Renew America Success Stories

Prairie Crossing

Description 

Prairie Crossing is a truly unique 667-acre residential development located 40 miles from Chicago that is dedicated to environmental preservation and community sustainability. In working to meet these goals, Prairie Crossing is being developed at only 20% of the permitted density, and the 317 homes within the development are being constructed with energy- and resource-efficient technologies. More than 350 acres on the site have been protected from any future development, with 200 acres comprising restored prairie and 150 acres dedicated to wetlands and working farm fields. In addition, numerous efforts have been made to encourage community interaction, including the preservation of a village green, and the development of trails, a lake and a community-supported garden. 

Prairie Crossing began as the dream of Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley and other neighbors on the Liberty Prairie Reserve. They were determined to build and preserve a community where people could enjoy the beautiful open landscape of Central Lake County, just as they did. 

The participants in the project want to prove that small-scale, suburban development, working in harmony with the environment, can be both environmentally and economically successful. Rather than simply dividing a plot of land into as many residential lots as possible, Prairie Crossing's mission -- as outlined in its ten guiding principles -- is to create a true community within a sensitive natural environment. "We want to be stewards of this abundant ecological heritage," says Susan Meyer, coordinator of the Liberty Prairie Conservancy, one of the groups working with the developer to protect its hundreds of acres of prairie, farmland, wetland and species habitat. 

Restoration and re-creation of more than 200 acres of native prairies and wetlands will add critical habitat for native plant species in a region where development and farming have traditionally destroyed habitat. The grasslands will attract native and migratory birds and wildlife. A new lake, ponds, and restored wetlands will appeal to a variety of waterfowl, wildlife and plant species. 

To ensure that these areas are permanently protected, more than 350 acres of farmland, restored prairie, greenways, lakes, and natural areas have been protected in perpetuity through easements donated to The Conservation Fund and the Liberty Prairie Conservancy. 

With homes ranging in size from 1,470 to 3,500 square feet, a marketing and lending program have been devised to keep housing costs competitive, to ensure the availability of affordable housing and to encourage minority home ownership. 

The first residents moved into Prairie Crossing in December 1994. 

Program Highlights 

The Prairie Crossing development follows ten guiding principles, which include: Environmental Protection and Enhancement, a Healthy Lifestyle, a Sense of Place, a Sense of Community, Economic and Racial Diversity, Convenient and Efficient Transportation, Energy Conservation, Lifelong Learning and Education, Aesthetic Design and High-Quality Construction and Economic Viability. 

Environmental Protection and Enhancement 

• Sixty percent of Prairie Crossing's 667 acres are protected from development. Only 317 homes will be built, even though local zoning law would permit the construction of 1,500 homes on the site.
• Native plants are used in landscaping to reduce water demand.
• Stormwater is managed sequentially through a series of open lands, including grasslands, prairie, wetlands and lakes.
• Half of one percent of each home sale and resale will go to the Liberty Prairie Foundation to support environmental education and programs for the region.
• A nearby landfill company has agreed with Prairie Crossing to contribute approximately $300,000 per year for 20 years to the Liberty Prairie Foundation, which will give grants to environmentally-related projects.
• Nearby historic buildings, saved from demolition, will be moved and restored to form the Market Square.
• An Environmental Team Leader will direct the stewardship of Prairie Crossing's natural areas, as well as a volunteer program and environmental education programs for residents and visitors. A primary goal of the Prairie Crossing team is to educate Prairie Crossing residents to live in a way that respects the land and conserves resources.

• Architectural techniques (e.g., porches, large windows and shallow "setbacks," in which homes are built near the roadways) encourage community interaction.
• "Community-building" amenities include a 12-stall animal barn, farm market, community center, tennis courts, fitness center, gardens, a 22-acre lake and ten miles of interior trails linked to a regional trail system and a new commuter rail station.
• Two types of gardens serve the community. First, garden plots are available to residents to grow fruit, vegetables and flowers in an ecologically-sound manner. Second, a 150-member community-supported garden enables subscribers, for $375 a year, to receive a basket of organic, freshly-picked fruits, vegetables and flowers each of the 20 weeks the farm is in production.

• Energy-efficient construction, a community-wide recycling program and trails to encourage transportation by bikes and mass transit have all been integrated into the development.
• To minimize the need for air-conditioning, homes are designed for cross breezes.

• Rail service to Chicago is now available within a five-minute drive, and a new station to O'Hare International Airport and Chicago will open adjacent to the development soon.

• The founders of Prairie Crossing believe that a mix of incomes and races is essential to the future of our society. 
• A range of home prices are offered to provide affordable housing, and an aggressive marketing and lending program to encourage minority home ownership will ensure that residents are diverse in age, race, occupation and household income. 

Vital Statistics

Program Management/Partnerships: The Prairie Crossing development is managed by Prairie Crossing Holdings. To ensure effective conservation and efficiency initiatives, Prairie Crossing Holdings has initiated partnerships with numerous organizations and agencies including the Liberty Prairie Conservancy, The Conservation Fund, USA Waste Services, and Sieben Energy Associates. 

Budget: $100 million total project cost. 

Community Served: The culturally, racially and financially diverse residents of Prairie Crossing. 

Measures of Success:

Prairie Crossing homes are 50% more energy-efficient than comparable homes. This efficiency will result in:

• Saving homeowners $900,000 a year in energy bills.
• Saving the average homeowner $300 a year in heating, cooling and hot water costs.
• Efficient framing and structural engineering reduce construction waste by 20% - 30%.
• Residential lots occupy 20% of the site, compared to 70% for typical new home subdivisions.
• Prairie Crossing was the first community development to adopt the construction standards developed under the U.S. Department of Energy's Building America initiative.