Madison Homes

Annapolis Brings Home Gold and Silver in International Awards Competition Recognizing Livable Communities

Monday, November 29th, 2010

Annapolis, Md. (11-18-10) — Mayor Joshua J. Cohen announces that Annapolis has received two awards at the premier international competition to recognize environmental practices and livable communities, including the highest honor given to any U.S. city for innovative development projects.

Earlier this month in Chicago at the annual International Awards for Livable Communities event, otherwise known as the LivCom Awards, the Acton’s Landing development in the Annapolis Historic District earned a second-tier gold medal in the environmentally sustainable projects category, coming in behind Vancouver, British Columbia, Seongdong-gu, South Korea, and Dongcheng City, China.

Acton’s Landing is a 4.5-acre mixed-residential infill project in the heart of the Historic District, a portion of which rests on the site of the old Anne Arundel Medical Center. The project created a seamless transition between existing 1920s-era homes and modern condominiums, townhouses and single-family homes.

Acton’s Landing was among 20 projects from around the world that were in consideration. Eligible projects must have been completed within the past two years, or a significant proportion must have been completed during that period.

In the whole cities category (for city populations between 20,001 and 75,000), Annapolis brought home a silver medal. In its category, Annapolis was one of 12 communities worldwide judged on how it has adopted innovative, environmentally sensitive practices and initiatives resulting in sustainable management of the environment as well as the enhancement of the air, water and land quality.

These awards applauded Annapolis for its:

• Enhancement of landscape
• Environmentally sensitive practice
• Heritage management
• Community sustainability
• Healthy lifestyles
• Planning for the future

In all, 16 countries were represented at the Nov. 4-8 competition, which was endorsed by the United Nations Environmental Program. Full results are available online at  http://bit.ly/bj0AQp

Planning Director Jon Arason, Frank Biba, chief of environmental programs, and Pearse O’Doherty, president of O’Doherty Group in Annapolis, represented the City in Chicago. No City taxpayer dollars were used for the delegation’s travel or lodging for the conference.

“Our three-person delegation brought back more than just awards for our residents,” Mayor Cohen said. “The delegation acted as Annapolis’ ambassadors, promoting a healthy, green and clean lifestyle to all who may visit, or to anyone interacted in investment opportunities.

“I thank former Mayor Ellen Moyer for her vision and leadership in promoting environmental initiatives, and I commend our entire City team for its hard work and dedication that led to these awards.”

City TV produced videos that accompanied the delegation’s presentation in Chicago in the environmentally sustainable projects and whole cities categories. Those videos are available online.

For Acton ‘s Landing (6:32), go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FS-d1wiX_Kc

For whole cities (11:16), go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBz0Z640wDo

Phill McGowan
Public Information Officer
City Of Annapolis
160 Duke of Gloucester Street
Annapolis, MD 21401
Office – 410-263-1183
Cell -  443-433-8920