Beyond Efficient...

Okay, so we knew our homes would be REALLY efficient.

But this is unreal.

Ladies and Gentleman, the actual August bill for our display home! We were hoping to average $75 a month at the display home but to hit $65 for the second hottest month this year in St. Louis?

Truly awesome.

Lots! Lots!

As of this posting folks, we have 4 serious couples (and a quite few more in the pipeline) who want to buy an EcoUrban Home.

When I say serious, I mean serious.

Naturally, they want to build on a great lot that meets their specifications.

So... we need to find lots. Anybody out there with lots in Tower Grove, Benton Park, Lindenwood Park, St. Louis Hills, Maplewood, Kirkwood, U.City, Dogtown, CWE or similar 'hoods:

HOLLER!
314-662-0392

Green Summer

It's been a wild ride these last few months. From our grand opening and other events at the display home, to conceptualizing and planning for the arrival of our next two homes at 3103 and 3105 Magnolia, there has been little time to step back and collect my thoughts. So... with that in mind:

7 Lessons Learned this Green Summer:

1. Everyone loves the interior of the display at 3140 Pennsylvania

2. Not everyone is ready for modern design

3. Our level of efficiency is **even better** than we expected -- $70 per month!

4. I am an eternal optimist (when it comes to budgets)

5. SONOS rules!

6. People get really bored when I talk about insulation

7. And finally... if you build it....

Thanks to everyone -- friends, family, and new friends -- who came by to support/check out/learn about/potentially buy(!) an EcoUrban home. As of this post we are getting VERY close with a number of really cool folks. Who will be the first to EcoUrbanite in the Lou??? Stay tuned...

Below are some renderings of what our Magnolia Townhomes will look like... enjoy!

Interior Shots of 3140 Pennsylvania

BEAUTIFUL, CLASSY AND ENERGY-EFFICIENT HOMES.

Images from EcoUrban Grand Opening

Over 150 people joined us and Mayor Francis G. Slay on the hottest day of the year to celebrate the opening of EcoUrban's first home built in Benton Park West at 3140 Pennsylvania - St. Louis hottest green address. While the home took less than a month to build, from concept to reality more than 2 years of work was on display. We were overwhelmed with how well our first home came together and while we already have a list of planned improvements - Version 1.0 is a home to be proud of.

Now we just need some folks to buy this home (which is just the 6th LEED-Platinum home in the country) or to buy our home and build it on one of our 14 lots or on land anywhere they can imagine.

See images from the event at:

http://flickr.com/photos/urbanreviewstl/sets/72157600325733244/

Images from Steve Patterson of http://urbanreviewstl.com/

Project Manager Jay Swoboda with Mayor Francis G. Slay at Opening.

EcoUrban Homes Grand Opening - June 7th, 2007

Please join EcoUrban Homes, The Honorable Francis G. Slay, Mayor of St. Louis, Alderman Kenneth Ortmann, Alderwoman Kacie Tripplett as we usher in a new era of green construction in St. Louis.

Help us celebrate the completion of Missouri’s first precision built, LEED-registered home at our Grand Opening Celebration to be held June 7, 2007 from 5:00pm – 8:00pm at 3140 Pennsylvania Avenue in the Benton Park West Neighborhood of South St. Louis.

We are proud to offer a first look at the results of the EcoUrban construction philosophy-- green homes that combine great design with an unparalleled commitment to health and sustainable construction.

At EcoUrban, we incorporate an environmental program that is among the most comprehensive in new construction. The result: unique, healthy homes that are 80% more efficient than similar conventional residences.

Free Valet Parking will be available with food and drink provided by Pestalozzi Place and Erato Wine Bar.

PLEASE RSVP BY JUNE 6TH TO jay@ecourbanhomes.com

Click here for DIRECTIONS

Live Green. Live Urban. Live EcoUrban.

- Varenna Kitchen Under Construction

- Bamboo Stairs going in on 5/30/07

- Fiber Cementboard Siding before paint and cedar trim

EcoUrban Units Arrive in Saint Louis

After what felt like decades of anticipation and wait, it took just six days after the first pieces of wood were nailed together in the factory for the units to be delivered. Our units arrived at 10 AM this morning and the 60 Ton crane that lifted them into place was packed up and gone by 2 PM. We had a nice crowd gather to watch the four "boxes" come together and by the end of the day we were weather tight and secure. Finally, what was once just an idea becomes reality.

FINAL EXTERIOR --->

Modules Under Construction in Factory

This is the real deal...EcoUrban units coming together at the modular factory. More later...

Signs, Sign, everywhere the Signs...

You would swear some out-of-towner deceided to drop these BEAUTIFUL site signs down on our two sites. I'm taking bets on how long they last before the neighborhood characters vandalize them - I'm hopeful - but realistic. We deceided to go with the modern facade for both signs even though the two homes on Magnolia will be historic. I felt it more important to have a common look and feel rather than attempting to confuse passer-bys with multiple signs.

