The result?  As more and more open space is converted to pavement, all of that rain water has fewer and fewer places to go.  Have you ever seen stories about homes in Charlotte that are in flood plains and you wonder why those crazy people ever built in the flood plain in the first place?  The truth is that when they built those homes 60 years ago, they weren’t in the flood plain, but as pavement prevents rain from soaking into the ground the creek levels get progressively higher to the point where the houses are now in a flood plain.

In addition to more development, much development today is denser than it used to be.  Lots are small, and the house and driveway takes up a high percentage of the lot.  So, when it rains most of the water ends up on the neighbor’s lot or pouring into a local stream with such velocity that the banks of the stream are eroded.

What to do?  Mecklenburg County has been undertaking some magnificent stream restoration projects where they put back the curves and plantings that have been removed by excessive runoff.  This fixes one problem, but it does not always get to the root cause.

More and more developments are implementing methods to keeping more rainwater on site.  Have you noticed all of the planting areas in the Northcross Shopping Center in Huntersville, or at Davidson Commons?  These areas are all designed to collect water from the parking lot and give it an opportunity to filter down through the earth rather than rush into the local stream or stormwater system.

Likewise, some home builders are installing rain gardens and other infiltration systems, either on individual lots are as collectors for a series of lots.  In our Davidson Springs neighborhood in downtown Davidson we’ve installed a level spreader at the end of our stormwater pipe.  This level spreader does just that: it gives stormwater an opportunity to spread out and percolate into the ground rather than be discharged directly into a creek.

Our our recently completed LEED certified home on Walnut Street in Davidson we installed an infiltration system.  This system features slotted infiltrators buried underground and covered with stone and high quality soil.  All of the gutters on the house are piped to this system, and the lot is graded so that any rain that falls onto the ground is directed to the infiltration system.  The result is that stormwater stays on the lot and filters into the ground rather than running on to the neighbors lot.  The infiltration area is also a great place for plants that like a little extra moisture.

Stormwater management is just another aspect of green building that positively impacts not only the home, but the environment around us.  Implementing a stormwater management system is something that can be done during new home construction, or after the fact as well.  Give us a call and we’d be glad to share our knowledge with you.

In 2009, John Marshall Custom Homes, Inc. built a home at 233 Catawba Avenue in Davidson which became the first house in Davidson to be LEED certified.  In 2011 their home at 631 James Alexander Way became their 2^nd LEED certified home in Davidson.

Visitors to the open house will have the opportunity to learn more about the process of building a green home.  Rodney Graham, owner of John Marshall Custom Homes, Inc., will be on hand to provide information and answer questions.  Mr. Graham is a Certified Green Building Professional.

The LEED for Homes program offers certification to homes that meet strict standards in energy and water efficiency, site selection, indoor air quality, material resource utilization, public education, and sustainable construction practices.

DIRECTIONS: Hwy 115 to Walnut Street (by Davidson United Methodist Church); take Walnut Street 1/3 mile and house will be on the right.

“Demand for houses in downtown Davidson is high,” said Graham, explaining the somewhat unusual location for the new project.  “Apart from the Mimosa Cemetery, there is no land left within a mile of the proposed Red Line train station.  When Mayor Woods approached me about building some custom homes on the Mimosa site, I jumped at the opportunity.”

Davidson Mayor John Woods explains that the Red Line financing plan is dependent upon growth in what is known as the TIF, or Tax Increment Financing, district.  “Seventy five percent of the tax revenue from new projects in the TIF will go towards paying off bonds that are issued to build the Red Line.  We need to build on every possible piece of land to make this vital project a success.”

Addressing the obvious question, Graham explains how houses will be built on the Mimosa Cemetery site without disturbing current occupants.  “Stilts are the key, ” explains the Certified Green Building Professional.  “By putting the houses up on stilts, life – such as it is- will carry on as always at the Mimosa Cemetery.  We are strategically placing the stilts in the pathways around the graves rather than on the graves themselves.  Out of respect for the dead, there will be no parking on site, but rather we’ll have an off site parking area near McEver Field.”

In another unique twist to this unique project, a limited number of homesites will be sold together with a burial plot.  For an additional $10,000 buyers may  be buried in the land beneath their home.  “Our LEED certified homes are healthy and have been proven to extend a homeowner’s life a minimum of five years, but eventually everyone’s time is up at some point.  We feel this option offers the ultimate in convenience for our customers.”

Homes will start at $200,000 and go up to $500,000.  For plans and reservations, please contact us using the contact us form on our website.

Winning the tickets is easy.  Just ‘like’ the Lake Davidson Nature Preserve page on facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-Davidson-Nature-Preserve/243997902296081) to win one ticket, or visit the Lake Davidson Nature Preserve and ‘check-in’ on facebook using your mobile device to win two tickets.

The Lake Davidson Nature Preserve is located behind the Davidson Day School, and features the only public canoe and kayak access to Lake Davidson.  A newly constructed nature trail winds through the preserve, and features several Leopold benches, informational signs, and an exquisite gazebo overlooking Lake Davidson.  The Lake Davidson Nature Preserve was built by the Davidson Lands Conservancy through the support and efforts of REI as well as dozens of volunteers and local organizations.

