What is Rail Town Gardens :
Presently in planning Rail Town Gardens is proposed as a mixed use neighborhood development. Community Gardens, Residential, Mixed Use and Commercial opportunities are available and complimentary. 16 buildings are proposed with 30 to 40 condo units available for sale and/or lease.
A small gauge train ties the 3.5 acre infill site together.
Fundamental Program Components :
Leadership in Energy and Sustainability
Use of sustainable energy and building methods, materials and technologies.
Community Service Through Development
Community gardens, open space, and infrastructure improvements are examples.
Affordable Housing
Rail Town Gardens plans to provide 20% or more of the available residences through local affordable housing programs.
Work Force Housing
Additional market rate housing units will be designed to be available for median income Whitefish residents.
Demonstration Project
The mandate of Rail Town Gardens is to offer the lessons, innovations and benefits of this project to back our community. (link to demonstration project page)
Stewardship and Respect
Every effort is being made to insure the ongoing success of the existing site tenants, exceptional trees and affectionate history this site has in the hearts and minds of Whitefish residents.
A PUD submittal is planned for the first week of April 2008.
A beautiful design achieving all the program components, satisfying the city planning standards while minding the fundamental financial constraints is the challenge for the Rail Town Gardens design and development team. Cooperative design and planning is presently underway.
Rail Town Gardens intends to break ground in the summer/fall of 2008 with a carefully planned construction schedule through 2009 finishing in 2010.
Rail Town Gardens as a Community Demonstration Project :
The mandate of Rail Town Gardens is to offer the lessons, innovations and benefits of this project to back our community:
• Rail Town Gardens will be hosting this website offering information about our process, materials, LEED certification, sustainable building and energy resources.
• The Rail Town Community Garden itself is being developed. Soon classes, tours and community outreach events will be offered as the gardens take shape.
• The site and buildings will have models, sign and displays illustrating the methods and systems in place. Tours and educational opportunities will be ongoing.
The goal for the Rail Town Project is to demonstrate that sustainability and innovation in design, building materials, methods and energy systems are commonplace and are available for our community now. Also, The Railtown garden program hopes to demonstrate that growth and development can offer direct, considerable and Immediate community service and benefit beyond commerce alone.
Sustainable Building & Design Features in Planning:
Rail Town Gardens to achieve LEED NC and/or Neighborhood certification
(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
* Photovoltaic system for electric and hot water systems
* Ground source heat pump for based campus heating and cooling
* On-demand water heaters
* Low-E windows
* Use of sustainably harvested lumber from Montana
* Use of pulverized recycled glass for road base and trails
* Building orientation is on the East/West axis & Energy modeling
* Wheatboard / Straw board usage
* Metal or other roofing made up of 30% recycled content
* Structural Insulated Panel Framing
* Dual flush residential toilets
* Prudent preservation of existing trees and buildings
* Strawbale construction in greenhouse - community building
* Insulation is formaldehyde free and 25% recycled content
* Post industrial content flooring
* Low VOC paints, sealants, and adhesives
* Energy Star appliances
* Use of Free watt energy reclaiming heating systems
* On-site recycling for residents
* Direct Digital Control (DDC) system for monitoring energy efficiency
* Rain and grey water reclamation systems
* Alternative permeable paving materials
* Reclamation of waste and ambient heat from commercial
Processes where applicable
* Building proximity and resident symbiosis considered and
designed into systems and layouts
* Wind cogeneration via Pacwind systems
