A town built by kayakers, for kayakers

[Andre Spino-Smith]

Jed and Katie selby, both long time members of the whitewater kayaking community and team wavesport, are doing a built green traditional neighborhood development (TND) on the banks of the arkansas river in the town of Buena Vista, CO. Built green is a certification from the Colorado Government that a house gets when it's extremely energy efficient. Along with the town Of Buena Vista, they've applied for Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) grant to build one of the longest play parks in the world. All lots will be within a two to five minute walk from the public river park. The focal point of the development will be the central square right next to the main play spot. This spot, complete with a foot bridge above and a restaurant right next to it, will be custom made to host kayaking events.

In typical developments of today, all uses including office parks, schools, shopping, Recreation, and civic buildings, are physically separate and connected by arterial roads. This system makes almost everyone completely dependent on cars. Basically, TND is the practice of Building towns the way they used to be built, around the needs of pedestrians instead of cars. This is done in part by creating mixed use (buildings with apartments above and store fronts below) buildings, and enough density so that there are enough people within walking distance to support these stores. The next challenge is to make an interesting public ream. This includes wide sidewalks, trees, narrow streets to slow down traffic, and houses with porches built right up next to the sidewalk. This may sound easy, but this is all illegal according to current zoning laws. To do a project like this, the town must give you the freedom to completely re-write the local zoning codes.

Jed and Katie's website, www.southmainriverpark.com shows the whole layout and is very informative. If walking from your house to an awesome play spot interests you, check it out.

Feel free to call or email me for more details.

andre@southmainriverpark.com
719.207.2444

Andre Spino-smith

[RDNEK]

Dre - is BV a town for kayakers by kayakers or it BV a town for poker players by poker players? Just kiddin - word around the campfire this AM is that you won last night - and marco got 2nd - what's up for tonight are you up to defend that title?

[Andre Spino-Smith]

Yo rednek,

poker is fun when you win. I think I'm addicted.

Jed and I are going to see Miah for turkey day. We'll play some more when we get back.

Andre

[kayaker]

Andre-
the link to southmainriverpark.com in your post is not working.
the url that you posted has a comma at the end in front of the final slash

correct URL is:
South Main River park

[Andre Spino-Smith]

We can't let jed win again!

[RDNEK]

Dre,

What you say about a game tonight thurs. - about 8 - under the stairs. We can gang up on jed - he has had a good run but I feel that it is comming to a end. Marco should be back from Vegas today and we should get him in as well. Give me a call or stop by and we will come up with a plan to put jed out early - what up jed you up to defend that belt?

V

[Brook]

You Ark Valley boys sure got a gambling problimo?!

[Mut]

You guys need to gang up on Jed AND Dre. They both rolled over here to GWS for turkey and left with our money. What graditude, we feed them and then they take our money. You also need to get the video Jed has been watching that way you can snake his little gambling tricks before he takes more of your cashish.

[chad]

Mut, WHAT IS GOIN' ON!

Jed and Dre been snaking the poker games eh? Somebody has to take them out.

[Andre Spino-Smith]

Hey,

Jed's ego is getting out of control! He just told me that he won 90 bucks in Durango and he thinks he's unbeatable. He's going to get sloppy soon. And we'll be there to take his money.

Dre