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December 1, 2007

Tallahassee years from now will reflect today's priorities, visions

By Dave Hodges
DEMOCRAT BUSINESS EDITOR

Source: Tallahassee Democrat
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My earliest memory of Tallahassee is riding over here on family trips from Jacksonville when I was a youngster. You had to use U.S. 90 to get here. Tallahassee was hilly, and the pines seemed a whole lot taller than the ones growing in our yard at home.

I mention that because your first impression of a place can dictate how you feel about living there. Think for a minute about your first visit (presuming you weren't born here). What was it about this locale and its characteristics that influenced you to stay?

Every day there are people who ponder that same point, individuals who are new arrivals, but others who are in a position to shape this area's future - political leaders, business owners, community activists, builders, planners. Events this week offered clues about where we're headed.

Developer K2 Urbancorp unveiled a house that has the state's highest green building rating for energy savings and low environmental impact. It is in Evening Rose, a development of 132 homes combined with a town center within walking distance for residents. Situated northwest of Mahan Drive's intersection with Capital Circle Northeast, the neighborhood looks like a park. Winding streets and big oaks will encourage foot traffic.

County Commissioner Bob Rackleff attended the ceremony and noted the value of development in town rather than out on the fringe. "Urban infill is the challenge we have to meet in this community." He added that because of its location, Evening Rose did not require the expansion of infrastructure to serve the project. "This is how we need to start approaching our future."

Local environmentalist Nancy Miller said the project is one that a person who cares about the environment can support. "What you see here is a real effort to have incorporated the human habitat into the natural habitat."

Mayor John Marks acknowledged that there are other builders who have worked to incorporate green building concepts and that K2 Urbancorp is the latest example of that philosophy. He and the City Commission are pushing for more of this. More builders are getting on board.

Construction reporting service McGraw-Hill just released a study that showed green homes are becoming more popular. These houses offer features that set them apart in a market and catch the attention of buyers. Owners also anticipate that their green homes will command a higher resale value.

Evening Rose will have moderately priced homes that meet the city's goals under its inclusionary housing ordinance, which a circuit judge upheld this week. It requires new developments of a certain size to ensure that at least 10 percent of the housing constructed is affordable.

"It's well worth the efforts, too, and we all know that," Marks said. "We are beginning to enjoy the seeds that we planted a long time ago with regards to inclusionary housing, and with regards to the environment as well."

Of course, the future view can be somewhat hazy. There are lots of variables. But I think we all hope that the Tallahassee of the future reflects these kinds of traits. The steps taken now will get us there.