Concord Ecovillage

Lancaster Online picks up our story

Staff writer Jon Rutter has done a really nice job capturing the essence of who we are. I can't believe he interviewed so many people for the article. Although you can't tell from the online copy, we made the center of the front page of the Sunday issue. Read all about it here.

Public presention leads to more good press

One of the 50+ people in attendance at our Dec. 7th presentation and meeting was the Editor of the Avon Grove Sun newspaper.  She wrote up a nice article on our project, which I think was also printed in a number of local sister papers such as the Kennett Paper and the Oxford Tribune.

Future residents present ecovillage plans to public
    By Keri Labuski; Editor, Avon Grove Sun
    Posted on Wed, Dec 10, 2008

I also heard that there's an article about us in the Dec. 2008 issue of Living Well Magazine, which is a monthly that comes out of Newark, DE.

We're also starting to get picked up by a number of blogs:

What's an Ecovillage?
    Sustainable Delaware
    Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Ecovillage in West Grove a Possibility
    The Real Estate Investment Blog
    Fri. Dec. 5, 2008

Ecovillage in West Grove a Possibility

The Avon Grove Sun picked up our story. Read about it here.

Avon Grove Sun and partners at PA8 News Group
Posted on Wed, Nov 26, 2008
In addition, this posting was picked up by other sites, such as:
    http://www.constructionjournal.com/comments.aspx?aid=193423&articles=yes&tab=3

Chester County Press

Yes Folks, we're in the news again! Chester County Press gave us a great spot on the Front Page, with three pictures on page 4. Read all about it here.

In the News this Week

Concord Ecovillage is in the news this week!  See the article at:

Concord Ecovillage hopes to LEED the way to green neighborhoods

By Adam Zewe, Community News

Posted Nov 18, 2008 @ 10:21 PM

Press Release: Local Residents on Path to Building a Net-Zero Energy “Ecovillage” Neighborhood in West Grove

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Anthony Aufdenkampe, Equity Member of Concord Ecovillage
Phone: 610-268-2153 ext. 263 (day)
610-268-2330 (evening/weekend)
Email: aufdenkampe@stroudcenter.org
Website: http://www.concordecovillage.org/

Local Residents on Path to Building a Net-Zero Energy “Ecovillage” Neighborhood in West Grove

West Grove Borough Council supports innovative site design

West Grove, PA - November 17, 2008 – The future residents of Concord Ecovillage and their development partners, Aye Partners LLC, presented plans to build a solar-powered, LEED Platinum certified neighborhood in West Grove Borough at the Nov. 5^th Council meeting.  The homes will be energy independent and carbon neutral.  Residents will have no energy utility bills.  The partnership will unveil their plans to potential residents and the public at 5:30 p.m. on December 7^th at Kennett Friends Meeting.

The project is expected to generate national interest, as very few net-zero energy homes have been built to date at market rates.  “A primary goal is to bring state-of-the-art ‘green building’ design within the reach of typical home buyers” states Anthony Aufdenkampe, Equity Member of the Concord Ecovillage group and future resident of the neighborhood.  Sandy Wiggins, a nationally recognized leader in green building and a principal of Aye Partners, elaborates, “There has been a Green Tsunami sweeping the commercial and institutional building sector, but residential development lags far behind.  We want to help lead the way to a residential green building revolution by demonstrating that affordable, net zero, quality housing is achievable today.”  Aufdenkampe continues, “A great many Americans would like to live in homes that match their environmental ideals, but they have nearly no viable options.  And who wouldn’t love saying goodbye to heating and electricity bills, especially after electric utilities are deregulated in 2010.”

“In addition to environmental sustainability, our other primary goal is to create a socially sustainable neighborhood” explains Janet Pelletier, another Equity Member and future resident.  Homes will be clustered around pedestrian green-ways and courtyards.  The site plan includes substantial open-space as natural meadows, wetlands, and community gardens, and also encourages social interaction among neighbors.  A large clubhouse with a commercial kitchen, large meeting/dining hall, media room, workshop and other shared facilities will further promote connections between residents.  “I want my children to be connected to other children and adults in their daily lives,” cites Bonnie Dickson, as one of the many reasons she is interested in living in the neighborhood. 

Concord Ecovillage is actively seeking additional future residents to participate in the design and development process.  “One of the many exciting things that sets this project apart is that it is resident-driven development. The needs and interests of future residents are front and center.  We have learned that participatory design leads to extraordinary results that just can’t be achieved any other way,” explains Jackie O’Neil, another principal of Aye Partners. 

Denny Howell of West Grove Partners, LLC, owner of the land under agreement quotes, "I am proud to be supporting an environmentally and socially sustainable community.  This is a very exciting  project."

To get involved or just learn more, interested potential residents and public are encouraged to attend a presentation and discussion of design and development plans starting at 5:30 pm on Sunday, December 7 at the Kennett Friends Meeting, N Union & Sickles St, Kennett Square, PA.  The public is also welcome to Concord Ecovillage’s monthly potluck, starting at 4:30 pm just before the meeting.  State Representative-elect Tom Houghton, who supports the project, and will be in attendance.

Concord Ecovillage is also organizing a day-long tour of two ecovillages in the Washington DC area on December 6.  Further details are listed on the Concord Ecovillage web-calendar at http://concordecovillage.typepad.com/concord_ecovillage/calendar.html.

Ecovillages and cohousing are two similar movements that combine the advantages of private homes with the benefits of more sustainable living, including shared common facilities and ongoing connections with neighbors.  They have a demonstrated track record with over 200 successfully completed neighborhoods in the USA.  Units typically sell and resell quickly at higher than market rates, and most completed neighborhoods have waiting lists of would-be buyers. 

Concord Ecovillage (www.concordecovillage.org) is an organization of local people seeking to build and reside in an environmentally and socially sustainable neighborhood. 

Aye Partners, LLC, are leaders in sustainable development and consulting.