Longleaf Becomes Tampa's First Certified Green Development

PASCO, Fla., June 20, 2008 – Crosland LLC, one of the Southeast’s leading diversified real estate firms announced today that Longleaf, a traditional neighborhood development located in northern Tampa within Southern Pasco County, has received its “Green Development” designation from the Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC) on May 14, 2008. Longleaf is the first community to receive this designation in the greater Tampa area and joins only eight other “Green Developments” in the state.

Longleaf features a mixture of traditionally designed single-family homes, townhomes, apartments, an “A” rated elementary school, retail and recreation. The “Green” features include:

• Tree-lined walking and bike paths that connect each neighborhood and reduce residents’ and guests’ dependency on automobiles 
• Low energy use and downward directed outdoor lighting which minimizes light pollution
• Permanent preservation of conservation areas and wetlands
• Parks, lakes and open spaces make up more than 40 percent or 230 acres of the community
• Longleaf’s community parks were recently certified “Florida Friendly” by the University of Florida, Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Program
• Native and drought tolerant landscaping are used throughout the community
• Many of Longleaf’s home builders build ENERGY STAR and FGBC certified “Green” homes or offer homes to be built with “Green” features

“Longleaf was developed and designed with sustainability in mind and we couldn’t be happier to be the first community to go Green in Tampa,” said Perry Reader, president of Crosland’s Florida division. “We have always been committed to ensuring that Longleaf is a place where nature and human culture are in balance and a place where our residents can be confident knowing they are doing their part to reduce their impact on the environment.”

The FGBC’s Green Developments are ranked on the basis of six categories including:

• Protect Ecosystems and Conserve Natural Resources
• Create a Green Circulation System
• Green Utilities Practices
• Green Amenities
• Covenants and Deed Restrictions
• Provide Educational Information to Help Achieve and Promote Green Living Practices.

“By developing Longleaf with sidewalks and neighborhood parks and pool, residents can get many of their recreation needs met without having to drive anywhere,” said Robin Vieira, buildings research director, for the Florida Solar Energy Center and project evaluator for the FGBC. “The street trees that have been planted should provide significant road canopy reducing the ‘heat island’ effect that warms most urban areas from the suns energy absorbing on many hard surfaces. The green development designation of the Florida Green Building Coalition, Inc. requires significant environmental stewardship in six environmental categories and Longleaf is the first development in Pasco County to achieve this certification.”