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Developed to Protect the Environment
Building on a partnership with Audubon International, Crescent has transformed this beautiful property into a peaceful sanctuary for homeowners and indigenous wildlife. Audubon International is a not-for-profit, environmental education organization dedicated to educating, assisting and inspiring people to protect and sustain the land, water, wildlife and natural resources around them.
 Hidden Lake will be the third Crescent community to receive the designation. the Sanctuary, a Crescent community on Lake Wylie in Charlotte, NC, was the first residential community in the world to receive this designation.
Audubon International is expected to award Hidden Lake with its Triple Diamond designation, its highest level of certification in its Gold Signature Program. The program provides comprehensive environmental planning assistance to new developments.
The Grass is Always Greener When You Build Green
How we build our homes is one of the most significant ways we can impact the future. By building “green” homes, we lessen our impact on the environment by:
- protecting our forests and wildlife habitats
- conserving energy and water resources
- keeping waste out of landfills
- reducing toxins
- improving indoor air quality
Learn a few tips for native landscaping and other green-building ideas from the latest issue of One Crescent Way.
Not only does Crescent Communities promote a sustainable future by building green, you also reap the benefits of a more comfortable and durable home that costs less to maintain. As a homeowner at Hidden Lake, you (and the environment!) benefit from builders preserving our surroundings and natural resources.
  
Hidden Lake’s Green Leaf Program recognizes Guild Builders who follow green-building practices. Homes in the Green Leaf Program are recognized as green (one leaf), greener (three leaves) and greenest (five leaves).
Even Our Lake House is Green!
All homes for sale at Hidden Lake use green-building techniques to help protect our forests and wildlife habitats and conserve energy and water resources. Even the Lake House, the community’s amenity center, was constructed using many green-building practices such as recycling the job site construction waste; using recycled materials in the framing, subflooring and exterior sheathing; using Energy Star® appliances to conserve energy; and installing low-flow faucets to conserve water.
Protecting Wetlands and Water Quality
While Hidden Lake promotes green building, it was also developed in an ecology-focused manner.
- Crescent set aside a 100-acre park named the Audubon Preserve. This preserve contains several wetlands nestled in a hardwood forest. Nature trails wind through the Audubon Preserve, allowing residents to catch a glimpse of the numerous species of animals that make their home in the park.
- In places where the roads cross wetlands, Crescent installed bridges, creating very little impact on these fragile ecosystems that support diverse plant and animal populations.
- “Soft engineering” approaches were also designed and utilized within Hidden Lake, such as building roads without curbs and gutters, which create less impervious surfaces.
- Buffers along Hidden Lake were expanded from 50 to 100 feet. Buffers trap sediment, excess nutrients and pollutants, as well as stabilize shorelines and provide wildlife corridors.
- Only canoes, kayaks or electric boats are allowed on Hidden Lake, eliminating the pollution and noise generally associated with gas-powered engines.
- Hidden Lake has a water quality monitoring program to ensure the community will have no adverse impacts on the lake, wetlands and streams.
Personal Attention
Audubon International’s partnership with Crescent continues well after construction is complete. A natural resource manager is on-site at Hidden Lake to promote sustainability. Residents benefit from her on-site conservation assistance, environmental education programs, and management of aquatic and terrestrial resources.
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