John Marshall Custom Homes is celebrating its 10^th anniversary in 2012, and as part of this celebration is sponsoring local organizations throughout the year.  “As a Board member of the Davidson Lands Conservancy I’ve experienced first hand the positive role the DLC is playing in our community,” says Rodney Graham, owner of John Marshall Custom Homes.  “We’ve greatly expanded our reach in Davidson, and the Lake Davidson Nature Preserve is just one example of a service that the DLC is providing to Davidson.  I am pleased to support the DLC, and I ask that you share this message with your friends and ask them to support the DLC as well.”

The Davidson Lands Conservancy sincerely thanks John Marshall Custom Homes and Board Member Rodney Graham for the enthusiastic support of DLC and the Spread the Love Event!  We look forward to seeing many jazz, art and wine enthusiasts, and supporters of DLC, the Community School and Ada Jenkins at this great event.

Thirty minutes of daily exercise such as walking, running, swimming or biking (or others) is shown to significantly reduce hypertension, heart disease, obesity, depression, arthritis, and many other ailments.  In many cases the risk of these conditions is reduced by over half with just 30 minutes a day of exercise.

How does  your home affect your ability to exercise?  Homes located in pedestrian friendly locations such as downtown Davidson encourage walking.  There’s a neat website called WalkScore that shows the relative walkability of a home.  Go to WalkScore and put in the address of the home we are building at 518 Walnut Street.  You’ll see it is 74, which is considered Very Walkable.  Use the map and the drop down boxes to see that there are 8 restaurants within a 3/4 mile walk of the home (among them the FlatIron Kitchen, Fuel Pizza, Restaurant X, the Brickhouse, Il Bosco, Campania Cafe, the Soda Shop and Toast), as well as several schools, parks, banks and other community resources.

Compare that to the WalkScore of a home in a popular subdivision on the east side of Davidson.  It’s 3.

The difference in 74 and 3 is more than just 71; it’s your health.  When you’re close to parks, restaurants, the Village Green, schools, shops and other community resources, you’re more likely to walk to them rather than take the car.  This is good for your health, good for the environment, and good for your pocketbook as you’ll save on gas and doctor bills.

Check out Davidson Springs, our community of custom homes in the heart of downtown Davidson, North Carolina.

The winning project featured an update of a 1960s ranch home in Davidson.  The original kitchen had oak cabinetry and white appliances (and lots of great art from the kids!), and was closed off from the entertaining areas of the home.

Lisa Carlay of International Kitchen and Bath of Davidson designed an open kitchen featuring a large island that could do double duty as an eating area as well as a homework station for the kids.  Stainless steel appliances and a vibrant granite countertop add to the contemporary appeal of the new kitchen.

While our prize was awarded for our kitchen work, the overall project also featured a reconfiguration and updating of the dining room and family room, as well as a bathroom remodel.

Lorimer Remodel After

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This home is ENERGY STAR certified, continuing our commitment to build all of our new homes under the ENERGY STAR program.

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We recently completed a new home on Rankin Road in Cabarrus County, and this house was ENERGY STAR certified.  Featuring spray foam insulation, conditioned crawl space and attic, efficient HVAC and windows, this home was given a HERS index of 64.  This index means that the home is projected to use 36% less energy than a home built to the current energy code.   Coupled with a rate reduction that Duke Energy provides to ENERGY STAR certified homes, the homeowner will enjoy total savings in excess of 40%.

ENERGY STAR requirements are soon becoming even more stringent, and John Marshall Custom Homes will proudly continue to be an ENERGY STAR partner.  ENERGY STAR compliant construction is just one way we build a better home.

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631 James Alexander Way is only the 2^nd home in Davidson to be LEED-certified, the first being another home built by John Marshall Custom Homes, Inc. in 2010 at 233 Catawba Avenue.  Green homes have substantially lower utility bills and may qualify for advantageous financing, lower insurance rates and government incentives. Through their commitment to green homebuilding, John Marshall Custom Homes, Inc. is helping to keep homeownership affordable.

“As a LEED certified home, 631 James Alexander Way serves as a model of greener living for the entire community,” said Mr. Graham.  “The home is at the national forefront of quality; and is an example of how we can all live better by reducing our environmental footprint, cutting our utility bills, and coming home to a healthier place to live.  In addition to being green, this home is beautiful with many custom features.”

Located in Davidson Springs in the heart of downtown Davidson, 631 James Alexander Way is within walking distance of the college and village green, shops and other conveniences.  The home focuses heavily on reducing energy use.  The three bedroom project features low-e argon windows, a conditioned crawl space and attic, and spray foam insulation.  Other energy efficiency upgrades include instantaneous water heaters, programmable thermostats, high efficiency gas furnaces and air conditioners, as well as mechanical ventilation.  The home also has many features that conserve water and improve indoor air quality as well as emphasize local, recycled components.

The spacious front porch is a great place to relax with family and friends, and the yard offers flower beds, a raised garden, and enough space to spread out without being overwhelmed by yard work.

Inside, the floor plan is marked by a large great room big enough for a grand piano, and a spacious master suite with dual walk-in closets.  Upstairs, a nearly 600 square foot play room is great for the kids, and there are two large secondary bedrooms each with a full bath, and a guest suite and hobby room.  Finally, a large walk-in storage room on the 2nd floor is a perfect place to store those things you don’t quite know what to do with.

For information on this beautiful home please contact Melissa Graham at 704-756-6540.

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