Sketches and Concepts
The Land
Reconcile human habitation with nature
- Strive for regeneration of native ecology
- Design in harmony with the site
- Foster connection between people and place
Promote community
- Connect to each other
- Connect to our neighbors
- Connect to the larger West Grove community
Be feasible and replicable
- Provide housing competitive with local market prices
- Successfully navigate the entitlement process
- Demonstrate the superior marketability of green design
Promote health
- Use healthy, non-toxic materials
- Provide abundant daylight and clean air to occupants
- Nurture outdoor activity
Celebrate diversity
- Be intergenerational – support for kids and aging in place
- Provide diverse housing sizes, prices, and accessibility
- Restore the natural diversity of the site
Be exemplary and visionary
- Demonstrate the highest levels of environmental performance (LEED Platinum Certification)
- Be a learning community and an educational resource
Here are some sketches that we have developed with our design team.
Click on the drawing to get a larger image in a pop-up.
Here is how we would like to lay out the community, with walking paths between the homes, parking to the periphery, and clusters of homes. The layout is designed to encourage interactions between neighbors.
Carports would be unobtrusive and neatly tucked into the landscape.
Although
34 homes sounds like a lot, when you look at the size of the homes
compared to the surrounding homes, it doesn't feel like a lot at all.
Our homes will be much smaller than typical.
By
Right, this property could be developed with about 12 homes. With more
typical sizing and spacing, the homes easily consume the entire
property.
The Land
The land where we propose to build our ecovillage is 7.5 acres on the
south edge of West Grove, PA, in the London Grove Township. It is right
across from the planned London Grove Community Park
(see below). The land has a southwest exposure for excellent solar
exposure, a few trees around the edges, and a tiny little stream on the
western border. It is walkable to downtown West Grove, the Avon Grove
High School, and even the SCCOOT bus route that travels along US1 between Oxford and West Chester.
We are planning on attached homes plus the Clubhouse, gardens and a walking path. We still intend to aim for LEED Platinum certification, with solar panels, geothermal heating/cooling, hyper-insulation, and low/no-VOC materials. We're excited beyond belief.
If you want to walk on the land, please contact us for the next scheduled land walk. Please do not walk on the land unescorted. This is due to liability concerns, so bear with us. Thanks!
The satellite map with property lines is below. Our proposed home is actually 2 parcels, outlined in red.
Here's an interactive map of the property. Zoom out to see where it is located.
The property is within walking distance of a large number of restaurants, shops, schools and other places. Click on the walk score icon below to see an interactive map and list. However, the list that Walk Score provides is incomplete for some reason. Its missing Brother's Pizza and Marrone Deli, to name a few. However, the Walk Score map and list are a a great start!
The 85 acre London Grove Community Park, right across the street to the south really gives the property an astounding location. The map below shows the northern quarter of this park, and how our homes will be about 250 yards from the playground and fishing pond.
This complete park map below shows the extent of the community park, including the 40 acre annex that will increase the park to 125 acres total. Half the park is wooded and the trails follow the tiny stream to the much larger branch of White Clay Creek.
