North Charleston Neighborhood Gets “Green Home” Stamp of Approval
August 15, 2008 – 8:43 amChoosing Green: The Homebuyers Guide to Good Green Homes, by Jerry Yudelson, published by New Society Publishers 2008 named Oak Terrace Preserve in North Charleston one of the nation’s leading green built community developments. Yudelson, who chairs the U.S. Green Building Council’s steering committee for GreenBuild, rated green developments all over the Southeast.
Oak Terrace Preserve is the only South Carolina-based green residential development listed.
At Oak Terrace Preserve, homes feature usable porch space, facing the street. Built in a traditional Lowcountry design, each home features EnergyStar® appliances, renewable, environmentally-sensitive building materials, water efficient toilets and sinks, among other features. The neighborhood features an innovative rain water management system with bioswales, and is accentuated by a network of pocket parks, public spaces and pedestrian-friendly walkways and streets. Some 400 trees, including many grand oaks, have been carefully preserved to enhance the neighborhood’s aesthetic. Even some walkways are constructed of Flexi-Pave, a pervious walking surface made from recycled tires.
With eight different builders participating, each home at Oak Terrace Preserve meets the certification standards of EarthCraft® House, as determined by the Southface Energy Institute of Atlanta, Georgia. Homes are offered at the $200,000 and up range.
Oak Terrace Preserve is owned by the City of North Charleston, and The Noisette Company, LLC serves as the development manager. OTP is the first new neighborhood in Historic Park Circle in nearly a half century, and the first fully EarthCraft-certified community in the Lowcountry. When finished, there should be 374 homes developed.
To date, 21 homes are already owner-occupied, with 8 more under contract and 24 lots left for sale.
Cottage Living magazine as part of the overall 3,000-acre Noisette master planned area, named one of the nation’s “Top 10″ green communities. Last April, OTP was part of a story about North Charleston’s emerging status as a leading green community in South Carolina, on SCETV’s “The Big Picture”.
(Source: Noisette Press 2008 article by Keith West)
