2024 Amenity Report: It’s a Green Light for Outdoor Green Space

With commercial real estate getting back on solid ground, prestige amenities are changing the value narrative. The more innovative, the better.

If you’re looking to differentiate your property, landscaping is a relatively easy way to fast-track progress on goals, mitigate risk to extreme weather, and meet the objectives of all stakeholders with improved aesthetics, reduced energy and water use, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and improvements in net zero.  Consider the dovetailing wants and needs of building owners and their tenants, and how both benefit from a greener footprint.

  • People want to work at properties with quality of life amenities that offer sun and shade, outdoor places with flowers, benches, lighting, fitness areas, walking trails and bike paths, courtyards and plazas, bocce ball and putting greens, no mosquitos, and always, more trees.
  • Property investors and owners want finance upsides–increased reduction in energy use, improved carbon capture, improved water use, green credits and offsets, integration of smart technologies, and a landscape partner that can successfully deliver return on investment and return on value in equal measure.

Improving a landscape is like improving a building. Start with a good foundation, a high-functioning infrastructure, and state-of-the-art technologies to make it greener, make it marketable, and make it profitable.

30% of your site should be high-performing vegetation. Convert turfgrass to meadow plantings or eco-lawn ground cover; create natural areas and restore damaged ones to provide habitat and improve biodiversity; plant more trees to reduce heat island effect; install smart irrigation controllers; improve hardscape with sustainable materials; plant blooming perennials to improve pollinator population; and use integrated pest management, plant health care and best cultural practices to maintain healthy and vigorous plants; and seek less hazardous alternatives to chemicals to improve public health.

About Eastern Land Management.

ELM is a high-value partner, working directly with property owners as well as property and facility managers across Connecticut and Westchester County, NY.

Our CRE portfolio includes trophy Class A, green roof/on-structure mixed-use, multi-family/HOA, hospitals, senior living, and private universities. ELM received the ChangeMaker Award for Sustainability from Fairfield County, CT.

To learn more about green performance and which amenities can fast track your sustainability goals, Call ELM President, Bruce Moore Jr. at: 203-316-5433

Affiliations:

Member, Board of Directors, BOMA Southern Connecticut & BOMA Westchester County; Member, National Association of Landscape Professionals; Member, Snow & Ice Management Association; Certified Landscape Professional; Certified Advanced Snow Professional

 [Photo:  ELM received two NALP (National Association of Landscape Professionals) Awards of Excellence in Landscaping for Merritt7, Norwalk, CT.]

 

How beautiful landscaping improves health and well-being for seniors.

As a professional in the landscape industry and someone with aging parents and in-laws, the stress of finding the right living situation for our loved ones can be overwhelming. It goes beyond financial concerns; we also aspire to place our loved ones in an environment they will truly enjoy, and it all begins with the external aesthetics.

In the domain of senior and assisted living facilities, the significance of establishing a supportive and enriching atmosphere cannot be emphasized enough. With the aging population on the rise, there is a growing awareness of how profoundly surroundings can influence the well-being of residents. An increasingly recognized focal point in this regard is the incorporation of beautiful landscapes into these facilities. Beyond mere aesthetics, a meticulously designed natural environment plays a pivotal role in elevating the quality of life for seniors.

The presence of a lush lawn, vibrant flowers, and calming water features has been proven to contribute to the overall well-being of seniors. Exposure to nature has been linked to reduced stress levels, improved mood, and enhanced mental health. In an environment where residents may face various health challenges, the therapeutic effects of beautiful landscapes become invaluable.

Access to well-maintained outdoor spaces encourages seniors to engage in physical activities, promoting a healthier lifestyle. Walking paths, gardens, and outdoor seating areas provide opportunities for light exercise and social interactions. Additionally, exposure to nature has been associated with cognitive benefits, potentially slowing down cognitive decline and improving memory.

Beautifully landscaped areas serve as inviting communal spaces, fostering social interactions among residents. Whether engaging in group activities, enjoying a family visit in a garden, or participating in outdoor events. This is vital for mental and emotional well-being.

