Battleground Village Provides Green Experience

It’s not often I find an inspiring development in Clark County, but Battleground Village, located at 119th Street and Commerce Avenue in Battleground, has done it.

The 21-acre mixed-use development won top prize at the 2008 Vancouver Business Journal “Top Projects” event, landing David Gottfried (founder of the US Green Building Council) to deliver a speech praising the community for its green and pedestrian friendly design.

The development has progressively connected live/work townhomes to a library, cafes and coffee shops, a community gathering space and trail system with a park.

The live/work units combine commercial, retail or office space with a residential home, and with long commutes weighing heavy on people’s minds, Battleground Village serves as a template for how to plan and design for the future.

Working from home moves us forward in reducing our carbon footprint by hanging up the car keys, but also significantly contributes to the financial savings in a time when every dollar counts.

The  live/work units  are priced under $300,000, which deserves a look from anyone considering this level of flexibility in their lives. The The Oaks (live/work units) are  slated to combine 42 units in just one acre of development, redefining what it means to use less to create more, and has masterfully created urban density in a rural setting.

It is inspiring to visit a community that is responding to the realities of our economy and  lives. It leads me to think that the built environment can create better situations for people by combing ecological thinking and fail-safe economics.

September 8th, 2008