Read news from Green & Main and its partners and feel free to share the news with others. News releases are listed chronologically.
Green & Main Media Contact:
Jean Danielson, Director of Operations
Phone: 515-954-5508
jean@indigo-dawn.com
Press Releases
Local Midwifery Clinic Announces Plan to Develop Birth Center in Sherman Hill
July 26, 2011 ~ Willowsong Midwifery Care is announcing the development of a birth center in the Sherman Hill neighborhood of Des Moines, IA. Scheduled to open in early summer of 2012, Willowsong will be expanding to provide a new level of exceptional healthcare to women of all ages under the name Healing Passages Birth Center.
“We are in the process of great transformation and growth,” says Certified Nurse Midwife and Owner Cosette Boone. “After ten years of building a solid client base, we are moving towards bringing back to Des Moines a freestanding, midwifery owned-and-operated birth center offering home, hospital and birth-center birth in addition to well-woman gynecology and a dynamic Learning/Resource Center!”
The Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs) and Registered Nurses who will make up Healing Passages recently attended an extensive Birth Center Workshop in Pennsylvania focusing on developing innovative maternity care services. Participants were encourages to ‘think outside the box’ in developing core and complementary services that will better meet the needs of the contemporary woman and her family.
The Birth Center will occupy the entire first level of the progressively-sustainable building known as the Green & Main Pilot Project, located in Sherman Hill. Not only will the building exceed traditional models with the anticipated LEED Platinum Certification, but the birth center will exceed traditional healthcare models to provide a warm, private, home-like environment with all the technology for up-to-date prenatal care, delivery and women’s wellness exams.
Certified Nurse Midwives are trained to provide preventative care for women of all ages. In preparation for the upcoming birth center, Healing Passages is currently growing their well-woman care division offering In-Network Coverage. This division offers a full range of well-woman services including: well-women exams and screenings, family planning counseling and contraception, pre-conceptual counseling, contraceptive counseling and services, sexually transmitted infection screenings and nutritional advice and support.
Working with local hospitals and medical practitioners for referrals and comprehensive health care, the Certified Nurse Midwives and RNs provide the time, education and support that women need to take an active role in their health. Healing Passages Birth Center will provide an innovative approach in women’s health care with unparalleled support and quality care. They will provide a clinic as unique as their clients are.
Women do not need to be mothers or planning a pregnancy to participate in the center’s offerings. New clients are currently being accepted. Call Willowsong’s office for your annual exam, a consult about our maternity care package or our class, clinic and group offerings open to the public. The office can be reached at (515) 266-6712.
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Cohousing Pioneer to Speak in Des Moines
June 20, 2011 – Cohousing Pioneer to Speak in Des Moines: “Cohousing, Community and the Value of Custom Neighborhoods”
Thursday, July 14, 2011 – 7:00 pm
Windsor Heights Community Center
Colby Park
6900 School Street
(69th Street south of University Avenue)
Des Moines, IA
$10 Admission
Charles Durrett, an award-winning architect and leader in the North American cohousing movement, will present an overview of the cohousing concept of building community on July 14 in Des Moines, IA. The presentation is open to the public. It will be of particular interest to community builders, neighborhood associations, architects, green builders, city planners and community-conscious people who want to create better neighborhoods. This presentation is sponsored by Turtle Farm Cohousing Community, Indigo Dawn, Silent Rivers, and RDG Planning & Design.
In addition to gaining general knowledge of cohousing, attendees will learn about a current local initiative to build such a community. Those interested in being part of this initiative, the Turtle Farm Cohousing Community, will be invited to view the property at an upcoming open house. Details at www.turtlefarmcohousing.org
What is Cohousing?
Cohousing is “intentionally building community.” Cohousing neighborhoods are composed of privately owned homes clustered around shared open space and common facilities. The common house is the heart of the community, designed for events such as group dinners, children’s play, fireplace gatherings, guest lodging, gardening, and yoga. Cars are kept to the exterior of the site, making the neighborhood pedestrian-friendly and safe for children. The future residents are involved in the design so that it reflects their needs and priorities. Environmental sustainability is a core value in cohousing projects.
What is Turtle Farm Cohousing Community (TFCC)?
Turtle Farm is a 20-acre, privately owned, certified organic fruit and vegetable farm in Granger, Iowa. Owner Angela Tedesco has been operating this farm as Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) for the past 13 years. Others have joined her in forming TFCC, LLC to support this cohousing project.
The Turtle Farm Cohousing Community envisions a new model for urban agriculture that places cohousing on the non-farmed portions of the land. The community owns the farm in common, so that it can continue to exist as a farm to feed the community, or to remain as an income-generating resource, serving residents of central Iowa.
