Registration is underway for the 2013 Earth Day on the Atlanta BeltLine on Saturday, April 20, 2013.

Atlanta BeltLine, Inc., the Atlanta BeltLine Partnership, Park Pride, Trees Atlanta, the Atlanta Community Tool Bank, Keep Atlanta Beautiful, and neighborhood partners are working together to plant native grass along the Eastside Trail on the Atlanta BeltLine to celebrate this year’s Earth Day on the Atlanta BeltLine.

An element of the Atlanta BeltLine Arboretum, these native grasses and flowers will create a prairie, which will provide food, protection, and homes for birds, butterflies, and bees. This natural wildlife habitat requires minimal maintenance (such as mowing), which cuts down on damage to creatures and carbon emissions along the trail, and also will contribute to enhanced water and soil quality while fighting erosion.

Volunteers can sign up online at http://earthdayonatlbeltline13.eventbrite.com. All volunteers should arrive at the site by 8:30 a.m. to check in and should bring a signed waiver, which can be accessed from the registration website above. Clean-up activities begin at 9:00 a.m. and conclude at noon.

Volunteers should wear sturdy, close-toed shoes, long sleeves and pants, work gloves, and should bring a water bottle, bug spray, and sunscreen. Be prepared for moderate to heavy work. All ages are welcome, though children must be accompanied by an adult.

Directions: Volunteers will meet under the Freedom Parkway Bridge, next to the Historic Fourth Ward Skatepark at 830 Willoughby Way, Atlanta, GA 30312. Please look out for the check in/registration tables manned by Keep Atlanta Beautiful representatives.
By MARTA:
Take Bus Route16 (Noble-Downtown/Noble-Executive Park), which makes multiple stops along Ralph McGill Boulevard near the Skatepark.
Walk from INMAN PARK-REYNOLDSTOWN STATION: Depart the train and head Southwest on DeKalb Ave. NE. Turn right onto Elizabeth St. NE. Turn right on Eastside Trail. Skatepark will be on the LEFT.
By car from I-75/85 S: Take exit 248C toward GA-10 E/Freedom Pkwy/Carter Center. Merge onto GA-10 E/Freedom Pkwy. Turn left onto Boulevard NE. Turn right onto Ralph McGill Blvd NE. Continue onto Willoughby Way NE. The park will be on the right.
Walk or Bike: Another way to enjoy the Atlanta BeltLine! Walk or ride your bike on the Eastside Trail to the meeting area.
There is a small parking lot and street parking.

Earth Day on the Atlanta BeltLine is organized by volunteers and community representatives from Keep Atlanta Beautiful, Atlanta BeltLine, Inc., Atlanta BeltLine Partnership, Trees Atlanta, Park Pride, and the Atlanta Community ToolBank. Breakfast for volunteers will be provided by Kwanza Hall.

About Keep Atlanta Beautiful: Keep Atlanta Beautiful, an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, Inc., serves Atlanta by developing and implementing public education and community improvement programs that make a cleaner and greener Atlanta. These initiatives enhance the quality of life and economic development in the community by instilling pride in community ownership and a behavior change that seeks improvements in littering, recycling, beautification, and natural resource conservation. www.keepatlantabeautiful.org

About Atlanta BeltLine Inc. (ABI): ABI is the entity tasked with planning and executing the implementation of the Atlanta BeltLine in partnership with the Atlanta BeltLine team including City of Atlanta Departments. Its functions include specifically defining the Atlanta BeltLine plan; leading efforts to secure federal, state and local funding; continuing the Atlanta BeltLine community engagement process; and serving as the overall project management office to implement the Atlanta BeltLine. www.beltline.org

About The Atlanta BeltLine Partnership: The Atlanta BeltLine Partnership is a non-profit organization committed to raising funds from private and philanthropic sources to support the Atlanta BeltLine; working with neighborhoods, community organizations, faith organizations, businesses and other groups to raise general awareness and broad-based support for the Atlanta BeltLine; and serving as a catalyst to mobilize resources to address the social concerns raised by new development around the Atlanta BeltLine. www.beltline.org

About Trees Atlanta: Trees Atlanta is a nationally recognized citizens group that protects and improves Atlanta’s urban forest by planting, conserving, and educating. www.treesatlanta.org