Maintaining outdoor spaces can offer seniors a sense of purpose and engagement. Gardening clubs, outdoor yoga classes, or music events are just a few examples of activities that can be organized in these landscapes. Such activities contribute to a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment, enhancing the overall quality of life for residents.

Regular maintenance is crucial to ensure that outdoor spaces remain vibrant and welcoming. Lawns should be well-maintained, and seasonal flowers can be incorporated to provide visual variety throughout the year. Additionally, ensuring that these areas are easily accessible to all residents, including those with mobility challenges, is essential.

In the evolving landscape of senior and assisted living facilities, the incorporation of beautiful outdoor spaces is more than a luxury; it is a necessity for promoting the well-being of residents. Beyond the physical infrastructure, the beauty of nature has the power to uplift spirits, create a sense of purpose, and enhance the overall quality of life for seniors. As we continue to innovate in the realm of elder care, let us not underestimate the transformative impact that a carefully designed and maintained landscape can have on the lives of those who have contributed so much to our communities.

By Marc Angarano, ELM Client Services, North Region (Monroe CT)

Preparing for The Big Chill

Late fall begins a hibernation cycle when plants and root systems slow down to conserve their energy. With no new foliage until warmer weather, our attention turns to the action below ground, long before signs of the first frost.

  • Protect and nourish root and soil systems, with a thick layer of nutrient-rich mulch to insulate and regulate soil temperature, hold in moisture, and keep roots from freeze damage.
  • Feed and water appropriately before the first frost. Avoid fertilizing, which will be ineffective during dormancy or cause them to sprout with unnecessary new growth.
  • Use soil moisture sensors and smart technology to measure hydration levels.Moist soil can hold 4 times more heat than dry soil, warming the plant as much as a 2-3 degrees
  • Deal with drainage problems promptly, as wet soils can make young plants more likely to uproot in wind.
  • Prune dead wood, clean up shrubs and trees, cut back perennials, remove debris, cut turf grass shorter, aerate and fertilize prior to first freeze.
  • Protect evergreens by wrapping with breathable burlap to shelter and protects the plant from heavy winds, salt, and heavy snow loads.
  • Get ahead of thaw cycles and know what plants can weather winter.

Contact Client Service Representatives Marc Angarano and Ted Marron at sales@easternland.com to learn more.

Unsure about your landscape contract renewal strategy? Here are four ways you can extract the most value.

For most property management companies, a wide-range of suppliers, vendors and partners are essential to meet the demands of daily operations, whether for the smooth running of the office or the way landscape and grounds significantly improve asset value.

The need for seamless continuity requires a life cycle of renewal that, despite its transactional nature, is an opportunity to safeguard relationships as well as an opportunity for both parties to achieve maximum value.

For properties pursuing initiatives that reduce energy, water, carbon and advance sustainability goals, ELM landscape contracts can take the process one step further with actionable steps that include specific solutions and provisions that protect and enhance local ecosystems, decrease the amount of chemicals, water and waste, and establish larger frameworks for continuous improvements in planting strategies.

  • Start early

Your landscape needs may have changed since you initially signed the contract.  Start the negotiation process early – prior to the existing season ending – and discuss options well before your contract expires. This gives you the opportunity to talk about pricing, learn more about new features and benefits, and discuss continuous refinements that meet green performance goals. On a practical level, getting your wish list in early gives your landscape contractor enough time to procure materials, and newer products and smart technologies that may have a waiting list. 

  • Get maximum value

Preparation is important if you want to extract maximum value. To achieve the best outcome, don’t cut corners. Give the contract process your full attention. It’s an excellent opportunity for both parties to achieve the best possible outcomes. build stronger relationships and renegotiate terms that are can be more favorable to both.

  • Reduce administrative burden

Most landscape contracts are automated with project management software that can make the administrative process fast and as easy as possible. If everything goes smoothly, it can be an opportunity to make the best use of the services and knowledge your landscape contractor offers. Having your contracts in place prior to spring – when the growing season begins – allows everyone to spend time on helping your property reap strategic benefits, such as higher ROI, enhanced oversight, decreased risk and higher performance.

  • Gain a seamless experience

Communicating and planning throughout the year – especially during winter and non-peak growing seasons – is crucial to success. By implementing the contract renewal process early, property managers can save time, extract more value, resolve problems faster, and stay ahead of important milestones and performance goals.