About Charles Durrett
An architect by training, Charles Durret brought the idea of cohousing to the United States about twenty-five years ago from Denmark. While living there and attending the Royal Academy of Art and Architecture, Durrett and his wife Kathryn McCamant were intrigued by distinctively friendly, inviting, active neighborhoods called “living communities” and began studying them. McCamant & Durrett Architects have since designed and consulted in 50 cohousing communities. Now there are 120 cohousing neighborhoods in the US and Canada and almost 100 more in some stage of development. They are the authors of the recently released book Creating Cohousing: Building Sustainable Communities (third edition). Durrett also wrote Senior Cohousing: A Community Approach to Independent Living—The Handbook (now in its second edition). Find out more at www.cohousingco.com.
About Indigo Dawn
Indigo Dawn, LLC is a development company that generates progressive community-wide solutions, promoting and encouraging sustainable lifestyles. Indigo Dawn collaborators include: historic rehabilitation experts, business strategists, sustainability educators, communication specialists and event managers. Our mission: to create sustainable communities and to teach others how. Indigo Dawn – Developing a New Way, 735 19th Street, Ste 2, Des Moines, IA 50314
About Silent Rivers Design + Build
Silent Rivers, Inc is a design and construction firm that specializes in authentic well-managed residential solutions. Over 18 years strong, Silent Rivers has received national awards for best practices in design, renovation and business stewardship. Building Inspiration – Bringing People Home, offices located at 9205 Swanson Blvd, Clive, IA 50325
RDG Planning & Design. RDG designs spaces that fit the way people live, work, play and learn. Our core values are building relationships on respect and trust; bringing passion, energy and creativity to every project; leading the way with technology and sustainability; and being actively involved in the communities we serve. We’re architects, landscape architects, engineers, artists and planners with a passion for design and a drive to make a difference.
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Green & Main Sustainable Renovation Workshop #4
Green & Main Sustainable Renovation Workshop #4: Workshop to be held in the Historic Sherman Hill Neighborhood
May 23, 2011 – As part of the ongoing Green & Main educational efforts, the fourth workshop in a series of six will take place on Friday, June 3, 2011. The fourth workshop will cover plumbing, electrical, mechanical and alternative energy systems.
Chaden Halfhill, developer of the Green & Main initiative, will deliver the workshop.
“A building envelope does not just consist of the walls, insulation and covering materials like lathe, plaster, siding and the like,” states Mr. Halfhill. “Keen attention needs to be paid to wiring, plumbing, ducting, vacuum systems, sustainably-modified waste removal and all such internal systems. Building these components into a renovated building plan requires attention to intricate details and a tremendous amount of building science knowledge. This class will address these crucial areas in renovation plans that lead to greater success and fewer road bumps by thinking about them ahead of time.”
The series presents the opportunity to learn more about the renovation of the historic H & H Grocery Store in the Sherman Hill neighborhood of Des Moines. This renovation—the Green & Main Pilot Project—is remodeling a mixed-use masonry building built in 1933 according to USGBC LEED Platinum certification guidelines, including sustainable improvements in storm water management, energy efficiency, renewable energy and historic preservation.
Friday’s class will take place between 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. at the Wallace Centers of Iowa located at 756 16th Street Des Moines, Iowa 50314. The cost for the workshop is $20 for COSC members and $35 for non-members. Lunch is included. Register online at www.icosc.com or call Carrie Boyle at 515-707-2784 (carrie@icosc.com).
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Green & Main Sustainable Renovation Workshop #3
Green & Main Sustainable Renovation Workshop #3: Workshop to be held in the Historic Sherman Hill Neighborhood
April 29, 2011 – As part of the ongoing Green & Main educational efforts, the third workshop in a series of six will take place on Friday, May 6, 2011. The third workshop will cover Foundations, Framing and Roofing as well as Radon, Lead and Asbestos. The Center on Sustainable Communities (COSC) is providing the educational component of the series.
Chaden Halfhill, developer of the Green & Main initiative, will contribute to the workshop.
“When we are talking about asbestos, lead and radon,” states Mr. Halfhill, “we are talking about the big three environmental concerns of existing buildings in Iowa. In greening existing buildings, developers, designers and remodelers need to know how to address these environmental dangers. One aspect of this class will reference how to mitigate these hazards and create a healthier building for occupant safety.”
The series presents the opportunity to learn more about the renovation of the historic H & H Grocery Store in the Sherman Hill neighborhood of Des Moines. This renovation—the Green & Main Pilot Project—is remodeling a mixed-use masonry building built in 1933 according to USGBC LEED Platinum certification guidelines, including sustainable improvements in storm water management, energy efficiency, renewable energy and historic preservation.
