ORLANDO, FL – (January 12, 2005) – At a reception kicking off the 61st National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) International Builders’ Show, Daniel Island received the distinguished Platinum Best In American Living Award (BALA) as the nation’s Best Suburban Smart Growth Neighborhood/Community for 2004.
Recognized as the most prestigious new home design competition in the industry, the Best in American Living Award is sponsored by the NAHB and Professional Builder magazine, and is open nationwide to builders, architects, designers, developers, land planners and interior designers.
The award was accepted by Matt Sloan, chief operating officer of The Daniel Island Company, and vice president of development Bill McKenzie during the gala event held at Universal Studios in Orlando.
“Our entire team is honored to receive this recognition — this is a validation of the master plan and evolution of the community of Daniel Island,” said Sloan. “We are especially gratified to be part of the BALA Smart Growth category.”
Sloan noted, “Daniel Island is a well-thought out extension of the city of Charleston. In this unique island setting, we have been able to nurture and grow the five primary components that make up this mixed-use sustainable community: residential, commercial/corporate, retail, civic and recreational. In other words, Daniel Island is a place where people can live, work, shop, learn and play. Many master planned communities are not able to get beyond the ‘residential’ component.”
According to the entry form for the 2004 BALA competition, Smart Growth communities are ones that:
- Protect and provide access to the natural environment
- Incorporate a mix of land uses
- Use land in an efficient and innovative manner
- Are pedestrian-scaled and pedestrian-friendly
- Provide housing choices
- Respect local traditions
- Take advantage of infill opportunities
- Deliver a genuine experience of place
- Create jobs and impact economic development
Daniel Island’s master plan blends the best of aesthetics and functionality, and is based on the principles of New Urbanism and some of America’s best older traditional planned towns and communities. Daniel Island’s architecture, landscaping and overall neighborhood design are reflective of the local vernacular. In fact, every level of detail within the project’s development has been designed to enhance the community’s overall sense of place. Here, the essence of community is especially evident among the growing number of residents who, through their own initiatives, are nurturing the evolution of this active, vibrant and spirited small town.
Daniel Island is an excellent example of how innovative and adaptive planning can create a healthy, sustainable community. Its acceptance within the marketplace may be measured by the record-breaking sales success; Daniel Island’s 2004 residential sales volume exceeded $250 million, a 70% increase over 2003.
Daniel Island has become one of South Carolina’s best selling new home communities, drawing residents from around the region and country. It is the Charleston area’s preferred residential real estate choice for a wide variety of market segments, including young families, empty nesters, singles, retirees and move-up buyers.
As a mixed-use community, Daniel Island is providing a centrally located and thoughtfully planned location for growth in the region, and represents an excellent example of an anecdote for suburban sprawl.
For additional details on the 2004 BALA presentation, go to www.housingzone.com.
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