Email us  or call: 203-316-5433 to learn more.

Sustainability is Not Just for Summer: Meet the Earth-friendly practices that protect your landscape through winter.

Greg Gross, branch manager at Eastern Land Management’s “Green Hub” in Monroe, Connecticut, says that sustainable practices during peak growing months is the best way to prepare and protect your landscape for winter. That’s why he’s hosting the firm’s fourth annual Snow Rodeo, a two-day, all-hands winter management training and preparedness program, held this year on October 26-27.

“Winter weather is becoming harder to predict,” Greg says, “so prep, preparedness and contingency planning is more important than ever. The additional stress winter brings to plants and trees, and the operational stress it brings to property and facility managers—cost control, risk management, rising expectations, and liabilities linked to the environment and pedestrian safety—require us to continually improve our game.”

ELM has a long-standing commitment to cut down on chlorides and the firm’s organic-based liquid ice melt products, and its own brine-making facility in Monroe, significantly decreases the amount of traditional salting methods that harm and pollute waterways.

ELM’s snow rodeo addresses these challenges and more, including best practices in storm response, resource allocation, materials and equipment safety, new plow technologies, shoveling techniques, and ways to make sure that plants, landscapes, and people are protected from the hazards of winter.

    • Pre-winter landscape protection with mulching, pruning, fall clean-up, winterized irrigation systems
    • Full property inspection and pre-winter game planning
    • Proactive planning with client to keep commercial properties, college campuses and schools, HOAs, hospitals and senior living facilities safe and accessible, operational, and open
    • Strategies for constant communication, predicted weather events, impending storms, and regular updates
    • Consistent equipment and training on repeat
    • Proprietary weather forecasting, online weather resources, and data models
    • High-performance equipment and advanced technologies
    • Proprietary brine solutions that use less salt per square foot and protect waterways, landscapes and the environment
    • Earth-friendly snow and ice melt solutions
    • Organic, non-chloride applications that reduce corrosion and cost of spring clean- up and repair on architectural building details and hardscape
    • Seasonal snow and ice contract options so you always know how much to budget for winter
    • Hazard mitigation, risk management, pedestrian and vehicle safety, sidewalks and parking lot management that address liability concerns
    • Year-round weather readiness, alerts and warnings
    • Year-round plant health care and sustainable approaches
    • Year-round commitment to do what it takes to keep safety first, no matter the weather, the season or the unexpected

Severe weather is a fact of life in the Northeast. Snow and ice storms, blizzards, freezing temps, and reduced visibility are powerful and damaging. Spring may be the best time to think about what your landscaping and environmental strategies will look like in summer, but failure to prepare can be costly.

To learn more about ELM’s sustainable snow and ice services, winter management and winter safety program, contact ELM President and Advanced Snow Management Professional, Bruce Moore Jr. at (203) 316-5433.

ELM is an active member of the Snow & Ice Management Association (SIMA) and certified as Advanced Snow Management Professionals.

Photo: ELM Monroe Connecticut facility and “Green Hub”, host of ELM’s annual Snow Rodeo and winter safety training event.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The ABCs of RFPs: What property & facility managers need to know about finding a landscape partner.

Whether you’re a property or facility professional, RFPs – Request for Proposals – will sooner or later fall within your task bucket.

As a procurement tool, RFPs can be a great leveler. But they also don’t tell the whole story; they can feel like tedious wheel reinvention for both parties, and when they’re ‘kitchen sink’ approaches – or ask for everything but, there is no room for differentiation.

We think there’s a better way.

With spring start-up season just around the corner, here’s our advice for tailoring your landscape services RFP to give you the best partner for the job.

RFPs don’t tell the whole story

Service companies that respond to RFPs end up in a pool of commodity contractors who compete on price. When landscape companies compete on price, it’s because they often look for cheaper options to deliver on apples-to-apples specs. The bad news for property and facility professionals who contract landscaping services through RFPs is that you get what you pay for – a hamster wheel of RFP-won contractors who offer price instead of value.  We believe that value is a competitive advantage. When you eliminate value, you lose the upside value brings.

