Read about NYC's first Cohousing Community in "New York Magazine".
Read about NYC's first Cohousing Community in "New York Magazine".
Posted by Janet Pelletier at 08:59 PM in Press | Permalink | Comments (0)
Growing group of residents and local elder take more steps towards a dream.
London Grove, PA – September 18, 2009 – Local residents seeking to build the first net-zero energy Ecovillage have made major strides in past months in realizing their goal. In July, two more households joined the growing group, and just this month, the group purchased their dream property from Edna Lamborn, longtime resident of West Grove. The 7.5 acre property is located on the corner of Prospect Avenue and West State Street, across the street from the proposed 125 acre community park, and is within walking distance of many restaurants, the library, and other businesses of downtown West Grove. The group proposes building 34 modestly-sized attached homes clustered around a pedestrian walkway, with organic gardens, native plantings, and architecture designed to complement the surrounding architecture.
New members Peter Kjellerup and Mandy Cabot, the owners of Dansko, are clear. “There are so many wonderful communities like this in Europe, that it is time that we demonstrate that an environmentally and socially sustainable community can be built here, as well. How wonderful it will be to have a community where people know and care about their neighbors, and at the same time, can live lightly on the planet.”Sandy Wiggins, former Chairman of the US Green Building Council and a principal of Aye Partners, explains “Choosing pedestrian-oriented smart locations in close proximity to community assets is a key factor for long-term sustainability. One of our country’s greatest challenges is changing our past patterns of development that make inefficient use of land and infrastructure and that are entirely dependent on the automobile.”
Steve and Joyce Ford, owners of The Perfect Cup Café in Hockessin, Delaware are enthusiastic about making Three Groves Ecovillage their new home. “We live right down the road from where the community is proposed to be built. We look forward to downsizing our house and pulling a few weeds in the community gardens right here in West Grove."
Edna Lamborn, who owned the property for many decades and donated 42 acres for the northern portion of the community park, was equally pleased. “West Grove has been a major part of our family’s life for many years and we all love the town and the people” said Mrs. Lamborn. “I would be pleased to be part of the first LEED Platinum community in Pennsylvania. Three Groves Ecovillage sounds like an exciting concept. I look forward to seeing the successful completion of the project and more new families enjoying life in West Grove.”
Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED provides a concise framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions. Three Groves Ecovillage will be seeking the highest rating of LEED Platinum.Land stewardship is a core value for future residents and partners of Three Groves Ecovillage. “Two-thirds of this site was degraded by previous use” says Jackie O’Neil, the other principal of Aye Partners. “We are looking to preserve the site’s assets, such as large trees and south-facing slopes, and restore the site’s soils, vegetation and hydrology, in order to demonstrate that smart neighborhoods of the future can actually enhance the health of the land and the greater community.” Another future resident, Janet Pelletier adds “I would like to become an active steward of the tiny stream that runs along the property to the pond in the park. We hope to work with neighbors and the park to plant native vegetation and trees to clean it up and provide habitat for wildlife.”
Public Events:
To get involved or just learn more, interested potential residents and public are encouraged to attend a variety of events:
Media Coverage:
Media are welcome to attend the public events but asked to pre-register by contacting Three Groves Ecovillage (email using the link in the margin, or call 610-643-4411). Photos of the site and residents are available on request.
Three Groves Ecovillage is an organization of local people seeking to build and reside in an environmentally and socially sustainable neighborhood. They are actively growing and seeking new members.
Aye Partners, LLC, are leaders in sustainable development and green building, and have commissioned Re:Vision Architecture, a leading green design firm, to create the plans.
Margot Mohr Teetor, Realtor with Re/Max Town and Country, has worked as the Buyer’s Agent for Three Groves Ecovillage and will act as Seller’s Agent for Ecovillage homes listed online with the Multiple Listing Service (MLS).
About Dansko. Established in 1990, Dansko has been a leader in providing innovative comfort footwear while standing at the forefront of sustainable and ethical business practices. Dansko is an employee owned company based in Pennsylvania, still operated by its founders, husband and wife team Mandy Cabot and Peter Kjellerup. Dansko shoes and boots are distributed to over 2,500 premium U.S. and international retail locations. For more information on Dansko’s footwear collections as well as their global responsibility initiatives, please visit: www.dansko.comPosted by Janet Pelletier at 08:24 PM in Press | Permalink | Comments (0)
On Friday Anne Pickering interviewed Janet, and posted a nice article in Saturday's paper. Read it online here:
Ecovillage to open in London Grove
By Anne Pickering, Daily Local News, Serving Chester County
Published Saturday, June 6
Posted by Anthony Aufdenkampe at 08:21 PM in Press | Permalink | Comments (0)
Local elder sells site across from new London Grove Community Park
London Grove, PA – May 19, 2009 – Local residents seeking to build the first net-zero energy “Ecovillage” neighborhood ended their search for the “perfect property” last week when they signed an agreement of sale with Edna Lamborn, longtime resident of West Grove, for her property on the corner of Prospect Avenue and West State Street. The proposed neighborhood will be called Three Groves Ecovillage, in honor of the location in London Grove Township, bordering West Grove Borough, and within Avon-Grove School District. The future residents and development partner, Aye Partners LLC, will present site plans to the London Grove Township Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors at their May 27 and June 3 meetings at the Township Building and to the public on June 7 at 5:30 at West Grove Friends Meeting House.
