Geothermal System Installation

From celebrities on magazine covers to new products on store shelves, it seems everyone’s going green. But one Des Moines-area home builder—Hubbell Homes—is light years ahead of the curve, with communities and building initiatives that demonstrate its commitment to the health and well-being of the metro area.

THE CONSERVATION THREES

Any sustainable or green building begins with the three tenets of conservation: energy efficiency (of the building envelope as well as products and materials), resource conservation (minimizing construction waste and consideration of the source of materials and products), and indoor air quality (whether the products and
materials used in the building or maintaining of a home are benign or harmful). Hubbell is unique in that the company has decided to address all of them. “If there’s one phrase that encapsulates green building, it’s that you want to build a better home—one that lasts, is more durable,” says Lynnae Hentzen, executive director and cofounder of the Iowa Center on Sustainable Communities (COSC). “Hubbell has recognized that you need to be conscientious in steps you take in your building strategy.”

Take, for example, Hubbell’s three conservation communities in Grimes, Waukee, and Carlisle. Each has at least one-third of the land dedicated to open space, which is typically seeded in prairie plantings, says Greg Moeller, Construction Superintendent for Hubbell Homes. Energy Star is standard on all new Hubbell construction, and geothermal heating and cooling are just one of a number of options homeowners can choose in building packages. “People talk a lot about green construction,” says Rick Tollakson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hubbell Realty Company. “We’re trying to come up with packages of green products and methods that people want and will pay for.”

While most consumers recognize the Energy Star logo and understand that bamboo flooring is an environmentally friendly choice, Hubbell has gone beyond selecting environmentally friendly products by analyzing how the homes are actually built. “There are lots of things done that go beyond what is seen, that are hidden behind the walls in the structure of how a home is built or the core of the home,” Lynnae says. “It’s easy to do business as usual but hard to make even small changes. Hubbell has been willing and able at the corporate level to take on some of these environmental shifts. They believe in it from the top down.”

Visit EnergyStar.gov for more information.

KEEPING SCORE

Greg Moeller likens the options for green homes to buying a car. Any new car will get you from point A to point B, but start throwing some upgrades in there and the value starts to go up. Some of these upgrades, as it turns out, are good for the environment and the pocketbook. “Appraisers are starting to look at the impact of green options when determining a home’s value. The difference can be significant,” he says.

To enable homeowners to make the same sort of value judgment, Hubbell has three different green living packages; each offers different levels of add-ons. The basic package includes things such as TimberStrand® framing, oriented strand board, and job-site waste recycling. Upgrades include water-based floor finishes and latex paint to improve indoor air quality, HardiePlank™ siding that lasts 50 years, and ultrafit insulation with a higher R-value. Hubbell has also asked its suppliers to analyze the sustainability of materials—where they come from and how they were produced. “We’re constantly adding to those packages as improvements are made in the industry,” Greg says. “We’re excited about it and we want to make sure our customers can join in.”

Hubbell has also worked with COSC to produce a green building checklist, and the company hires an outside party to rate the “green-ness” of its homes using the Home Energy Rating System (HERS).The baseline home rates a 100, while Energy Star homes need a score of 85 or lower. Hubbell Homes average a score of 75. The
score incorporates factors such as solar gain, site orientation, amount of foundation above ground, insulation, ductwork efficiency, and furnace and air-conditioner size. “There’s a learning curve when going green, and it might be overwhelming to a person just starting out,” Greg says. “That’s why we’re trying to figure out for the consumer how green something is and whether it has good value.”

That education and those packages enable consumers to choose what’s important to them based on their own priorities. “It’s great to have a leader like Hubbell working and driving the supply side,” Lynnae says. “Now that consumer awareness is rising, people will start to ask for things, and that will continue to push the market.”

FOR THE FUTURE

To most in the homebuilding industry, green represents a shift toward the way building will be. “If you combine green living in concert with conservation living, you are making a statement to your family about how you feel about the environment,” Rick says.

That means the company will continue to explore new ways of building homes that are responsible and sensible. “There are so many things coming up—automation, for example,” Greg says. “Technology for the home is really going to help people with energy conservation. We want to be able to present people with the best options so they understand what value they have.”

And that is value for the community as well. “Green boosts economic development; it’s a win-win for everyone,” Lynnae says. “The bottom line of green is black.”