Friday’s class will take place between 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. at the Wallace Centers of Iowa located at 756 16th Street Des Moines, Iowa 50314. The cost for the workshop is $20 for COSC members and $35 for non-members. Lunch is included. Register online at www.icosc.com or call Carrie Boyle at 515-707-2784 (carrie@icosc.com).
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Green & Main Sustainable Renovation Workshop #2
March 9, 2011—As part of the ongoing Green & Main educational efforts, the second workshop in a series of six will take place on Friday, March 11, 2011. The second workshop will cover Planning and Design, Historic Preservation Considerations and Financing. The Center on Sustainable Communities (COSC) is providing the educational component of the series.
The workshop presenter, Chaden Halfhill, developer of the Green & Main initiative, will speak on fundraising solutions for high performance buildings, visioning and collaborative efforts, and integrating sustainability with historical preservation expectations.
“We are going to take a frank look at the challenges of integrating sustainability and preservation issues,” said Mr. Halfhill. “We will have a dialogue about what are some of the synergies and what are some of the pitfalls with blending new technologies and sciences with old technologies and historical precedent.”
The series presents the opportunity to learn more about the renovation of the historic H & H Grocery Store in the Sherman Hill neighborhood of Des Moines. This renovation—the Green & Main Pilot Project—is remodeling a mixed-use masonry building built in 1933 according to USGBC LEED Platinum certification guidelines, including sustainable improvements in storm water management, energy efficiency, renewable energy and historic preservation.
Friday’s class will take place between 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. at the Wallace Centers of Iowa located at 756 16th Street Des Moines, Iowa 50314. The cost for the workshop is $20 for COSC members and $35 for non-members. Lunch is included. Register online at www.icosc.com or call Leslie Berckes at 515-707-2787 (leslie@icosc.com).
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Green & Main Developer Chaden Halfhill to Present at National Conference
February 28, 2011 – Local developer Chaden Halfhill will be presenting Indigo Dawn, LLC’s Green & Main initiative on a national stage Thursday, March 3, 2011 at the Better Buildings: Better Business Conference in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. Halfhill will have the opportunity to represent the Des Moines building community and share his experience on the development of what is planned to be the first platinum Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) mixed-use masonry building in Iowa. His presentation is titled ‘Integrating Efficiencies into a Historic Mixed-Use Masonry Building as a Case Study for Applied Best Practices.’
The Better Buildings: Better Business Conference brings leaders of the residential building community together for three days of sessions and networking in Wisconsin Dells, WI. This year’s conference theme is Learn – Network – Unite and will connect technical strategies for building and remodeling homes to be energy efficient with business strategies for growing a business. The conference brings together a vast array of 60 speakers and 70 conference sessions to bring industry experts the tools they need to thrive in a changing climate where energy efficient and net-zero energy homes are the norm.
Halfhill’s presentation gives attendees the chance to learn about the design process and decisions made to achieve stout goals for this case study. The presentation provides a comprehensive overview of integrating high-performance best practices, while offering a glimpse at business strategies that might help others accomplish similar application in their markets, leading the way towards energy independence.
Thursday’s presentation is one of many opportunities to learn about this unique LEED project happening in the heart of Iowa. A six-part workshop series, co-sponsored by Indigo Dawn and Center on Sustainable Communities, is planned throughout 2011 to educate those interested in preserving similar main street buildings across Iowa. The next workshop will be held Friday, March 11, 2011 at The Wallace House in Des Moines. The workshop will focus on planning and design, historic preservation considerations, bank lending, federal and state grants, and state historic tax credits. A full listing of events for the Green & Main initiative can be found at www.greenandmain.org/education-events/.
More information on Better Buildings: Better Business Conference can be found here. For questions about the Green & Main Pilot Project please visit www.greenandmain.org.
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Green & Main Becomes the First Iowa Project Selected for SITES
DES MOINES, IOWA | NOVEMBER 29, 2010
CONTACT: Sara Crouse, 515-661-5557, info@indigo-dawn.com
The Green & Main Pilot Project has been selected to participate in a new program, the Sustainable Sites Initiative™ (SITES™), testing the nation’s first rating system for green landscape design, construction, and maintenance.
Green & Main will join more than 150 other projects from 34 states as well as from Canada, Iceland, and Spain as part of an international pilot project program to evaluate the new SITES rating system for sustainable landscapes, with and without buildings. Examples of other SITES projects include: The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History & Culture, New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward Sustainable Infrastructure Project, and the Indianapolis Super Bowl Village. Sustainable landscapes can clean water, reduce pollution and restore habitats, while providing significant economic and social benefits to land owners and municipalities.