About Park Pride: Park Pride, founded in 1989, is the only organization that works with communities all over Atlanta to improve their parks. Each year Park Pride coordinates more than 15,000 hours of volunteer work in Atlanta parks, develops new conceptual park plans for neighborhood parks and helps start dozens of “Friends of the Park” groups. Park Pride engages communities in programs such as Adopt-a-Park, Park Visioning, Volunteer, Fiscal Partners and Micro Grant programs. In advocacy efforts, Park Pride engages a contingency to take action for more greenspace acreage, including the creation of the Atlanta BeltLine, which promises to create more than 1,000 acres of new parks and 33 miles of trails. www.parkpride.org

About the Atlanta Community ToolBank:
Founded in 1991, the Atlanta Community ToolBank operates the country’s largest Tool Lending Program focused on equipping local service groups to implement a diverse range of community improvement projects. With over 160 different tool types available year-round, the Atlanta Community ToolBank has equipped more than 400,000 volunteers to date and serves as the charter affiliate and model agency for ToolBank USA and the movement to replicate the ToolBank model nationwide. www.atlanta.toolbank.org.

Heirloom Design Build is Atlanta’s top tier unrestricted builder, specialized in design build, new home construction, renovation & addition and other special projects including home remodels, kitchens, bathrooms, backyards, sunrooms, landscape, etc. Heirloom’s professional team aim at helping home owners over-exceed their building expectations! Give us a call (404) 537-1827, or email us at info@heirloomdesignbuild.com.

We are members of the United States Green Building Council, the Atlanta Green Building Council, Atlanta Home Builder’s Association, and are certified builders for programs such as Builder America, Earthcraft, and Energy Star. We are also EPA- Lead Free trained and certified, and we have LEED (AP) certified staff in house.

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Heirloom Design Build is Atlanta’s top tier unrestricted builder, specialized in design build, new home construction, renovation & addition and other special projects including home remodels, kitchens, bathrooms, backyards, sunrooms, landscape, etc. Heirloom’s professional team aim at helping home owners over-exceed their building expectations! Give us a call (404) 537-1827, or email us at info@heirloomdesignbuild.com.

We are members of the United States Green Building Council, the Atlanta Green Building Council, Atlanta Home Builder’s Association, and are certified builders for programs such as Builder America, Earthcraft, and Energy Star. We are also EPA- Lead Free trained and certified, and we have LEED (AP) certified staff in house.

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After the planting, we will hop over to FROGS Cantina Midtown for appetizers, drink specials, and fun! Please contact rachelm@heirloomdesignbuild.com for more information about the volunteer day or how you can help out.

Learn more about the Atlanta Beltline.

Heirloom Design Build is Atlanta’s top tier unrestricted builder, specialized in design build, new home construction, renovation & addition and other special projects including home remodels, kitchens, bathrooms, backyards, sunrooms, landscape, etc. Heirloom’s professional team aim at helping home owners over-exceed their building expectations! Give us a call (404) 537-1827, or email us at info@heirloomdesignbuild.com.

We are members of the United States Green Building Council, the Atlanta Green Building Council, Atlanta Home Builder’s Association, and are certified builders for programs such as Builder America, Earthcraft, and Energy Star. We are also EPA- Lead Free trained and certified, and we have LEED (AP) certified staff in house.

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Sign up for our blog and Newsletter

More videos on YouTube

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Heirloom Design Build is Atlanta’s top tier unrestricted builder, specialized in design build, new home construction, renovation & addition and other special projects including home remodels, kitchens, bathrooms, backyards, sunrooms, landscape, etc. Heirloom’s professional team aim at helping home owners over-exceed their building expectations! Give us a call (404) 537-1827, or email us at info@heirloomdesignbuild.com.

We are members of the United States Green Building Council, the Atlanta Green Building Council, Atlanta Home Builder’s Association, and are certified builders for programs such as Builder America, Earthcraft, and Energy Star. We are also EPA- Lead Free trained and certified, and we have LEED (AP) certified staff in house.

Like us on Facebook

Sign up for our blog and Newsletter

More videos on YouTube

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Heirloom Design Build is Atlanta’s top tier unrestricted builder, specialized in design build, new home construction, renovation & addition and other special projects including home remodels, kitchens, bathrooms, backyards, sunrooms, landscape, etc. Heirloom’s professional team aim at helping home owners over-exceed their building expectations! Give us a call (404) 537-1827, or email us at info@heirloomdesignbuild.com.

We are members of the United States Green Building Council, the Atlanta Green Building Council, Atlanta Home Builder’s Association, and are certified builders for programs such as Builder America, Earthcraft, and Energy Star. We are also EPA- Lead Free trained and certified, and we have LEED (AP) certified staff in house.

