July 31, 2007

A future development in Albemarle County is being recognized for doing more than just being green.

Belvedere, which is being developed off Rio Road by Stonehaus, has been named part of the LEED for Neighborhood Development Pilot Program.

This program conducted by the non-profit U.S. Green Building Council certifies developments that encourage healthier lifestyles by putting everything within walking distance.

Belvedere is a pioneer project in this area which will include houses, retail, parks, schools, and an organic farm. It is the only development in Central Virginia to be included in the LEED program.

Cass Kawecki, the sales and marketing director for Stonehaus, said their aim with the project was to do more than build environmentally-friendly buildings.

"In designing Belvedere, we thought, 'how do we actually design a community that gets kids off the couch? How do we design a community that goes beyond designing sidewalks to designing destinations to actually walk to and reasons to walk somewhere.'"

The first houses in Belvedere will be completed next spring. The entire build-out should be done within eight years.