Down the solar path – Prospect village embraces sun

Mark Kostovny wants more than his moment in the sun. Inspired by the success of the award-winning Solar Decathlon house, built on the University of Colorado campus in 2002, Kostovny decided to develop housing projects that embrace solar power.

By Karen Mitchell, For the Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/bdc/business_plus/article/0,1713,BDC_2462_3142050,00.html

Kostovny, whose background is in renewable energy, green systems and creating marketing brands, founded Solar Village LLC http://www.solarvillagelife.com in 2003 with Alex Platt and Charlie Randall of Boulder-based Randall-Platt Associates. Solar Village is a Longmont-based developer of mixed-use buildings and diverse communities that focuses on a new brand of sustainable homes and workplaces.

Its first project, the $5 million, 26,000-square-foot Solar Village Prospect, begins construction this fall. The three-story, bicycle-friendly building will house first-floor commercial space and 16 living units on the upper floors. Unit costs range from $195,000 to $370,000, with two affordable units at lower cost.

"We’ll be a cornerstone of Prospect’s downtown," says Kostovny, a member of the board member of Boulder’s Center for Resource Conservation. "Our commercial tenants will include Solar Village Yoga and others benefiting from our brand."

Designed to take advantage of passive solar heating and cooling opportunities, the Built-Green rated Solar Village will be super-insulated with units featuring ductless systems to improve air quality, radiant floor heat, low-toxic interior materials such as environmentally friendly cabinetry and Energy Star-rated appliances.

"We have a group of investors who believe in our vision and are leaders in the community," Kostovny says. "Alex (Platt) is the Solar Village architect. I’m the engineer and marketing person. Charlie (Randall) is the developer and financial analyst."

The Solar Village business model, he says, demonstrates that residents can incur lower living costs yet enjoy amenities to stir the soul.

"Solar Village has tree wells on the second floor so residents can have full-size trees growing up through their decks, creating shade," Kostovny says. "All dwelling units face a huge south-facing courtyard, an urban oasis, on the main floor."

Prospect warranted this next level of development, he says. "Dwell (magazine) rated it the coolest neighborhood in the country, and (developer) Kiki Wallace lets architects have free rein to create unique spaces."

Solar Village hopes to take its brand on the road, Kostovny says, across the state and country, to Fort Collins, Denver, Arizona and California: "We want to prove it works so we can go to other downtowns and turn their city blocks into something that shines."

For more information, go to http://www.solarvillagelife.com.