Innovative Developments

The Prairie Crossing project, described below, was well underway as a leading-edge development before the Building Science Consortium was formed to redirect some of its strategies. The other two projects profiled below are unrelated to Building America. Legend Communities’ green agenda was driven by the pioneering Austin Green Builder Program. And McStain’s project was driven by the interest and faith of the company. It is now pulling other participants in Colorado’s new Green Builder Program along behind.

In spite of the common perception that environmental features are only relevant in upscale housing markets, many of the projects described here indicate otherwise. Legend Communities is finding the low-income market very receptive to their three-star product. Most notably, however, McStain is finding that the townhouses at Greenlee Park are “selling like hotcakes,” while the more expensive single-family detached and duplex units are not moving as quickly. It appears that middle and lower-income buyers are looking for the value that these projects offer.