How to make RFPs a win-win   

For both landscape services contracts and complex landscaping projects—those with upgrades, renovations, and performance and environmental improvements—a well-written RFP can be effective at filtering out weak players. To create a consistently good RFP and RFP process, think about making your RFP an RFV – or Request for Value.

In addition to describing what you and your commercial property or facility needs and your expectations for delivery, include your sustainability goals and context for what the landscaping itself will meet, such as: talking points from your site performance plan (are you targeting carbon neutral or qualifying for LEED?), include the ‘need to haves’ and the ‘nice to haves’, criteria for curb appeal and improved asset value, and a realistic deadline for the contractor to respond. Avoid generalities, proof-read for typos, edit for clarity, and eliminate redundant questions and contradictory requirements.

A cautionary note about AI-enabled technology:  When the RFP response process is automated, do the math.  While automation offers efficiencies and fills out things at a much quicker pace, the scope piece when compared to non-automated bids may not add up. Always double check to make sure you’re not getting apples-to-oranges.

If you’re looking to save cost, remember: low-bid doesn’t tell the whole story. The best return on investment is calculated by actual and perceived value, and the long-term value that comes from a strong relationship.

We do our best work when we work with people—face to face, building connections, friendships, and opportunities to gain trust.  Our advice? Use your RFP as a solid starting point. A way to open the door and start a conversation, and a way to make sure you’re getting more than a team of qualified vendors, but a strategic partnership where value is created and delivered every step of the way.

If you’re renewing your contracts, seeking a new landscape partner, or just interested in keeping the conversation going, give us a call to share your thoughts.

{This blog was originally published in February 2023).

 

 

Merritt 7 & ELM Win Another Award of Excellence from National Association of Landscape Contractors

Merritt 7 Corporate Park, a LEED-Gold certified Class A property owned by Clarion Partners LLC and managed by Marcus Partners CT Management, received a Silver Award of Excellence in Landscaping from the National Association of Landscape Contractors (NALP) on behalf of Eastern Land Management (ELM), M7’s landscape partner since 2013.  M7 and ELM received a Silver Award of Excellence in landscaping in 2018.

“The M7 ideas-driven team deserves all the credit,” said Bruce Moore, Jr., ELM president. “It’s a spectacular site with multiple elevations and revitalized open spaces that interweave nature and art, and reduce critical resources such as energy and water. It’s a smart urban showcase for sustainable performance and we’re proud to be part of its award-winning success.”

Key environmental features include its adjacency to the Norwalk River watershed, the use of digital technologies that control and conserve water use, batter-powered noise reducing equipment, green waste recycling, and landscape maintenance practices that support Merritt 7’s climate action goals.

The NALP Awards of Excellence program celebrated its 50th year in 2019, and recognizes the best projects in commercial and residential design, installation and maintenance across the nation. Winners will be recognized at NALP’s annual meeting in Dallas, Tx, Sept 10-13, 2023.

Gensler served as Merritt 7s revitalization partner in 2022.

Merritt 7, located in Norwalk, Connecticut, at 1.4 million sq. ft., is the largest and most prominent corporate park in Fairfield County. It features 35,000 sq. ft. on-structure landscaping, a green roof plaza, and 2,500 linear feet of water-smart streetscape.

Chris Keogh, ELM area manager, oversees ELM’s M7 crew.

About Eastern Land Management

ELM is a premiere CRE landscape and snow and ice management partner based in Stamford CT, with a green hub and snow training center in Monroe CT, and Westchester County service hub in Armonk, NY.

The firm is an active member of NALP, the Snow & Ice Management Association, a member of BOMA SoCt and BOMA Westchester County, the Bridgeport Regional Business Council, and Westchester County Executives. President Bruce Moore Jr. is a member of the Board of Corporators for First County Bank in Stamford, supports Fairfield County Hospice House, and active in urban renewal efforts and community outreach throughout Connecticut and Westchester County.

ELM received a Fairfield County Sustainability ChangeMaker Award for its work in drought and water management, and since its founding in 1976, has been recognized for its excellence from the industries it serves.