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We also adjusted the original layout: opening up the kitchen with the dining room to make a family room area, making a bright and  luxurious master suite with walk-in closets and a full bathroom with his/hers vanities from a sunroom and pool room, and adding stairs to the basement underneath original the foyer stairs. As you can see, we used this home remodel as a case study to show what we can do for around $120k; This home’s value has increased tenfold and will make an extreme profit for the owners when it’s time to sell years down the road.

Here’s the video to the home remodel:

Heirloom Design Build is Atlanta’s top tier unrestricted builder, specialized in design build, new home construction, renovation & addition and other special projects including home remodels, kitchens, bathrooms, backyards, sunrooms, landscape, etc. Heirloom’s professional team aim at helping home owners over-exceed their building expectations! Give us a call (404) 537-1827, or email us at info@heirloomdesignbuild.com.

We are members of the United States Green Building Council, the Atlanta Green Building Council, Atlanta Home Builder’s Association, and are certified builders for programs such as Builder America, Earthcraft, and Energy Star. We are also EPA- Lead Free trained and certified, and we have LEED (AP) certified staff in house.

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Sign up for our blog and Newsletter

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Heirloom Design Build is Atlanta’s top tier unrestricted builder, specialized in design build, new home construction, renovation & addition and other special projects including kitchens, bathrooms, backyards, sunrooms, landscape, etc. Heirloom’s professional team aim at helping home owners over-exceed their building expectations! Give us a call (404) 537-1827, or email us at info@heirloomdesignbuild.com.

We are members of the United States Green Building Council, the Atlanta Green Building Council, Atlanta Home Builder’s Association, and are certified builders for programs such as Builder America, Earthcraft, and Energy Star. We are also EPA- Lead Free trained and certified, and we have LEED (AP) certified staff in house.

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From the Congress of New Urbanism:

1. Creating Enduring Neighborhoods
New Urbanism recognizes walkable, human-scaled neighborhoods as the building blocks of sustainable communities and regions. The Charter of the New Urbanism articulates the movement’s principles and defines the essential qualities of urban places from the scale of the region to the individual building.

2. Making Urbanism Legal Again
Although compact, mixed-use urban form was the standard before 1950, separate-use zoning codes and high-volume road standards subsequently helped to make sprawl (above right) today’s default development option. New Urbanists are providing leaders with tools (and more tools) to reverse course and strengthen the character, livability, and diversity of their communities.

3. Making Connections a Priority
Through grids of streets, transportation choices, and the siting of buildings along the sidewalks of compact blocks, New Urbanism brings destinations within reach and allows for frequent encounters between citizens, in sharp contrast to sprawl. A key measure of connectivity is how accessible communities are to people with a range of physical abilities and financial resources.

4. Celebrating Shared Spaces
New Urbanism makes shared space the organizing element of a community. Architecture physically defines streets as places of shared use. Care for the public realm adds character, builds value, promotes security, and helps residents feel proud of their community. Plazas, squares, sidewalks, cafes, and porches provide rich settings for interaction and public life.

5. Achieving Sustainability — From Building to Region
By focusing development, New Urbanism promotes efficient use of infrastructure and preservation of habitats and farmland. With green building leaders, CNU is establishing new standards for green design at the neighborhood scale. Transportation plays a pivotal role in sustainability and truly efficient transportation – walking, bicycling, and transit use – is only possible where there is compact, urban form.

6. Reclaiming Urban Places Once Thought Lost
New Urbanism is repairing the damage done to our cities through environmental degradation, misguided infrastructure projects and designs that isolated the poor. Through the federal Hope VI program, New Urbanism has transformed deteriorating public housing into livable mixed-income neighborhoods (left). And in numerous cities, CNU is helping to replace blighting freeways with neighborhood-friendly boulevards.

7. Renewing a Ravaged Region
Since the historic October 2005 Mississippi Renewal Forum, CNU members have led planning efforts along the hurricane-battered Gulf Coast, including in New Orleans (left). Master plans, form-based codes, and transportation designs are helping citizens and their leaders forge collaborative visions, while Katrina Cottages (right) have emerged as a new model for affordable emergency housing of enduring quality.

Watch the short video “Built to Last” by First + Main Media, (the winner of the video contest conducted in conjunction with CNU 17 in Denver), for an entertaining and enlightening introduction to New Urbanism and its role in freeing people from automobile-dependence and in reversing development patterns that threaten our global climate:

Contact us at Heirloom Design Build to learn more about our New Urbanism projects and how we can help with your construction goals!

