Long Leaf

Cousins Properties and Pine Mountain Builders, Callaway Gardens, Harris County

Longleaf at Callaway Gardens is a 45 acre development that, from the very beginning of the design process through the building and landscape installation, focused on the preservation, conservation and restoration of their unique greenfield site. The project team, which included  key Callaway Gardens staff members, representatives from HighGrove Partners, Pine Mountains Builders, Cousins Properties, architects, engineers and arborists, etc. have worked together and spent extensive time in the site analysis and design stage of the development with intent to preserve the significant natural resources of the location.

Native mulch and forest floor were maintained wherever possible thus minimizing irrigation and providing low maintenance home landscapes for residents. Likewise, the Longleaf team designed the community around the stands of Longleaf pines, utilized natural buffers, worked to restore the forest through resident education and landscape restrictions, eliminated typical suburban lawns (prohibiting turf grass) and, in so doing, provided open space connectivity throughout the community. Mature trees were transplanted whenever possible and the result is that 40% of the land at Longleaf has been preserved as open space and certification by the “Building with Trees’ program.

Impervious surfaces at Longleaf were reduced by designing the roadways to be only 20’ wide with limited curb and gutter. Likewise, sheet flow and bio filters were used to return runoff to the natural system at natural temperatures and enhance water quality.

Further utilizing their unique location next to the Callaway Gardens, the community has a trail system and connects to the Callaway Gardens bike path system.