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Charleston Member Receives National "Building With Trees" Award |
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Charleston member developer The Daniel Island Company was recently awarded the 2007 Building With Trees Awards of Excellence from The National Arbor Day Foundation.
The developer was one of four recipients honored for protecting and saving existing trees during the development process of The Daniel Island Club’s Ralston Creek golf course. The Daniel Island Company is the only developer in the program’s history that has won a Building with Trees award more than one time. The Daniel Island Club’s Beresford Creek Course won the award in 2003. Ralston Creek was the only golf course to receive the award in 2007. The other three recipients are residential developments. The developer and golf course architect Rees Jones began working two years before construction started on Ralston Creek to plan a course routing that would impact the minimum number of trees. Once construction was underway, crews transplanted 42 oak trees and some 100 pine trees to other parts of the course, according to Jeff Elliott, senior project manager and land planner. Some of the oaks were at least 60 years old and had trunks as large as 31 inches in diameter, requiring one of the nation’s largest tree spades to aid in the transplanting process. “The National Arbor Day Foundation’s mission to plant, nurture and celebrate trees is one that we strongly believe in and are proud to support,” Elliott said. “We think saving the trees significantly adds to the Lowcountry character and aesthetics of the course.” In addition to saving trees on the golf course, The Daniel Island Company has planted more than 16,000 trees on the 4,000-acre island since development began 10 years ago. “A wide variety of trees contributes to the natural beauty of Daniel Island,” said Matt Sloan, president of The Daniel Island Company. “They are a quality of life investment that will pay dividends for generations to come.” Criteria for the Arbor Day award include creativity and attention to protecting trees during planning, design and construction; planting and providing for long-term tree care; demonstrating a commitment to tree protection by having a certified tree-care professional on the development team; taking inventory of existing trees and using information to help preserve trees; and adherence to tree protection goals throughout the construction process. Located within the City of Charleston, Daniel Island is one of the South Carolina Lowcountry’s preferred suburban addresses. This 4,000-acre island town features distinctive neighborhoods with a mix of home styles and prices and landscaped streets with sidewalks that encourage leisurely strolls and neighborly conversations. In addition to nationally recognized golf, tennis and soccer facilities, Daniel Island’s growing collection of amenities includes all of the essential components of a small town – schools, churches, medical offices, restaurants, boutiques, a modern supermarket and more. Access to hundreds of acres of parks, 23 miles of rivers and creeks with docks and boat ramps, bicycle and jogging paths, and a private in-town country club provide Daniel Island residents with a myriad of recreational options. |
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