Fields of St. Croix
Lake Elmo, Minnesota, United States
Photo by Marion Patterson, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
The Fields of St. Croix is a planned suburban community focused on preserving the architectural heritage and ecosystem of the region. This historic preservation practices organic agriculture and ecological restoration.
241 acres, 113 homes, 12 attached homes
1999 - 2004
Developer: Robert Engstrom
Performance levels achieved:
Standard
Good
Better
Living
Regenerative
| Place | |
|---|---|
| Limits to Growth | |
| Food | |
| Habitat | |
| Transportation | |
| Water | |
| Energy | |
| Health + Happiness | |
| Civilized Environment | |
| Neighborhood Design | |
| Biophilia | |
| Resilient Connections | |
| Materials | |
| Material Plan | |
| Embodied Energy & Carbon | |
| Waste | |
| Equity | |
| Neighborhood & Access | |
| Access to Nature | |
| Access to Community Services | |
| Investment | |
| Beauty | |
| Inspiration |
Goals & Strategies:
Place
-
Food
Goals: Preserve prime agriculture land.
Strategies: 90 acre organic farm CSA is available, private gardens.
Habitat
Goals: Preserve native ecosystem in open space, protect and enhance eco- system services
Strategies: 144 acres (60%) of the land is put into a conservation easement, landscaping includes prairie, wetland buffers and oak savannas.
Transportation
Goals: Promote a safe walkable neighborhood.
Strategies: Narrow streets sized for use, walking paths, hiking trail, 5 miles from services, car dependent development.
Water
-
Water
Goals: 100% of waste water treated through innovative wetland wastewater treatment system.
Strategies: Storm water infiltration into groundwater, lake shoreline preservation, and private wells.
Energy
-
Energy
Goals: Not defined.
Strategies: Solar PV ready construction, guidelines for solar PV, otherwise standard construction.
Health + Happiness
-
Equity
Goals: Not defined.
Strategies: Housing clustered around community green, community center, walking and biking paths around the acreage, community meetings.
Materials
-
Materials
Goals: Cohesive aesthetics respond to architecture heritage.
Strategies: Strict rules enforced by community board.
Waste
Goals: Innovative wastewater treatment.
Strategies: Innovative wastewater treatment.
Download Case Study (PDF)
Sources:
robertengstromcompanies.com
|
www.engstromco.com/prev_fields
|
fieldsofstcroix.wordpress.com
|
lakeelmo.org
*Note: This case study was developed using found information.
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