Realtors(R) Environmental Award Deadline Looms
To: ENVIRONMENTAL EDITORS
Contact: Marla Martin, Communications Manager, +1-407-438-1400, ext. 2326, or Jeff Zipper, Vice President of Communications, +1-407- 438-1400, ext. 2314, both of Florida Association of Realtors
ORLANDO, Fla., June 11 /PRNewswire/ — Want to recognize an environmentally conscious Florida builder or developer, one whose projects prove that responsible growth and environmental protection can co-exist? Then remind builders to enter to win the Florida Association of Realtors(R) (FAR) annual Environmental Award, popularly known as the ENVY, before the July 7, 2008, deadline.
FAR introduced the ENVY Awards more than 20 years ago, but the issues of growth management and environmental preservation continue to concern all Floridians today. The 2006 ENVY winner for residential development was Verandah, a master-planned community located on almost 1,500 acres along the Orange River in Fort Myers. 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. They 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. The development also 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.
It is now time to honor another environmentally responsible development. The 2008 ENVY Award winner will be announced during FAR’s annual Convention & Trade Expo, held Sept. 24-28, 2008, at the Buena Vista Palace in Lake Buena Vista. Environmental and planning professionals will judge the contest, awarding a handcrafted Lucite trophy to the ENVY winners for residential and/or commercial development. In addition, the winners will be featured in statewide news coverage.
ELIGIBILITY: All Florida commercial developments are eligible, and all planned residential developments with at least 30 residential units qualify. Residential developments must also be currently available for marketing and include a model home.
JUDGING CRITERIA: Commercial: (1) Preservation of natural flora and fauna; (2) architectural compatibility; (3) design in scale and context with surrounding environment; (4) open space and access/ usability of surrounding environment; (5) common area access and usefulness; (6) streets, pedestrian and bicycle access; (7) drainage as a design feature; and (8) marketability.
JUDGING CRITERIA: Residential: (1) Preservation of natural flora and fauna; (2) landscaping/compatibility with surrounding environment; (3) design in scale and context with surrounding environment; (4) open space and access/usability of open space; (5) family recreation and common areas (playgrounds, nature trails, etc.); (6) streets and safety features; (7) drainage; and (8) marketability.
SUBMISSION: There is no entry limit and no cost to enter. Simply organize a three-ring notebook with the following material in this order: (1) a written overview of the development (maximum of four pages, typed, double spaced, on 8.5″ by 11″ paper); (2) supporting material and photographs that address the judging criteria in order as listed above – no videotapes or slides; and (3) a complete set of land development plans and other supporting data.
DEADLINE: All entries must be received at FAR’s headquarters by Monday, July 7, 2008. Send submissions to ENVY Award, Florida Association of Realtors, 7025 Augusta National Drive, Orlando, FL 32822-5017.
For more information about the ENVY award, call 407.438.1400, ext. 2326. To obtain this release or for additional media releases from FAR, go to the Florida Association of Realtors’ Media Center website at http://media.floridarealtors.org.
A chart with the names of previous ENVY Award winners is attached.
The Florida Association of Realtors (FAR), the voice for real estate in Florida, provides programs, services, continuing education, research and legislative representation to its 125,000 members in 67 boards/associations.
FAR’s ENVY Award Winners
1986-2006
ENVY Community City/County Web site
Award
1986 Bonita Bay Bonita Springs www.bonitabay.com
1987 Bluewater Bay Niceville www.bwbresort.com
1988 Tampa Palms Tampa www.newtampa.org
1989 Harbour Ridge Stuart www.harbourridgerealty.com
(tie)
1989 Hunter’s Green Tampa www.huntersgreen.com
(tie)
1990 Hunter’s Creek Orlando www.hunterscreek.com
1991 Palmer Ranch Sarasota N/A
1992 Grand Harbor Vero Beach www.grandharbor.com
1993 Black Diamond Lecanto blackdiamondranch.com
Ranch
1994 Viera Brevard County www.viera.com
1995 Haile Plantation Gainesville www.haileplantation.com
1996 Indian River Club Indian River www.indianriverclub.com
County
1997 Eagle Harbor at Clay County www.eagleharborfl.com
Fleming Island
1998 Town of Tioga Tioga (near www.townoftioga.com
Gainesville)
1999 Lakewood Ranch Sarasota www.lakewoodranch.com
(commercial winner)
1999 Rosemary Beach North Florida www.rosemarybeach.com
2000 Amelia Island Amelia Island www.aipfl.com
Plantation
2001 Solivita Polk, Osceola www.solivita.com
counties
2002 World Golf Between St. www.worldgolfrenaissance.com
Village Augustine,
Jacksonville
2003 Town of Harmony Osceola www.harmonyfl.com
County
2004 Wild Heron Lake Powell www.wildheron.com
2005 Lakewood Ranch Sarasota, www.lakewoodranch.com
(residential Manatee
winner) counties
2006 Verandah Fort Myers www.verandah.com
SOURCE Florida Association of Realtors
(c) 2008 U.S. Newswire. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.