Recently, not half an hour's drive from Asheville, N.C, (where our real estate market remains vital, ) we spotted a sign, obviously done by a local artist. It read, " green homes for sale in this Asheville burb..."
"Burb"? What does that mean, I wonder. . .
I asked an eco-savvy husband and wife team what about this...and they had to laugh . Their goal is to develop a conservation subdivision. They want to partner with eco-minded people interested in, among other things, eco-innovation, energy efficiency, true-green-built homes, water conservation, and the creation of economic opportunities for the local communities.
Maybe that's what that "burb" thing was all about.
But the couple are looking, too, at land legacies. So the land surrounding their eco-development , if it hasn't been already, will be placed into conservation trusts. No way that could be a "burb."
To our potential clients, ecological land use means carefully, and over a period of years carving out eco-friendly picnic spots and compelling trails for horsy-folks in the community, and for hikers. Along the way, through the mountain laurels and up to the higher elevations, they know that vocal waterfalls call.
As we talked with our potential clients, we realized how important it is to them that all this is to be done with as little impact on the environment as possible. And we realized something else. Equestrians will love this-place, Hikers will love this place. Green home builders will love this place.
It's a place to live and learn. It's a place to offer wellness retreats, possibly create a "lifelong learning" center. Certainly, they will choose to invite and host ecotourists in all seasons. ..
As you can see by the photo I took (to your left) ...this is one amazing place.
As a REALTOR® actively involved in the value-added market, ,my team and I hope that we will get to be a part of this. We are anticipating working with this eco-savvy husband and wife team who will invite you to Asheville where dreams come true. For now, I feel good when I think that my Clients' contribution will stand in perpetuity as a reminder of their pro-active good will.
Copyright © 2008 All Rights Reserved Asheville ECO Real Estate: Trends, Legacies & The Home Place Greenolina
__~o
-\_<,
(*)/'(*)
Bill & Barbara Jo~
The Green Scene in the Greater Asheville area, and the growth of eco-communities is a real blessing. You are so right...the Greater Asheville area is beautiful...and to have a healthy-built-green home here is a Big PLUS!
Sharon~
Appreciate the definition of "burb"...and when that "burb" is an eco-community or conservation neighborhood with green-built homes, I expect a special kind of eco-innovation could be an additional bonus...
It looks like a really interesting development, more of an intentional community than traditional 'burb.
Seems like calling it a burb is a disservice depending on how you think of the term. To me, burbs tend to be synonymous with bad planning. That being said, it may just mean outlying community.
I think the community you're describing will eventually get it's own name - not sure our vocabulary has the right word yet. It is really exciting to hear about this this community! Keep us current with the progress!
What an exciting idea! That's my big dream - to develop a burb like your friends are planning. Only mine would not be all new construction. I want to also save some of the old homes here by having them moved to the burb and retrofitted to become green.
I like Heather's idea of using a community that needs renovation and focusing on energy efficiency improvements and conservation efforts. Habitat in our area is focusing on that and home renovators and builders should be as well.
This is a great opportunity to creat and eco-burb! I think the setting you described has so much to offer. I hope it works out for everyone. I would love to be one of the first ecotourists.
The popularity of eco-tourism is growing and these people are poised to do great things. This eco-development sounds like a great idea and I hope it flourishes! We need something like this in Texas!
Betina Foreman, Realtor Austin TX