QUARTERLY SUMMER 2019
TURTLE TALK
BOX TURTLES SHARE SECRETS WITH RESEARCHERS
OPEN STREETS
CLOSE THE STREET TO CARS AND OPEN IT TO FUN
GREEN WITH ENVY
SREG LAUDED WITH ENVIRONMENTAL HONORS
A NEWSLETTER FOR MEMBERS OF SPECIALIZED REAL ESTATE GROUP COMMUNITIES
EMBRACING NATURE
FORESTS, HILLS, FARMLAND & BOX TURTLES
It might seem odd for a real estate developer to claim “embracing nature” as one of the core actions that embodies our values, but responsible development and preserving nature are two sides of the same coin. One thousand additional people arrive in Northwest Arkansas each month, and we need new homes, shops, schools, and development of all sorts. As a region, how can we meet the needs of our growing community while protecting the creeks, hills, forests, and farmland that make the Ozarks special? That challenge drives us every day. Our development team is working to answer that question as we create a new neighborhood on Fayetteville’s Markham Hill, a 144 acre parcel of land just west of the University of Arkansas. This issue of Connection Quarterly introduces a new partnership with Dr. J.D. Willson, a wildlife ecologist at the University of Arkansas, who has launched a study of the box turtles of Markham Hill. The Willson Lab’s research will help the new development to be a better habitat for turtles and people alike. Speaking of embracing nature, we were tickled pink to be named a finalist for the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality’s ENVY award. Read all about it on page 7. As always, we round out the issue with a selection of our favorite NWA events to inspire you to savor every last drop of summer.
— Specialized Real Estate Group
2 • SPECIALIZED REAL ESTATE GROUP
ON THE COVER: Chelsea Kross, Senior Graduate Assistant, and Turtle ABW, a young male box turtle whose movements are being tracked to help us understand where turtles live and how they use the habitat on Markham Hill.
DID YOU KNOW? Box turtles like this one in Fayetteville can easily live for 50 years, and may live much longer. Most turtles will never range more than a few hundred yards in that time. If you find a box turtle crossing a road, it is best to move it just across the road, but not to relocate it away from its home range.
Brown eyestuinrtdliecaitse a that this ales’ eyes female. M reddish. tend to be Box Turtle on Markham Hill
CONNECTION QUARTERLY • SUMMER 2019 • 3
UA Research on Markham Hill guides creation of new habitat for humans and turtles alike story b� Sarah King • photos b� Zac Trout There’s something strange in the woods on Fayetteville’s Markham Hill: a man in a baseball cap walking slowly and erratically, sweeping a large antenna from side to side. He stops to hold a small transmitter to his ear, takes a few steps back, and bends down to reach under a mossy log. His subject fits snugly in the palm of his hand, a Three-Toed Box Turtle wearing a temporary radio transmitter the size of a gumdrop. The man in the baseball cap is Alex Meinders, a laboratory technician at the University of Arkansas. Twice a week, he scans
the woods of Markham Hill for 11 tagged box turtles and carefully records their locations. This field research is part of a study by UA wildlife ecologist Dr. J.D. Willson commissioned by Specialized Real Estate Group to inform the creation of new homes and hotel facilities on the property. The Willson Lab team is using radio-telemetry to monitor box turtle movements and habitat associations to guide preservation of important habitat elements and to inform the creation of ideal habitat in greenspaces and residential lots. The Willson Lab will compile thousands of data points to show “hot spots” of turtle activity, including areas where turtles hibernate over winter. This data will inform design in large and small ways. When it comes time for construction, the team will sweep the area and temporarily relocate individual turtles to a holding area nearby or in the lab on campus.
Defining turtle habitat is not your typical development activity, but Markham Hill is not your typical development,
Alex Meinders uses an antenna and radio receiver to detect the presence of box turtles on Markham Hill.
4 • SPECIALIZED REAL ESTATE GROUP
says Lawrence Finn, Specialized Vice President of Development. “Where most conventional subdivisions start with carving out as many single family lots as possible, we are taking a more sensitive approach and will first try to understand the archeology, geology, ecology, botany, flora, fauna, and unique landform and let these features tells us where not to build. This is what will define Markham Hill as a conservation community.”
According to Dr. Willson, box turtles were once a conspicuous component of forests in the eastern United States, but populations have declined dramatically in many portions of their range due to road mortality, habitat loss, and collection for the pet trade. As Northwest Arkansas rapidly develops, this study seeks to protect turtles during the construction process and ultimately find ways to protect and create habitat alongside new development. Dr. Willson says that because of the property’s proximity to the center of Fayetteville, wildlife species on Markham Hill are relatively adaptable to living alongside humans, provided that the habitat elements they need are maintained. Half of the property — the most sensitive habitat — will be protected from development. Large portions of the areas to be developed are currently degraded due to past land use and extensive growth of invasive exotic plant species like bush honeysuckle and privet. “We are optimistic that these areas can actually be improved as wildlife habitat through careful planning and habitat management,” says Dr. Willson. “Our goal is to foster a landscape where box turtles, along with a wide variety of other wildlife, can live alongside residents and continue to enrich the lives of citizens of Fayetteville and students at the University of Arkansas.”