Heirloom Design Build is Atlanta’s top tier unrestricted builder, specialized in design build, new home construction, renovation & addition and other special projects including kitchens, bathrooms, backyards, sunrooms, landscape, etc. Heirloom’s professional team aim at helping home owners over-exceed their building expectations! Give us a call (404) 537-1827, or email us at info@heirloomdesignbuild.com.

We are members of the United States Green Building Council, the Atlanta Green Building Council, Atlanta Home Builder’s Association, and are certified builders for programs such as Builder America, Earthcraft, and Energy Star. We are also EPA- Lead Free trained and certified, and we have LEED (AP) certified staff in house.

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We also adjusted the original layout: opening up the kitchen with the dining room to make a family room area, making a bright and  luxurious master suite with walk-in closets and a full bathroom with his/hers vanities from a sunroom and pool room, and adding stairs to the basement underneath original the foyer stairs. As you can see, we used this house renovation as a case study to show what we can do for around $120k; This home’s value has increased tenfold and will make an extreme profit for the owners when it’s time to sell years down the road.

Here’s the video to the house renovation:

Heirloom Design Build is Atlanta’s top tier unrestricted builder, specialized in design build, new home construction, renovation & addition and other special projects including house renovations, kitchens, bathrooms, backyards, sunrooms, landscape, etc. Heirloom’s professional team aim at helping home owners over-exceed their building expectations! Give us a call (404) 537-1827, or email us at info@heirloomdesignbuild.com.

We are members of the United States Green Building Council, the Atlanta Green Building Council, Atlanta Home Builder’s Association, and are certified builders for programs such as Builder America, Earthcraft, and Energy Star. We are also EPA- Lead Free trained and certified, and we have LEED (AP) certified staff in house.

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No matter what the weather’s like in your part of the country, seasonal rooms and sunrooms can be a welcome and flexible addition to your home’s layout. Whether the sunshine is constant or only an occasional visitor, get inspired by one of these spaces to create your own sensational sunroom, full of natural light.

1. Use organic materials. Be one with nature in a sunroom composed from all natural elements. Pick out a variety of wood planks, bricks and stones of your choice from your local hardware store to adorn your oasis.

2. Add rays of color. Let this cheerful space reflect your vibrant personality. Bring some life to your room with bright paint on the ceiling and walls. Paint a two-tone room for added dimension and watch the natural light sparkle.

3. Put in window seating. For a functional and elegant look in your sunroom, install a banquette or place a long bench against the windows. A complementary dining table and chairs create the perfect space for guests to lounge and relax before, during and after a meal.

4. Create a sunny office. If you have a smaller sunroom, turn it into an inspiring workspace. Turn your desk to face the outdoors, and keep shelving and other organizational materials out of immediate view for a true indoor/outdoor feel.

5. Glass it in. Go all out with your sunroom and transform it into an all-glass space known as a solarium. It can be a large investment, but these breathlessly beautiful spaces allow you to get nice and toasty, basking in sunlight from every angle and in every season.

6. Double the space. Although it’s on the pricey side, if you can afford to install retractable doors and windows to your sunroom — do it. It’s a great way to expand the space visually and open it up with a push of your hand.

7. Don’t forget the ceiling. Reinvent the traditional notion of a seasonal room with extra-chic furnishings and a ceiling treatment everyone will stare at with admiration.

8. Set it up for entertaining. Arrange different conversational seating areas in your sunroom for year-round outdoor entertaining. Guests will gladly enjoy the view from every perspective and will never feel left out of the group.

9. Fashion a morning retreat. Drink a cup of your favorite coffee, catch up on current affairs or just bask in the sunshine — all steps away from your bed. Enhance your master suite with an extended sunroom for a mini-getaway in your pajamas.

10. Make the most of limited space. If you don’t have room for a full-size sunroom, create a cute faux version in front of a large window with a simple and comfortable seating area where you can sit back, unwind and indulge in the view.

Heirloom Design Build is Atlanta’s top tier unrestricted builder, specialized in design build, new home construction, renovation & addition and other special projects including kitchens, bathrooms, backyards, sunrooms, landscape, etc. Heirloom’s professional team aim at helping home owners over-exceed their building expectations! Give us a call (404) 537-1827, or email us at info@heirloomdesignbuild.com.

We are members of the United States Green Building Council, the Atlanta Green Building Council, Atlanta Home Builder’s Association, and are certified builders for programs such as Builder America, Earthcraft, and Energy Star. We are also EPA- Lead Free trained and certified, and we have LEED (AP) certified staff in house.

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