Developers Plan a New Ecovillage in Pennsylvania

Walkability
by TJ Elder

I'd like to know what the WalkScore is for this place. Looks like they have about two parking spaces per dwelling unit. Living off the land in a rural area is one thing, but if people settle in a rural area and still expect urban amenities (jobs, restaurants, entertainment, etc.) that becomes a problem for transportation energy.

http://www.treehugger.com/cars/how-much-money-car-commuting-costing-you....

Good Point TJ
by Kevin Dickson, MSME

Building a low energy subdivision in a far-flung location is green building's ultimate irony, and the developers need to be called on it. (Maybe this one is near a rail stop)

"Households in downtown Chicago produce one-quarter the greenhouse gases of households in nearby suburban Kane County"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/15/AR201010...

I'd like to see more redevelopment of salvageable urban neighborhoods.

correction: location
by Minneapolis Disaster, 6B

From what I can tell via Google, this place is nowhere near Pittsburgh. Actually, it looks like it's just outside of Wilmington and Newark, DE. But even so, it's far closer to Philly (the east side of PA) than Pittsburgh (the west side of PA).

If Google Maps has steered me wrong, then my apologies.

location corrrection
by Richard Defendorf

Minneapolis Disaster, you are right. Apologies. West Grove looks to be a litte more than 30 miles west of Philadelphia. The text has been corrected accordingly.

Transportation energy is a
by John Klingel

Transportation energy is a factor, but not everyone wants to live in a *&^%$ city. Regardless of location, I applaud projects like this.

Gen Y and Cities
by Kevin Dickson, MSME

I can understand the desire to live out of town.

But developers may want to reconsider that business model given that 88% of millenials want an urban dwelling. Build for the 88%, not the 12%;
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/15/AR201010...

Sure, it's difficult and risky to build new in urban neighborhoods and inner ring suburbs. But as anyone who has followed gentrification trends can tell you, the rewards can be much greater and it's a win-win energy wise.

Walkability
by James Morgan

The site appears to be neither urban or rural but on the edge of a small town.

From the development's website:
"Fantastic location on 7.5 acres across the street from the planned London Grove Community Park. Downtown West Grove, three schools and the SCOOT bus stop are within walking distance."

Via Google maps, downtown amenities appear to include restaurants, a bank, a public library and a yoga studio but not much in the way of non-service employment. No downtown grocery but there's a La Carreta less than a mile from downtown and eight other food stores within three miles. There appears to be a (disused?) RR ROW running through the town which could be of value for a low-carbon transportation future.
From a quick glace: probably a great low-carbon place to retire, bring up kids or telecommute, but for ordinary working stiffs the key selling point is likely the proximity to Highway 1 for the 30 mile commute to a suburban Philadelphia office park. With a workplace charging station you could do it all-electric in a Chevy Volt, better would be a commuter rail offering along the old ROW.

A pretty good balance, really, for many folks - not for the hipsters but otherwise reasonably well-resourced and a modest distance from the world-class cultural resources of Philadelphia. IMHO a pretty decent location model for green cohousing.

30 miles of bad road
by shane claflin

30 miles is nothing for a commute. Especially if it can be covered by an electric vehicle. Round here, people commute 60+ miles on average. just sayin'