There are few people that I meet around town that are more passionate about the issue of being green than Dave Majewski (center). Dave pretty much looks at our city through green-tinted sunglasses - where most people look at a buildings and their surroundings without giving them much thought, Dave likes to analyze and fashion (in his mind) what sort of eco-friendly changes he could make. Even though he spends a good chunk of his life promoting green to his clients, it is the rare exception when one actually listens. It only takes a few small successes to make a big impact on the mindset of community. Thankfully, there are some people, here and there, who see the benefits of the earth-friendly advances... but what about that big picture?
Smaller residential projects are easier to pitch of course. I guess you have to start somewhere, right? Can the smaller jobs be used to promote the eco practices to larger developers? For example, the Elk Terminal Loft project utilized Dave's Services back in July of '07 (see post). And if the larger developers pay attention, will The City and The State ever come around? As we re-envision our city, we should be re-envisioning the way we build, the way we landscape, the way that we deconstruct, and the way that we go about our every day lives. "If there's any one industry that can make a profound impact on sustainability," Dave told me. "It's the horticultural industry. My crew is 'so' into this... we've worked with rain gardens to capture rainwater, and bog gardens to turn waste into assets. I think little by little we're changing homeowners' outlooks." Here are a few additional green measures that Dave is taking on a couple of West Side properties that have been purchased as experimental commercial demo lots:
"You really need to see the lots we are doing - the ones that I bought this winter - truly sustainable and "Green" all the way with bio-retention @ curb. There were already curbs missing which makes it perfect for BR. Rain Garden is in. Everything is all native and edible... wildflower seed... berries throughout. Birds - feeders and then some baths going in. Bat house going up. Rain Barrels. New roof going on the garage - Green Roof in September. Driveway coming out - permeable pavers going in. All recycled and re-used materials throughout. Veggies on one lot. Interpretive signs for community education going in. Flyers going out to the area residents. Coming along nicely - expensive and all out of pocket with no profit. But, we want to use them to show residents how it can be done 100%. This is right around the corner - 100 feet - from the Re-Tree lot on 14th. Another is on Rhode Island."
One of the things I admire about Dave's green practices is that he's always looking to change the ways that people look at their immediate environment. "At this moment," he began. "We're using wood chips from dead trees from the October Storm. As a city, we have the most unique opportunity to create 100% green and sustainable attractions... we're mostly missing that opportunity though. Look around the city at the big projects... there's nothing sustainable on Main Street, the Inner Harbor or anywhere else that is being rebuilt. We could be attracting students, architects and professors to our city by simply using best practices. I've been telling members of The Board down at the Erie Canal that they have an opportunity to make the landscaping a global green attraction... we have a clean slate on our waterfront and we must take advantage of it. But why listen to a guy who works in jeans and not in a suit?"
If you think you've heard just about all you can take regarding Dave and his desire for Buffalo to be a green city, let me tell you that you've only heard the beginning. Dave has ideas that could take parking lot sprawl and turn it into 'greener' assets. By using six out of a hundred parking spaces, Dave can design a series of bio-retention planters. He informed me that we could be taking advantage of some serious stimulus money to implement these green initiatives. "Green is good for green (money)," he insisted. "Organizations like PUSH, Grassroots Gardens and MAP should be getting stimulus money to keep them strong. We need to focus on making this city green. Believe it or not, 99% of my clients are in the city. I live in the city and I support the city. Out of all of the neighborhoods, the West Side appreciates sustainability. It's so easy... plant clover for the honeybees and it takes nitrogens from the air, which means that it uses less nutrients from the soil. There are so many easy ways that we could be living sustainable lives..."
As I sped away on my bike, I swear that I could hear Dave as he continued to preach about all of the ways that we could be leading better, greener lives. Since I left him I have received myriad emails with updates regarding exciting new projects his team is working on. Stay tuned for additional coverage on Dave and his desire to green our city.
