Be the ENVY of All: Win Florida Association of Realtors’ Environmental (ENVY) Award

ORLANDO, FL – April 30, 2009 – (RealEstateRama) — Don’t wait to enter the Florida Association of Realtors®’ (FAR) annual Environmental Award program, or you may be green with ENVY when the winner is chosen. Popularly known as the “ENVY” award, the honor goes to a development that best preserves Florida’s natural quality of life. The award may be given in two categories: one for residential development and one for commercial development.

Baldwin Park, a traditional neighborhood development on 1,100 acres near Orlando’s thriving downtown, won FAR’s 22nd ENVY Award 2008.

Judges cited this development for the efforts it has taken to preserve the area’s natural elements. Baldwin Park features more than 400 acres of open space, lakes and water resources, including 15 community parks – in fact, nearly 35 percent of the property is devoted to parks and lakes. Developers of Baldwin Park worked with Audubon of Florida to help plan the parks and water habitats, taking care to create viable ecosystems. In regards to Baldwin Park, one judge commented: “Future developments in Florida should take cues from this project for its excellence in design, both functional and environmental, as to lessen their environmental footprint.”

Some of the other environmentally-concerned developments named as past ENVY Award winners include: Verandah, Lakewood Ranch, Wild Heron, Harmony, World Golf Village, Solivita, Amelia Island Plantation, Rosemary Beach and Viera.

The winner in each category will receive a hand-crafted Lucite trophy, recognition at FAR’s annual Convention and Trade Show, Aug. 19-23, 2009, and statewide news coverage as Florida’s top environmentally conscious builder. The competition is judged by three distinguished environmental and planning professionals. The entry deadline is Wednesday, July 8, 2009.

ELIGIBILITY: All Florida commercial developments are eligible. Also, all planned residential developments with a minimum of 30 residential units in Florida qualify. Residential developments must be currently available for marketing and must include a model home.

JUDGING CRITERIA: For each criteria category, applicants should explain how the project goes above and beyond current environmental preservation and/or building code minimal requirements. Please include photos, site plans and other documents that will help illustrate your points to the judges. Provide narrative that will clearly demonstrate and explain the development’s environmental features, environmental or preservation activities and design aspects to help the judges better review your project. Explain what makes your project stand out from the rest – what are you the most proud of? Why should your development receive FAR’s ENVY Award? These are the things the judges want to know.

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;
(8) Marketability; and (9) Tell us what makes your project stand out from the rest – what are you the most proud of?

Residential: (1) Preservation of natural flora and fauna; a) highlight any restoration areas or efforts; b) include any corridors/buffer zones; c) highlight wetlands areas;
(2) Landscaping/compatibility with surrounding environment; (3) Design in scale and context with surrounding environment; a) highlight and explain any specific “green” standards and/or certification standards endorsed by the project – such as standards from the Florida Green Building Coalition, LEED-ND (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-Neighborhood Development) standards or National Home Builders green building standards; (4) Open space and access/usability of open space;
a) highlight green space and unusual features; (5) Family recreation and common areas; a) highlight special areas; (6) Streets and safety features; (7) Drainage and stormwater design features; a) highlight any unique stormwater plans; (8) Marketability; and (9) Tell us what makes your project stand out from the rest – what are you the most proud of?

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. Upon request, entry materials may be returned after judging.

DEADLINE: All entries must be received at FAR’s headquarters by Wednesday, July 8, 2009. 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 Web site at http://media.floridarealtors.org.

The Florida Association of Realtors, the voice for real estate in Florida, provides programs, services, continuing education, research and legislative representation for its 115,000 members in 67 local boards/associations.