Crescent Communities’ 1,400-acre River District development in west Charlotte has officially been designated a One Planet Living (OPL) Leader, becoming the first project in the Southeast and only the third in the U.S. to earn the distinction.
Created by UK-based nonprofit Bioregional, the One Planet Living framework promotes development that aligns with ten core sustainability principles. These include efforts to reduce carbon emissions, preserve biodiversity, and improve health and social well-being through land use, transportation, and design strategies.
The River District, located between the Catawba River and Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, was developed with these OPL principles embedded in its planning process. The project will feature over 500 acres of preserved natural areas, connected greenways and trails, a two-acre urban farm, and public river access. Environmental education partnerships, biodiversity studies, erosion control, and electric vehicle charging stations are also central to the master plan.
The River District will feature:
- Over 500 acres of preserved natural space and ample connected green space (greenways, trails, and parks) offering connections to nature; land management practices to improve biodiversity
- Purposeful partnerships with environmental education organizations
- A regenerative two-acre urban garden and on-site farmer to support local, sustainable food production
- Affordable and mixed-income housing
- Public access to the Catawba River and increased erosion control management measures
- Comprehensive biodiversity study conducted with environmental partners to measure overall health of wildlife in preserved areas and plan for reducing invasive, nonnative species
- Miles of walking and biking trails, dog parks, and riverfront accessibility offering connectivity throughout; EV charging stations
- Supporting mass timber construction to reduce carbon footprint
These sustainable features will both help protect the region’s natural environment and enhance quality of life for residents by providing greater access to nature, reducing carbon footprints, and fostering a healthier, more connected community.
Added Sue Riddlestone OBE, CEO of Bioregional, “The Crescent Communities team has engaged deeply with One Planet Living from a very early stage in the development of The River District. We are absolutely delighted to see them now breaking ground and starting to make their exciting vision a reality. The partnerships the team has built are creative and innovative and are already setting precedents for green building in North Carolina.”
Earlier this year, The River District broke ground on the first phase of single-family homes in its Westrow neighborhood. David Weekley Homes, DRB Homes, Saussy Burbank, and Toll Brothers will develop this first builder phase consisting of over 260 lots of a total potential of 2,300 single-family homes. The River District will also include up to 2,350 multifamily residential units, with a portion dedicated to mixed-income housing in partnership with local developer Laurel Street Residential. Crescent Communities has already begun construction on NOVEL River District, a 318-unit multifamily development under its Class A NOVEL brand which will feature world-class amenities, residential programming, and sleek and modern design. In addition to its residential offerings, The River District will include millions of square feet of retail, office, and mixed-use space.
