Land Development Today - July/August 2007 - (Page 24)

PROJECT PROFILE building designs that were energy efficient and sustainable. Phillips said they wanted the new homes to go above and beyond the building specs of the local building code, and called upon builders to use the green standards set by the Master Builders Association in the Seattle area. “Since then, the Energy Star program has come into being and some of the builders like Devland decided to just go all the way and use that program,” Phillips said. Devland’s President Eric Evans said they took their one block portion of the development to create a zone that would reach back to Seattle’s past. “We developed a series of five, moderate sized, 1,640 foot bungalows that harkens back to those that you see in old parts of Seattle that we thought residents would fall in love with,” he said. Coupled with two, smaller carriage homes on the block and an innovative, shared-parking garage arrangement, the homes have sold well. “We responded to an RFP for builder/developers in early 2005, began construction in early 2006, with the last delivery in April 2007,” he said. The housing authority called for the homes to be well insulated and wrapped tight to prevent energy loss and energy efficient. Devland’s approach called for fiberglass insulation to be blown in behind nylon mesh on the interior stud walls and around outlets, along with Energy Star-rated water heaters and heat-pumps systems. They took the extra step in using hard wood flooring from the deconstruction of an area high school for several of the homes. “It’s beautiful, 1900 maple that gave a lot of the buyers a connection with the community,” he said. “We did the same thing with some of the exterior ornamentation. We bought some bricks from the deconstruction of an old, 1900 bakery and put those on the porch columns.” Lessons Learned Evans said the project fell in line with his company’s core purpose to improve the quality of life while demonstrating a stewardship for the natural and built environment. Positive lessons have been learned in the process. “We’re looking at the next generation of these houses, to improve them to where they are highly efficient and they can accommodate a low-level solar array to approach net-zero energy thresholds,” he said. Wellborn said the varied and wide ranging application of such low impact development concepts can be incorporated in other places. “It’s a matter of getting it accepted by some of our agencies. That seems to be a challenge right now along with acceptance by clients who might be willing to try it,” she said. Phillips said the project is a trend-setter. “It’s a healthy place for everybody to live. People really appreciate it. It’s more than its component parts,” Phillips said. “It’s something special because those component parts are very integrated together.” SLDT All photos courtesy of Bruce Ferguson. About the author: Rob Kundert is a veteran reporter and frequent contributor to Sustainable Land Development Today. Devland, Inc., and David Evans and Associates, Inc. are wholly-owned subsidiaries of David Evans Enterprises, Inc. (DEEI), based in Portland, Oregon. DEEI and its subsidiaries have more than 20 offices in seven states and employ more than 1,000. Circle 194 • or www.LandDevelopmentToday.com/adinfo 24 July/August 2007 Sustainable Land Development Today http://www.aquashieldinc.com http://www.LandDevelopmentToday.com/adinfo

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Land Development Today - July/August 2007

Cover Contents Our Voice: Industry Advocates Your Voice: Reader Response Cover Story: Preparing Your Tax Strategy The Rules of the Game Historical Redevelopment Project Profile: Seattle’s High Point Retention: From Ravine to Road Land Use: Picatinny Arsenal Mixed Use: Florida Offices Industry News Products/Services Showcase Classifieds Recommended Reading Advertiser Index Editorial Board The Last Word: What? Me Plan… Urban Development

Land Development Today - July/August 2007

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