With a contract set to close in this neighborhood and long time interest in their efforts and success, I am excited to see others taking notice! And I love that North Charleston is really stepping up to take the lead in this new frontier!
"North Charleston has become a hub of green 
activity, spurred in large part by The Noisette Co.’s efforts to redevelop the former Charleston Naval Base. It has refurbished existing buildings, upgraded infrastructure and created green space and parks while encouraging the local arts and cultural community.
activity, spurred in large part by The Noisette Co.’s efforts to redevelop the former Charleston Naval Base. It has refurbished existing buildings, upgraded infrastructure and created green space and parks while encouraging the local arts and cultural community. The Noisette Co. is managing the development of Oak Terrace Preserve, a 55-acre sustainable residential community owned by the city of North Charleston. The property previously was home to about 200 houses constructed during the early 1940s during the shipbuilding boom of World War II.
The city bought the property and helped the residents relocate. The homes weren’t salvageable and were torn down because of asbestos, lead pain and substandard utilities, explained Elias Deeb, project manager at The Noisette Co.
In their place is a new kind of neighborhood. 'We made a wholesale, sustainable approach to the design of the neighborhood,' Deeb said. The entire project includes 374 homes and 17 parks. The first phase consists of 120 single-family homes and 32 townhomes. Nine builders were selected to carry out the community’s sustainable vision. Homes are $185,000 to $315,000, with the majority in the $200,000 price range.
One of the biggest assets of Oak Terrace Preserve is the dozens of trees that were preserved during the planning phase. About 90% of the trees were saved. 'We took considerable more time siting each house,' Deeb said. 'You can’t take the postage stamp approach.'
Oak Terrace is also a dense neighborhood with a minimum lot size of 3,200 square feet. These kinds of infill developments help curb urban sprawl and locate residents near existing businesses, schools, restaurants and transportation.
'Oak Terrace is pretty much as dark green as you can get for the Lowcountry and probably for the state,' Deeb said.
Other green initiatives include:
• Job site recycling.
• Insulation upgrades.
• Dual-flush toilets.
• Low-flow faucets.
• Cork or bamboo flooring.
• EnergyStar appliances.
• Tankless water heaters.
• Elevated concrete slab. Not having wood in the flooring system dramatically reduces issues of moisture, mold and termites.
• Native, drought-tolerant plants, eliminating the need for an irrigation system.
• A walking/jogging path around the perimeter of the development is lined with a product of recycled tires and rock, making it durable and porous.
Creating an energy-efficient home can reduce the cost of utilities 20% to 30% and sometimes even 50%, Deeb said.
'We’re starting to reach the tipping point where the objection that it costs too much doesn’t fly anymore,' Deeb said. 'There’s so much you can do that makes a difference without spending a lot of money.'”
The city bought the property and helped the residents relocate. The homes weren’t salvageable and were torn down because of asbestos, lead pain and substandard utilities, explained Elias Deeb, project manager at The Noisette Co.
In their place is a new kind of neighborhood. 'We made a wholesale, sustainable approach to the design of the neighborhood,' Deeb said. The entire project includes 374 homes and 17 parks. The first phase consists of 120 single-family homes and 32 townhomes. Nine builders were selected to carry out the community’s sustainable vision. Homes are $185,000 to $315,000, with the majority in the $200,000 price range.
One of the biggest assets of Oak Terrace Preserve is the dozens of trees that were preserved during the planning phase. About 90% of the trees were saved. 'We took considerable more time siting each house,' Deeb said. 'You can’t take the postage stamp approach.'
Oak Terrace is also a dense neighborhood with a minimum lot size of 3,200 square feet. These kinds of infill developments help curb urban sprawl and locate residents near existing businesses, schools, restaurants and transportation.
'Oak Terrace is pretty much as dark green as you can get for the Lowcountry and probably for the state,' Deeb said.
Other green initiatives include:
• Job site recycling.
• Insulation upgrades.
• Dual-flush toilets.
• Low-flow faucets.
• Cork or bamboo flooring.
• EnergyStar appliances.
• Tankless water heaters.
• Elevated concrete slab. Not having wood in the flooring system dramatically reduces issues of moisture, mold and termites.
• Native, drought-tolerant plants, eliminating the need for an irrigation system.
• A walking/jogging path around the perimeter of the development is lined with a product of recycled tires and rock, making it durable and porous.
Creating an energy-efficient home can reduce the cost of utilities 20% to 30% and sometimes even 50%, Deeb said.
'We’re starting to reach the tipping point where the objection that it costs too much doesn’t fly anymore,' Deeb said. 'There’s so much you can do that makes a difference without spending a lot of money.'”
For the full Charleston Regional Business Journal article: http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/current/14_12/news/12184-1.html
For the Oak Terrace Preserve website: http://oakterracepreservesc.com/
For Troy's website dedicated to the area: http://parkcircleonline.com/
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