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MYTH FIVE FACTFIVE <br />Prairie Crossing <br />The developers of Prairie Crossing, George and Vicky Ranney, <br />saved $1 million in infrastructure costs through environmentally <br />sensitive design. The 677-acre conservation community is <br />locatedin Grayslake, Illinois, 40 miles northwest of Chicago <br />and one hour south of Milwaukee. The community features <br />350 acres of open space, including 160 acres of restored <br />prairie, 158 acres of active farmland, 13 acres of wetlands, a <br />22-acre lake, a village green, and several neighborhood parks. <br />Houses are sited to protect natural features such as hedge- <br />rows, native habitat, and wetlands. Designed with colors and <br />architecture inspired by the landscape, every home has a view <br />of open space and direct access to ten miles of on-site walk- <br />ing and biking trails. Wide sidewalks, deep front porches, <br />and rear garages encourage neighbors to meet. The homes <br />were built with U.S. Department of Energy–approved green <br />building techniques. As a result, they are 50 percent more <br />energy efficient than other homes in the Chicago area, and <br />they sell for a 33 percent sales premium. Station Village is the <br />last phase of Prairie Crossing. When complete, it will include <br />residential, retail, and office space, all within walking distance <br />of two commuter train stations. Residents can ride Metra’s <br />North Line to Chicago’s Union Station or the Central Line to <br />downtown Chicago and O’Hare Airport. <br />PROFILE <br />More than half <br />the land at Prairie <br />Crossing was <br />preserved as open <br />space, and homes <br />were built with <br />approved green <br />building techniques. <br />Myth and Fact 23 <br />PRAIRIE <br />CROSSING