuous countertop is not disrupted by varying heights as a strategically located pull-out work surface has been concealed behind a cabinet door. All kitchen appliances have been incorporated into a 34-inch cabinet height. For added convenience, a pot-filler above the smooth-top stove is provided, along with wall switching for the hood vent and light and under-cabinet lighting.
The master suite incorporates an accessible, no-step secondary exit as well as a closet with a pull-down rod and adjustable shelves. The fully accessible master bath has plenty of room to maneuver a wheelchair and includes a no-step shower with a fold-down seat and an accessible toilet.
The Rathbun Residence, Los Angeles
Many remodeling projects that include universal design features are built to accommodate people as they age. Some, however, are designed to meet the needs of residents who have mobility impairments and require specific improvements to their homes.
That was the case for the Rathbun family in Los Angeles. They asked the firm Interior Design Details in Brea, Calif. to remodel their home to accommodate a family member who had a significant mobility impairment. The Rathbun residence won in the "remodeler" category.
Interior Design Details tailored the design to the client’s personality, family circumstances and aesthetic preferences. The company believes that homes should be remodeled in a way that improves every aspect of a client's life.
The design emphasizes ease of passage by creating an open plan with archways and wide doorways, supplemented by automation and sensor units. Bathrooms were fitted with a range of features including an automated shower/bath powered by an energy-saving tankless water heater, toilet, sink and seating fixtures that allow for safe, easy use.
Slip-resistant interior floors, grab bars, lever door handles and dimmer switches were added throughout the home as well, creating an overall sense of security and well-being.
For more information or to apply, visit www.NAHB.org/livablecommunities, or e-mail Blake Smith at NAHB or call him at 800-368-5242 x8583.
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