For more information, please contact ELM President, Bruce Moore at (203) 316-5433 or bmoorejr@easternland.com

Bridget Spiegel Joins ELM as Assistant Controller

Bridget Spiegel’s impressive resume in business and accounting did not come with a green thumb when she joined ELM in April 2023. But in the last few months, she’s developed a passion for landscaping that aligns with her passion for the environment.

Bridget is ELM’s new Assistant Controller. She has a Bachelor of Business Administration and Accounting from Iona College, and several years’ experience in the construction and building industries. “She’s a great fit for our team.” said President Bruce Moore Jr. “She brings strategic thinking and a next-gen spirit that will not only help us shape the future direction of our company but strengthen our administrative foundation.”

A native of New Rochelle, New York, Bridget was inducted into Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and Alpha Beta Gamma Business Honor Society and says she’s thrilled to work in the green sector and for a company that works towards minimizing our impact on the planet.

“From the firm’s extreme professionalism to its commitment to a truly sustainable future, I’m excited to be part of the ELM community. I look forward to learning more about what I can do to at ELM to support innovation and growth, while picking up a few tips to improve my green game, as well.”

Welcome to the green industry, Bridget.

Jordan Skiba, ELM Intern, Seeds His Climb to The Top

A recent UConn grad with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration is this summer’s intern.

“An intern with a path to the future,” says Bruce Moore Jr. who’s pegged Jordan as someone who adds the kind of high-energy talent that easily translates to a long-game role.

Jordan brings a lot of plusses to ELM: he’s Stamford born and raised. He worked in the hospitality industry through college, has had a passion for landscaping since forever, and likes being hands-on. Plus, he’s smart, a nice guy, and loves sports and family.

Jordan currently has his hands full with research projects, learning the lay of the land, and getting to know people and projects.

Jordan says, everyone has been so welcoming and helpful, he can hardly wait to grow his career while doing whatever it takes to support ELM’s success.

Welcome, Jordan. Go Huskies.

 

 

Green is the color of second chances.

Underutilized office properties have found new life in greener pastures. With the addition of diverse amenities, enhanced sustainability, and tax incentives, landlords find that converting tired properties into dynamic new communities is environmentally more sustainable, more practical, and more cost-efficient than building new.

This is good news on a lot of levels. As sustainability becomes more of a strategic imperative and less of a service, landscaping will play an ever greater role in optimizing the environmental impact of adaptive reuse by decreasing the intensity of carbon, reducing debris and waste, and creating lively outdoor spaces that people want to live, work, shop, socialize, and play in.

Eastern Land Management has worked closely with its CRE clients over the years to green up both old and new properties, helping its clients forge a vision for greener footprints–enhancing plant-filled college campuses, nature-rich downtowns, and pedestrian-friendly outdoor spaces–where our collective passion for nature, excellence and renewal can improve the quality of life.

We think revitalization is the future of urban living with its focus on water, resource and energy conservation,  and drought-tolerant landscaping that is chosen as much for visual interest as it is forage for the birds and the bees.

ELM won an Award of Excellence for Downtown Stamford urban beautification from the National Association of Landscape Professionals in 2022, and a Fairfield County ChangeMaker Award for Sustainability in 2019, but our change journey didn’t stop there. Our diverse segment portfolio is steeped in awards and success stories, with landscaping that compliments riverfronts, waterways, trails and bike paths, corporate plazas and college dorms, university athletic fields, hospitals, HOAs and senior communities; and on-structure ‘green roof’ landscapes featuring recreational amenities and bocce ball courts where you’d least expect to find them.

Nature isn’t nine-to-five and neither are we. We’re working 24/7 to increase asset value through better, faster and smarter ways of delivering value and working with commercial property thought leaders to green light a healthier future.

Bruce Moore Jr., president of Eastern Land Management, is an active member of the greater business communities of Connecticut and NY Metro.  He is a member of SoCT BOMA Board of Directors, and a member of Westchester County BOMA.  To partner with ELM on green building strategies or to learn more, contact Bruce at 203-316-5433.

ELM was a Bronze Sponsor for June 9, 2023, Westfair Communications Annual Real Estate event, “The Conversion of Commercial Properties: What are the creative options?”