RSS Blog FeedVerandah in Fort Myers Wins Environmental (ENVY) Award
By Leanne Paynter | 3:05 PM on Oct. 4, 2006 | Florida Real Estate Blog
Verandah, a master-planned community located on almost 1,500 acres along the Orange River in Fort Myers, has won the 20th Residential Environmental Award from the Florida Association of Realtors (FAR). The award, popularly known as the ENVY, was presented recently at FAR’s 90th annual Convention and Trade Expo in Hollywood, Florida.“Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the Florida Association of Realtors’ Environmental Award has become THE one to win for builders of high-quality, environmentally responsible communities in Florida,” said 2006 FAR President Mike Dooley, in presenting the award. “Today, the ENVY Award recognizes the one residential development -- Verandah -- that best preserves our state’s natural quality of life.
The Bonita Bay Group serves as developers for Verandah, which opened for sales in February 2003.
Judges praised this development for the efforts taken to preserve the area's natural elements, such as setting aside nearly 70 percent of its land for open spaces, including nature preserves, parks, lakes and a conservation buffer for the riverfront. Developers also designed Verandah to reduce its wildfire threat, and thus became one of the first developments nationally to receive a Firewise Communities USA designation.
"Verandah was created with a deep respect for the environment, and receiving the ENVY Award confirms what we do as a company -- build communities in harmony with nature," said Kitty Green, vice president of The Bonita Bay Group. "At Verandah, we created a strict plan for protecting the community’s delicate ecosystems -- from historic riverfront to upland and wetland preserves."
As part of the ENVY award criteria, a judging panel of planning professionals reviewed the development’s preservation of the land’s native flora and fauna, the blending of the community with its surrounding environment, common areas such as nature trails and playgrounds, family recreation and safety, streets, drainage, sanitation and marketability.
Judges noted that Verandah was the state's "pioneer" in demonstrating how a community can be planned and developed following environmentally sustainable and green building practices. It received Florida's first green development designation from the Florida Green Building Coalition, which recognizes the community's commitment to responsible site development, natural resource and wildlife conservation, and green building practices.
Realtors throughout Florida commend Verandah for demonstrating that high-quality, environmentally conscious development makes good business sense.
© 2006 FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
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