“We are elated that our project was chosen to participate with an initiative center on restoring ecological services, said Indigo Dawn Director Chaden Halfhill. “Establishing nationwide benchmarks for site development is crucial. I’m grateful for the help of so many talented people bringing this landscape to reality.”
SITES, a partnership of the American Society of Landscape Architects, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at The University of Texas at Austin, and the United States Botanic Garden, selected Green & Main based on its extensive environmentally friendly elements. These sustainable practices include: site water conservation, drinking water improvements, and multiple erosion and sediment control methods.
The SITES Rating System includes 15 prerequisites and 51 different credits covering areas such as the initial site selection, water, soil, vegetation, materials, human health and well-being, construction and maintenance – adding up to a 250 point scale. The rating system recognizes levels of achievement by obtaining 40, 50, 60 or 80 percent of available points with one through four stars, respectively. SITES will receive feedback from the pilot projects until June 2012 to revise the final rating system and reference guide for release in 2013. The U.S. Green Building Council, a stakeholder in the Sustainable Sites Initiative, anticipates incorporating guidelines and performance benchmarks into future iterations of its LEED® Green Building Rating System™.
More information on SITES is available at www.sustainablesites.org. For questions about the Green & Main Pilot Project please visit www.greenandmain.org.
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SCAVO Open Arts Group completes community artwork
DES MOINES, IOWA | NOVEMBER 2, 2010
CONTACT: Sara Crouse, 515-661-5557, info@indigo-dawn.com
Take a look around the Historic Sherman Hill Neighborhood and you’ll see a colorful new addition to a once drab building. The SCAVO Alternative High School students recently installed a set of seven panels illustrating the goals of the Green & Main Pilot Project located at 800 19th Street in Des Moines. The panels vibrantly display buying local products, practicing sustainable habits, and best practices in storm water management. The panels were created as part of the SCAVO Community Revitalization Classes offered to students in the Open Arts Group.
The SCAVO Open Arts group has created permanent public art for the last 10 years. A few examples of the group’s work can be seen in the Federal Courthouse, Federal Building, and the United Way Offices. SCAVO Alternative High School instructors Suzet Nelson and Ellen Robinson were both personally interested in sustainable initiatives prior to working with the Green & Main project.
Instructors Nelson, Robinson, and Chaden Halfhill of Indigo Dawn, LLC agreed the community art panels should illustrate the building’s historical use as a local grocery store in the Historic Sherman Hill Neighborhood. The students also designed the panels to represent the current neighborhood and the building’s goals to promote energy efficiency. Many of the SCAVO Open Arts students are currently in secondary education programs to pursue their passion for art and community contributions.
Both Nelson and Robinson continue to be involved in sustainable projects like Green & Main. Nelson is a board member of Urban Ambassadors, a local 501(c)3 not-for-profit that seeks to move city residents towards sustainable lifestyle choices, creating programs that other organizations may utilize to create change. Robinson has been focused on sustainability throughout her 36 year teaching career. She currently is involved with local community gardening efforts.
Pictures of the SCAVO Open Arts Group’s work on the Green & Main project can be viewed online at http://greenandmain.org/2010/09/pilot-project-scores-illustrations-scavo-students/. For questions regarding the SCAVO Open Arts Group please contact Suzet Nelson or Ellen Robinson at 515-242-7589. For questions about the Green & Main Pilot Project please contact Sara Crouse at 515-890-9420
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Indigo Dawn Celebrates Launch of Pilot Project
DES MOINES, IOWA | SEPTEMBER 2, 2010
CONTACT: Sara Crouse, 515-661-5557, info@indigo-dawn.com
Indigo Dawn invites you to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new Green & Main project located at 800 19th Street in the Historic Sherman Hill neighborhood of Des Moines on Thursday, September 23.
The project will renovate the H & H Grocery Store according to USGBC LEED certification guidelines, aiming to achieve Platinum status, which will make it the first remodel of its kind in Iowa. The renovation will boast diverse sustainable improvements in storm water management, energy efficiency, renewable energy and historic preservation. Multiple best practices have been incorporated to help highlight how to positively impact existing buildings across the state.
The mixed-use building will be upgraded to provide space for a women’s holistic health clinic and residential living, as well as community classroom space used for educational workshops.
“We are very pleased to be able to break ground on a project which has gained so much support from many around the state,” said Chaden Halfhill, President of Indigo Dawn, LLC. “This project is expected to pave the way as a working model for similar community projects in the future.”
A social hour, including light refreshments, will be provided at 5 p.m. followed by a ceremony at 6 p.m. The ceremony will include guest ambassadors discussing topics such as restoring historical buildings, energy efficiency and storm water management. For more information please visit www.greenandmain.org.
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