The Mount Vernon Triangle Community Improvement District is in the process of

completing a dynamic biodiversity plan including native plants, honeybees, and birds in
order to increase the neighborhood’s environmental welfare. Our mix-use community is
the perfect location for such an innovative effort as we are one of the pioneer business
improvement districts in the country to move towards “green”. Since we have already
garnered the support of our business, retail owners, and over 3,000 new residences for
public recycling, runoff management, reduced water usage, and additional recycling
trashcans, we are in an extremely advantageous situation.

Our “neighborhood” in the center of the city is fully applying the concept of a benefit
district in providing for its residents, businesses, community, and now the environment.
Essentially, one step at a time we are humanizing the urban environment to promote a
higher quality of life for every factor involved.

The issue of climate change is on the forefront of most political and social movements
around the world. As governments begin to address it on a legislative level, cities will be
critical in correcting the negative externalities done to the environment. The key is the
urban infrastructure and our promotion of biodiversity is just one part of our cumulative
approach. Every building moving forward will need to be LEED approved.

We are also a community that promotes the use of public transportation, bikes, or
walking. Exemplified by the three metro stops within the vicinity, our many bike racks
and new bicycle retailer, as well as clean streets maintained by our clean team.

The fact that we are in the process of development with a growing population and new
infrastructure, places the Triangle at an advantage since in the upcoming years our
carbon footprint will be much smaller than most. It is found that the most successful
cities are ones that combine efforts to reduce future carbon emissions with a focus on
improving “livability” for its citizens, which is exactly what we look to do. This
sustainable community initiative takes a long-term approach rather than a short term
one given the slow progression of improving the environment.

However, creating this sustainable community in combination with green infrastructure

will help save money for projects in the future placing the Triangle at a competitive
advantage.

Research Sources:
-National Audubon Society- http://education.audubon.org/
-“Reinventing the City to Combat Climate Change” by Nick Pennell, Sartaz Ahmed, Stefan Henningsson
-Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center- http://www.wildflower.org/plants/
-Speech given by National Garden Curator for the US Botanical Gardens, Bill McLaughlin
-Interview with Cliff Fairweather at Virginia Audubon Society
-DC Honeybees- http://www.dchoneybees.com/DC_Honeybees_Site/Home.html
-Study done by PNAS on honeybees- http://www.pnas.org/content/106/35/14790.full