“This property is perfectly
situated within walking distance of many restaurants, the library and
other
businesses of downtown West Grove, a short stroll from the excellent
public
middle school and high school, and across the street from an incredible
125
acre community park
Edna Lamborn, who has owned the
property for many decades and donated 42 acres for the northern portion
of the
community park, was equally pleased.
“West Grove has been a major part of our family’s life for many
years
and we all love the town and the people” said Mrs. Lamborn. “I would be pleased to be part of the first LEED
Platinum
Developed by the U.S. Green Building
Council (www.USGBC.org), LEED
Land stewardship is a core value for future residents and partners of Three Groves Ecovillage. “Two-thirds of this site was degraded by previous use” says Jackie O’Neil, the other principal of Aye Partners. “We are looking to preserve the site’s assets, such as large trees and south-facing slopes, and restore the site’s soils, vegetation and hydrology, in order to demonstrate that smart neighborhoods of the future can actually enhance the health of the land and the greater community.” Pelletier continues “I would like to become an active steward of the tiny stream that runs along the property to the pond in the park. We hope to work with neighbors and the park to plant native vegetation and trees to clean it up and provide habitat for wildlife.”
“We’re looking forward to seeing more details on the Three Groves Ecovillage plan for this site” said Bob Vanella, member of the Board of Supervisors for London Grove Township, at the Township’s Green Fair this last Saturday.
Public Events:
To get involved or just learn more,
interested potential residents and public are encouraged to attend a
presentation and discussion of design and development plans starting at
5:30 pm
on Sunday, June 7 at the West Grove Friends Meeting, 153 E. Harmony Rd, West
Grove PA (http://www.westgrovefriends.
Media Coverage:
Media are welcome to attend the public events but asked to pre-register by contacting Janet Pelletier (janet.h.pelletier@gmail.com). Photos of the site and residents are available on request.
Three Groves Ecovillage (www.ThreeGrovesEcovillage.org
Aye Partners, LLC (www.ThreeGrovesEcovillage.
Margot Mohr Teetor, Realtor with Re/Max
Town and Country (http://www.margot.your-move.
# # #
Posted by Janet Pelletier at 07:15 PM in Press | Permalink | Comments (0)
Posted by Anthony Aufdenkampe at 01:06 AM in Press | Permalink | Comments (0)
Staff writer Jon Rutter has done a really nice job capturing the essence of who we are. I can't believe he interviewed so many people for the article. Although you can't tell from the online copy, we made the center of the front page of the Sunday issue. Read all about it here.
Posted by Janet Pelletier at 02:35 AM in Press | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
One of the 50+ people in attendance at our Dec. 7th presentation and meeting was the Editor of the Avon Grove Sun newspaper. She wrote up a nice article on our project, which I think was also printed in a number of local sister papers such as the Kennett Paper and the Oxford Tribune.
Future residents present ecovillage plans to public
By Keri Labuski; Editor, Avon Grove Sun
Posted on
Wed, Dec 10, 2008
I also heard that there's an article about us in the Dec. 2008 issue of Living Well Magazine, which is a monthly that comes out of Newark, DE.
We're also starting to get picked up by a number of blogs:
What's an Ecovillage?
Sustainable Delaware
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Ecovillage in West Grove a Possibility
The Real Estate Investment Blog
Fri. Dec. 5, 2008
Posted by Janet Pelletier at 07:37 AM in Press | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
The Avon Grove Sun picked up our story. Read about it here.
Avon
Grove Sun and partners at PA8 News Group
Posted on Wed, Nov 26, 2008
In addition, this posting was picked up by other sites, such as:
http://www.constructionjournal.com/comments.aspx?aid=193423&articles=yes&tab=3
Posted by Janet Pelletier at 07:02 PM in Press | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Yes Folks, we're in the news again! Chester County Press gave us a great spot on the Front Page, with three pictures on page 4. Read all about it here.
Posted by Janet Pelletier at 04:50 PM in Press | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Concord Ecovillage
is in the news this week! See the article at:
Concord
Ecovillage hopes to LEED the way to green neighborhoods
Posted by Janet Pelletier at 07:28 AM in Press | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Posted by Janet Pelletier at 07:19 AM in Press | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)