LEARNING THE LINGO A flagship species is one that serves as an icon or ambassador for conservation of a habitat or ecosystem. Box turtles are an ideal flagship species because they are familiar, attractive, and they benefit from conservation practices that in turn benefit a wide variety of other species. So when we protect and improve turtle habitat, we expect other species to thrive, too, including toads and grey treefrogs, lizards, dozens of species of songbirds, and mammals such as white-tailed deer and red fox.
– READ MORE –
specializedreg.com/ turtle-talk
CONNECTION QUARTERLY • SUMMER 2019 • 5
COMMUNITY EVENTS ROOTS FOOD & SPIRITS August 24th We usually feature free and cheap events here, but this one is worth saving your pennies for. One of the newest events of the Fayetteville Roots Festival — Roots Food & Spirits features over fifty chefs presenting tastings, spirit and beer activations, panel discussions, a culinary-themed makers marketplace, cookbook signings, and demonstrations. Set at the idyllic Pratt Place, Roots Food & Spirits is accompanied by Travelin’ McCoury’s and Jeff Austin Band. therootsfest.org
OPEN STREETS BENTONVILLE CLOSE THE STREET TO CARS AND OPEN IT TO FUN
Imagine a city street, but instead of traffic, there are a couple dozen people doing yoga. People are dancing to a band with a great fiddle player while others are trying e-bikes for the first time. A string of roller derby skaters roll by a five-year-old gleefully navigating a strider bike course. Meet Open Streets, a free community event that invites you to experience city streets in a new way. On August 4 from Noon to 4pm, Bike NWA will host Open Streets Bentonville, complete with live music and dancing, “comically large” board games, and a bike parade at 2pm. Find the event at SW A and 5th Street, looping around Gilmore Park and SW 6th and SW A. Be sure to say hi to our Brick Avenue Lofts team!
SQUARE TO SQUARE RIDE September 7th The Square 2 Square Bike Ride follows the Razorback Greenway starting in Bentonville and ending Fayetteville. Fun for all ages! Total distance one-way is 30 miles. Riders are welcome to start at any point along the trail if not able to ride the entire 30 miles. Along the course, participants can enjoy three festive pit stops featuring entertainment, bike maintenance services, and basic ride refreshments. HOUSEPLANT SWAP September 11th — 6:00pm at Fayetteville Public Library Is your indoor ecosystem in need of a refresh? Bring one or more houseplants and swap for something new! Washington County Master Gardeners will be on hand as your personal plant doctors. 6 • SPECIALIZED REAL ESTATE GROUP
MOVING TOGETHER CHALLENGE GRAB A TRAINING BUDDY & WE WILL PAY YOUR REGISTRATION FEES! Any two (or more) SREG tenants or employees: Train for a race or ride together, and we’ll pay you each $30 toward your registration fees. specializedreg.com/movingtogether
GREEN WITH ENVY
SREG NAMED FINALIST FOR ARKANSAS’ ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AWARD Presented by the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, the ENVY Environmental Stewardship Award showcases the work of citizens, businesses, industries, farms, and government agencies that are protecting and enhancing the environment in extraordinary ways. Specialized was one of three finalists for the award, which was presented at the Arkansas Capitol on May 7th.
A colony of Sensitive Fern, an Ozark native, thrives near a spring in a conservation area on Markham Hill.
Presenting the finalists, ADEQ Director Becky Keogh said, “With a focus on environmental responsibility and community health, Specialized Real Estate Group has over one million square feet of LEED certified buildings. Creating models of sustainable development, Specialized has built partnerships and demonstrations in energy efficiency, renewable energy, recycling, low-impact development, stormwater management, and native landscaping.”
Building healthy places and connecting neighbors means that we consider not just the qualities of buildings, but the connectedness of the neighborhood surrounding them. A walkable neighborhood with a unique sense of place just feels better. It’s this feeling that we aim to capture in each of our projects.
BUILDING BETTER
EMBRACING NATURE
MOVING TOGETHER
SHARING FOOD
We consider efficiency, beauty and health in every decision we make.
We create opportunities to move—through design, events and service.
We build and conserve places that connect people with nature.
We see growing and sharing food as a vital part of every community we build.
A publication of Specialized Real Estate Group, Inc.
CONNECTION QUARTERLY • SUMMER 2019 • 7
15 NORTH CHURCH AVENUE, SUITE 103 FAYETTEVILLE, AR 72701
WILSON PARK APTS. @seedinthedirt
ECO MODERN FLATS @jessecamacho
ECO MODERN FLATS @wolfandpine
HEALTHY PLACES & SMILING FACES. SHARE YOUR STORY BURTON’S CREAMERY @burtonscreamery
BRICK AVENUE LOFTS @brickavelofts
#sregcq