Unlike other home builders, what Hubbell has realized, after over 150 years as part of the metro-area community, is that the company is in it for the long haul—which makes sustainability even more important. “We want Iowa to grow and prosper,” Rick says. “We are community- and neighborhood-driven in our organization. That’s the ethic that F.M. Hubbell started, and it continues today.”

Trails at Copper Creek in Pleasent Hill

Hubbell Communities offers multiple choices and multiple locations for homeowners and for builders, according to lot sales managers April Tufano and Bryan Schwartz. With more than 18 residential communities, Hubbell communities create a sense of uniqueness. They are close to schools, good arterial streets and roads, and trails and sidewalks for strolling.

There’s an instant sense of the good life and community spirit, with clubhouses and parks for family activities. Plus there’s a choice for your style. Do you want a traditional neighborhood, golf course living, or a conservation community with green space and a natural environment? The communities are handy to major arterial roads for easy commutes to work, shopping, restaurants, and schools.

Hubbell Realty CEO Rick Tollakson sees the company’s development properties as patchwork quilts. “When we plan a neighborhood, we see it and want it to be full of character and variety. We don’t want every home to look the same, so we love the individuality that many builders bring to the projects.”

Area builders appreciate that aspect of Hubbell communities as well. “When I take prospective clients to Hubbell properties to look at lots, I point out the great aspects of the conservation communities,” says Nate Miller of Marquis Builders. “The wide open spaces, the wildflowers, and the good schools are important to many families that are looking to build.”

He points out that his clients really appreciate that Hubbell communities feature a mix of styles. “People don’t want to live in cookie-cutter areas. They like the mix of housing styles.” Nate is building this year in the Hubbell communities of Meadowlark South in Grimes, Summersfield in Des Moines, and Danamere Farms in Carlisle. He has been in business for eight years and builds 25 to 50 custom and spec homes each year.

Hubbell works closely with builders adding to the interesting mix of the development properties. While there are certain covenants in Hubbell communities, such as being a certain size or having a neutral color palette, builders have latitude on showcasing their work. The goal is to create communities that have a mix of housing styles, not a series of same-style homes.

Bryan feels the same way. “We offer high-touch, personal service in order to make our communities successful.We work with a number of builders throughout the area who provide a variety of home styles. It’s very easy for someone who wants to build in our neighborhoods find the right builder for their personal style.”

On the flip side of the coin, builders enjoy the service they receive from Hubbell. “It’s easy to work with Hubbell,” says Chip Classon of Jordan Homes. “They take care of the details, which makes my job easier. They go the extra mile in getting lots we builders want for our customers.” He builds 10 to 20 homes per year and works with Hubbell in developing lots all over the metro area. Matt Peterson of Vintage Custom Homes says, “I like that Hubbell is willing and wanting to have a mix of housing styles in its various communities. I have purchased all my lots through Hubbell in my two years of independent building. Their lots are in desirable areas around the metro.”

“The company is so good about creating a sense of community,” according to Chris Dawson of Platinum Development. “There are covenants, sure, but they don’t want homes in their communities to all look alike. The community benefits, and so do the homebuyers, who get to show their individual styles.” Dawson has been in business on his own for four years and builds about 25 homes each year.

4th Street Condos in Downtown Des Moines

“Hubbell has always had such a vibrant history as being an integral part of what takes place in downtown Des Moines,” says Rick Tollakson, president and CEO of Hubbell Realty Company. “That mission continues today as we take pride in our ongoing efforts to make downtown Des Moines an exciting place to live, work, and play.”

Just look around downtown. In all directions, Hubbell is offering dynamic choices for urban dwellers in every phase of life. There are young professionals just out of college and on their first real job. There
are singles out on their own, pondering what direction to take.There are young married couples working together to establish a foundation, with or without kids. And there’s an ever-growing population of empty nesters trying a new adventure on for size now that their families have embarked on their own career and family paths.

There are about 75,000 Iowans working downtown, and several thousand of them have chosen to live there, too.What Hubbell provides are various lifestyle choices in housing at various price points.

WHY LIVE DOWNTOWN?

