Dec 3 2009
American Community Property Trust (ACPT) has launched an initiative for a complete green development project at St. Charles, Maryland, which will help to develop 9,100 acre planned community in Charles County. The project will develop in the St. Charles planned community 4,000 undeveloped acres and also modify 12,000 existing homes, and 4 million square feet of commercial space.
His Excellency Martin O’Malley, Maryland Governor who graced the launch event with his presence, remarked that Maryland is focused on new ideas for new jobs in science, security and skills which will connect the challenges and opportunities of the workforce. He also added that their goal for St. Charles is to serve as a model of a 21st century city, which will be a healthy city that will enjoy a flourishing economy, and a city that will establish a connection between healing the planet and create good-paying jobs, which will create a stronger economy for the people who live in Maryland. He also said that it is a honor to be present there at St. Charles, along with ACPT to announce the creation of a Green City. As a part of the Green City initiative, St. Charles will be a model for cities and make important connections between creation of new jobs and blooming economy and the health of the planet.
According to Steve Griessel, CEO of American Community Property Trust, the efforts at St. Charles will help to lower carbon footprint and water usage for the community. The transformational effect will help 40% of the population at Charles County to live on 2% of its land mass, and make St. Charles truly a smart, green and growing community. Griessel outlined a plan that includes allotting the 4,000 acres of land for 11,000 new homes and 5 million square feet of community centers, schools and commercial centers to be a green community, creating 20,000 jobs through a Green Jobs Opportunity Zone, and designing and building homes, commercial buildings and apartments that will cost less but perform better. The plan also includes making St. Charles an international living laboratory for new technologies, products, services, and sharing the results of the program with the world. The plan also includes working with universities and colleges to create a green campus, research and development park, and incubator. Griessel also announced that ACPT has signed an memorandum of understanding with the Charles County Government, SMECO, and other local and national businesses.
According to Griessel, based on the memorandum of understanding, the following initiatives will be undertaken. Competitive Power Venture (CPV) will purchase land to construct a 75-acre 10-megawatt solar farm in St. Charles; With IBM, ACPT will create a common technology platform for the whole community that will enable greater productivity, improved public safety, higher rate of conservation, and create a greater sense of community. ACPT will also develop a neighborhood, a 625-mixed-unit community called Homefield based on LEED standards.
Source: http://www.acptrust.com/