A corporation that’s unclear on the concept
Toll Brothers’ “Sonoma Verde” subdivision
Today’s post comes via email from one of the fabulous folks in Helotes. They are less than amused by Toll Brothers’ “greenwashing” campaign touting its tree preservation efforts. It seems that TB forgot its own propaganda when blasting away trees and hills to build its “Sonoma Verde” project…
While browsing through the Real Estate Section of the San Antonio Express News yesterday, April 19, 2008, I noticed an article in the Real Estate Briefcase: “Toll Brothers Expo set for weekend”. I usually scan these sections looking at the new subdivisions exploding in our Northwest Bexar County Hill Country.
I found it almost laughable that a company, who has ravaged our tree-covered hilltops with explosions and bulldozers, turning the sea of green into a barren moonscape, can proudly and erroneously tout that they want the public to “learn about land planning, community design and Toll Brothers’ architecture and quality control”.
Piquing my curiosity, I viewed the main Toll Brothers website. There is a section titled “Building Green”. The first paragraph purports that they “make a point of taking advantage of opportunities that benefit the environment. Nationwide, Toll Brothers encourages environmental awareness by partnering with conservation groups such as the National Wildlife Federation and the Audubon Society – earning certificates, etc…” It continues by stating “these certifications assure our residents that the natural beauty of their communities will remain a proud legacy for generations to come.”
In the following paragraph they speak of harmonizing with the scenic beauty of surrounding landscapes; incorporating the existing hills, trees and ponds; and, have saved and transplanted thousand of trees. Perhaps Toll Brothers failed to mention this to the builders with whom they have contracted. It is obvious that they do not visit the construction sites they control or simply do not care.
I hardly call demolishing an entire hillside and eliminating anything green or natural an “award winning effort”! Even the name of one particular subdivision, “Sonoma Verde” is a joke. Where is the green? There are endangered species in the karst geology, all wildlife habitats, and the endangered species corridor which has been devastated, not to mention the sheer erosion created by the barren landscape, influencing our creeks and streams.
The intrusion and disruption of a once pristine part of our Hill Country for the quick buck by out-of-town developers in the unregulated county is shameful. But, hey! It’s not in their back yard. It is up to the citizens to take action to stop this trend.
For more about Toll Brothers, check out these videos:
Huisache said,
May 13, 2008 @ 12:08 pm
Our mainstream “news” outlets fail the community pitifully. They allow shoddy sleazy corporations like Toll Bros to get away with the destruction of our environment with their passive, lazy, advertiser-based approach to news.