Green Building: Going…Going…Green!

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The homeowners (not the association) have direct control over the use of the Living Court and changes to it. In most condominium developments, the homeowners association completely controls everything; and the homeowners don't even have any control over the common land that's right in front of their own houses. People will not love and exercise special care and concern for land unless they directly control it. In HomeTown, the families who live in a Living Court directly control the rules and regulations, the uses, the installation of additional landscaping, etc. with respect to their Living Court. This gives the Living Court special importance to the families that live there. The opportunity to work together to create a special unique place creates a real camaraderie. It is very comforting to know that a small group of people you know and trust has direct control over the land in front of their houses. If a homeowner wants to add to the landscaping or plant flowers in front of his front garden patio or porch and if his neighbors agree to it, he can do it, and the homeowners association cannot prohibit it.

The Living Court functions like a big outdoor living room. Actually, it functions even more like a big outdoor great room - each family has its own gathering place and all the families share a larger gathering place where several families can sit and talk. The common gathering place has two benches at right angles to each other, which encourages informal, friendly conversation. The Living Court gathering place has a southerly exposure so people can sit in the sun.

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