*Dave Majewski is the President of Premium Services Inc. - a company that specializes in horticulture (specifically the design, build and managing aspects) Buffalo, NY | 716-432-2960
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Smaller residential projects are easier to pitch of course. I guess you have to start somewhere, right? Can the smaller jobs be used to promote the eco practices to larger developers? For example, the Elk Terminal Loft project utilized Dave's Services back in July of '07 (see post). And if the larger developers pay attention, will The City and The State ever come around? As we re-envision our city, we should be re-envisioning the way we build, the way we landscape, the way that we deconstruct, and the way that we go about our every day lives. "If there's any one industry that can make a profound impact on sustainability," Dave told me. "It's the horticultural industry. My crew is 'so' into this... we've worked with rain gardens to capture rainwater, and bog gardens to turn waste into assets. I think little by little we're changing homeowners' outlooks." Here are a few additional green measures that Dave is taking on a couple of West Side properties that have been purchased as experimental commercial demo lots:
"You really need to see the lots we are doing - the ones that I bought this winter - truly sustainable and "Green" all the way with bio-retention @ curb. There were already curbs missing which makes it perfect for BR. Rain Garden is in. Everything is all native and edible... wildflower seed... berries throughout. Birds - feeders and then some baths going in. Bat house going up. Rain Barrels. New roof going on the garage - Green Roof in September. Driveway coming out - permeable pavers going in. All recycled and re-used materials throughout. Veggies on one lot. Interpretive signs for community education going in. Flyers going out to the area residents. Coming along nicely - expensive and all out of pocket with no profit. But, we want to use them to show residents how it can be done 100%. This is right around the corner - 100 feet - from the Re-Tree lot on 14th. Another is on Rhode Island."
One of the things I admire about Dave's green practices is that he's always looking to change the ways that people look at their immediate environment. "At this moment," he began. "We're using wood chips from dead trees from the October Storm. As a city, we have the most unique opportunity to create 100% green and sustainable attractions... we're mostly missing that opportunity though. Look around the city at the big projects... there's nothing sustainable on Main Street, the Inner Harbor or anywhere else that is being rebuilt. We could be attracting students, architects and professors to our city by simply using best practices. I've been telling members of The Board down at the Erie Canal that they have an opportunity to make the landscaping a global green attraction... we have a clean slate on our waterfront and we must take advantage of it. But why listen to a guy who works in jeans and not in a suit?"
If you think you've heard just about all you can take regarding Dave and his desire for Buffalo to be a green city, let me tell you that you've only heard the beginning. Dave has ideas that could take parking lot sprawl and turn it into 'greener' assets. By using six out of a hundred parking spaces, Dave can design a series of bio-retention planters. He informed me that we could be taking advantage of some serious stimulus money to implement these green initiatives. "Green is good for green (money)," he insisted. "Organizations like PUSH, Grassroots Gardens and MAP should be getting stimulus money to keep them strong. We need to focus on making this city green. Believe it or not, 99% of my clients are in the city. I live in the city and I support the city. Out of all of the neighborhoods, the West Side appreciates sustainability. It's so easy... plant clover for the honeybees and it takes nitrogens from the air, which means that it uses less nutrients from the soil. There are so many easy ways that we could be living sustainable lives..."
As I sped away on my bike, I swear that I could hear Dave as he continued to preach about all of the ways that we could be leading better, greener lives. Since I left him I have received myriad emails with updates regarding exciting new projects his team is working on. Stay tuned for additional coverage on Dave and his desire to green our city.
*Dave Majewski is the President of Premium Services Inc. - a company that specializes in horticulture (specifically the design, build and managing aspects) Buffalo, NY | 716-432-2960
Thats quite a list, however, I would say that Buffalo and residents of WNY have two big priorities.
1) Plant Trees on all streets and along all rivers and creeks
2) then expand green technologies in our area
We are the least treed city in NYS..and its shameful.
The banks of our waterways are mostly man-made so we have no estuaries for fish or trees to purify the water...and most of our wetlands are long ago drained.