Takoma Park, D.C. is a quite unusual community; one that is very passionate about environmental issues. It is a sanctuary city—an official "Tree City, USA"—and is also widely known as Azalea City. It is a nuclear-free zone, has an award-winning recycling program, and supports the work of historic preservation groups. The latest development project in Takoma Park, Ecco Park www.eccoparkhomes.com, is designed to mirror the community’s deep respect for our planet.

Ecco Park is designed, owned and was developed by Sassan Gharai, AIA. Gharai was trained as an architect in Washington D.C., and has worked in the city for the last 20 years. When Sas started the development process, he met with city officials, neighborhood groups, city planners, historic preservations offices, and local business associations to determine how this building could fit in to the community. This dialogue became the basis for the environmentally friendly design.

"Ecco Park is the building equivalent of a hybrid car,” says Gharai.

The new design will provide over 6,000 square feet of street level retail (that will enhance the small town feel), and offer 85 condominiums, and is perfectly situated between the center of Takoma Park and the Takoma Metro station, which are both about 1/4 mile away. The strategic location will help connect residents of both Maryland and Washington D.C. with a place to live, shop, and play.

The development will fit in well in the historic neighborhood while bringing in new and modern architecture— the exterior fenestration combines metal, stone, and glass in a design that is leading the way for future projects to provide similar upscale architecture.

Additionally, Ecco Park is designed with the environment in mind: it has high-recycled content of the structural steel; natural daylighting and ventilation; as well as a green roof, which has living vegetation planted on the surface, providing numerous advantages for the environment.

Ecco Park provides the outline for the green building, and then it is up to the new residents as to how environmentally friendly their condominiums will be. The new residents can choose the Ecco package, with such features as recycled glass composite or recycled paper for the kitchen and bath countertops, ENERGY STAR appliances, environmentally friendly maple floors, as well as others.

Ecco Park will also have features that enhance the quality of life and at the same time support local businesses: Willow Street Yoga (a local yoga studio) will give the residents yoga lessons on the green roof for a year; all residents will be given a lifetime membership in the Takoma Park Co-Op; there will be a dog cleaning station on the ground level; an Internet-based car sharing program; and plenty of extra parking spaces for bicycles.

For more information, visit www.eccoparkhomes.com.