For Ben Washburn and his wife, Alicia, it’s right where they want to be. “We are 15 minutes from everything we do,” he says, “whether it’s work, the farmers’ market, or our favorite restaurants. My commute to work is three to five minutes on foot. It just doesn’t get better than that.”

It is, of course, a lifestyle choice, Ben explains. “People either think they would love it or hate it to make a move  owntown.There’s only one way to know—just dive in and do it. If you’re nervous about it, rent for
six months or a year and see how you feel after that. And, if you have kids, know that the Downtown School is one of the best in the whole country, and it’s in our neighborhood.”

Ben is president of the Downtown Neighborhood Association, which formed about five years ago. “Granted, we have some situations that other associations don’t have to deal with, such as noise ordinance
issues. With seven spots having patio bars in a two-block stretch on Court Avenue, some residents get concerned.”

But, he points out, when residents can walk to all their main entertainment venues and they save on gas, wear and tear, and other car expenses, there’s a meaningful balance.

“It’s a lifestyle choice that is wonderful,” he says.

Doug Burnett of Burnett Realty couldn’t agree more. “There are two factors fueling the growth of living downtown. There’s a renaissance of creativity downtown, from new buildings, renovated older buildings, bike trails, and public art. There’s also the 10-year tax abatement. On a $325,000 brownstone, for example, you can save $51,000. Buyers would get so much less of a home without that factor. Really, what’s not to love about living downtown?”

MORE NEW OPTIONS

This spring Hubbell is swinging open the doors to two new downtown condo projects.

4th Street Condos

www.desmoinesdowntownliving.com/4thstreetcondos

Located on Fourth Street just south of Court Avenue, these one- and two-bedroom condominiums offer a range of 996 to 1,606 square feet. The 46 homes range from $196,900 to $329,900.

“There’s lots of interest in this project,” says Jill Creveling of Iowa Realty. “The location is terrific for experiencing all that downtown Des Moines has to offer, from Court Avenue entertainment and restaurants to the Civic Center and Wells Fargo Arena to the ballpark.”

With its solid urban feel, high ceilings, and oversize windows, the project has lots of appeal, she says. Underground parking helps cinch the deal, along with 10-year tax abatement. “Hubbell has upgraded
where it counts, from granite countertops, hardwood floors, and tile. It’s really an upscale property at an affordable price.”

Anne Timmins, also with Iowa Realty, has loved meeting the people looking to move downtown. “They range from young professionals to empty nesters wanting a change from being tied to a house. Downtown sells itself, which makes our jobs easier.”

She cites couples able to sell a second car because they don’t need two vehicles when living downtown. Anne also tells of a couple who came back from the East Coast for the husband’s 60th class reunion at Roosevelt High School. His first wife had died, and his second wife had a job involving travel.

“The guy just loved the transformation of downtown,” Anne says. “His wife said she spent an hour and 45 minutes each Monday morning getting to the airport. How long would it take in Des Moines? When I told her that from downtown she could be to the airport in 15 minutes, they went back East, sold their waterfront property to a developer, and moved to downtown Des Moines. They love it here.”

Midtown Heights

www.midtownheightsdm.com

Located at MLK Jr. Parkway and High Street, this brownstone community with 17 units has a perk worth savoring, says Jennifer Clark of Burnett Realty. “There’s a two-car attached garage with each unit, which is fantastic.”

Midtown Heights - Downtown Des Moines

There’s a real community feel to this project, she points out, because of its location, within walking distance of two distinct areas, the western edge of downtown and the eastern edge of the Ingersoll Avenue area. Each home features two bedrooms and two and a half baths. They range from 1,135 to 1,203 square feet and from $177,900 to $189,900. Granite countertops and stainless-steel appliances are included.

“A real selling feature of this project is its location across the street from the Gateway Market,” says Rob Langloss, also of Burnett Realty. “Plus it’s just a short distance to Water Works Park, Gray’s Lake, and the airport. Every time you drive through the Ingersoll or Sherman Hill areas, there’s something new happening, which makes this a really key location.”

“Over the past few years, we have developed a number of options for downtown’s ever-growing population,” Rick says. “This year is no different as we open these new communities. It’s exciting to be part of the changing skyline.”

Hubbell has positioned a number of housing anchors—east, west, and in the middle—to give options for achieving the adventure that is downtown Des Moines. Hop on board: The momentum is taking off!