Your feedback is always appreciated. ECO! ECO! ECO! ECO! ECO! ECO! ECO!

Upcoming Seminar on Green Homes

Time is flying by with our homes just weeks away from being delivered, and yet somehow I convinced a few people that I know what I'm doing AND...they invited me to share this knowledge IN CHICAGO! So in a few weeks, I'll be making the trip north (and stopping by IKEA) to spread the gospel of EcoUrban - Green and Pre-Fabulous...

Pre-fab Green Homes
April 28, 2007
1:00 - 3:00 P.M.
Chicago Center for Green Technology
445 North Sacramento Boulevard

Sponsor: Chicago Center for Green Technology,
Free event. Registration required.

Presenter: Jay Swoboda, ecoUrban Homes

SYNOPSIS
Expressing one’s self through a custom-designed home is often beyond the financial reach of many buyers. This seminar will explain how modular and other styles of pre-fab construction can offer design and production technologies that have the potential to deliver affordable, high quality homes to EVERYONE. Finally, we will take a look at how market-forces are making green homes and green products make sense financially to both builders and homeowners.

Register by calling the hotline at 312/746.9642, or by emailing your desired class and contact information.

I can almost taste it...

Slow but ever so slowly I'm getting things worked out with Contempri Homes. I guess in this business once you are in line and make a change...you go to the END OF THE LINE. Still stuggling with doors and windows but everything else is ready to go. I will soon be placing orders for flooring, fixtures, appliances, etc. and with any luck we should have the unit delivered by the middle of April. In the meantime, lots of prep work for our other lots, but it is going smoothly. Website is really looking good and now I just need to get the details of our sales and marketing figured out. I can almost taste it...

Finally...my boots got dirty

Ground is all sorts of dug up, concrete and waterproofing are in place...just waiting on a confirmation from Contempri Homes for a delivery date - but I have to stop making changes to the design if I am to get this before March. I guess after waiting this long another month will only give me more time to get our sales package and marketing more developed.

Closing Time

Worked out the finer detail of our construction loan and with any luck we'll have some money in the bank after we empty our pockets one last time. I guess it feels good to know that we are really moving forward - without this loan commitment letter in hand it never felt right to break ground which we will be doing very soon on 3140 Pennsylvania. I've got the details worked out and 18 months later we are finally going build some homes.

Committment is Scary

I made the decision to have Contempri Homes build our first units. They were able to build a flat roof and they have Iceynene foam insulation at a reasonable price. I sent my deposit and we are off to the races. Changed around the bathroom on the second floor and have been fine tuning our design to meet the requirements of the LEED for Homes certification. Shooting for a early February 2007 delivery.

Dwell Conference

Just spent a few days getting inspired in San Francisco at the Dwell conference. What an inspiration to see so many committed individuals who are collectively moving things forward - pushing design and asking important questions about HOW and WHY our homes and businesses are built and what products and materials we put into them. Lots more to learn, but this was a great step forward.

Things to do:

Follow up with Breckenridge Homes
Call Joesph Tanney with Res4 Architecture
Work with Dwell editors on a design challenge for affordable infill.

I feel like I'm hibernating...

After pushing so hard to get these homes built over the summer it feels as if I'm just derailing everything, and putting it on hold for a few months. I find myself fine tuning design details, picking out appliances and fixtures - and I believe that the home that eventually gets constructed will be better for having had this time on ice.

No sense in rushing

I figure even if I get things worked out with our modular builder I won't have a home until late August at BEST, and the last thing I want is a home that hits the market at the wrong time. So, we decided that it would be best to move forward with a February/March 2007 delivery to hit the market at the best time. This allows me lots of time to work out our construction loan, get our website functional and create a real demand for EcoUrban Homes. Wish me luck!

Two more lots

Closed on 3103-3105 Magnolia today. Great location, but awkward parcel size. Our plan is to build two historic units to complement our modern display home on Pennsylvania.

Total parcel count = 15

Time to start making some tough choices

I imagine I could have built 10 of these homes with a hammer myself by now, but we are committed to the process and the building system approach. I am just amazed how clueless the front office of almos every modular builders I have attempted to work with are at moving custom designs from ideas on paper to homes on land. Advanced Building Concepts continues to work hard, but I'm not convinced they can even deliver and Contempri just won't get back to me. Am I missing something here?

Greening the Heartland

I presented a "poster" at the Greening the Heartland conference in Kansas City recently and was really encouraged by the reaction to our building plan and design. The conference wasn't overly technical and there was a lot of preaching to the choir, but I think most of left with some great distributor contacts and the knowledge that we are not alone in our effort to green up homes across America.