Join ACE  for our 36th annual meeting to hear about all of the exciting things ACE is doing. In addition, we plan to engage some local thought leaders on an issue that affects many Arlingtonians - the trend of building new single-family homes or undertaking major renovations in ways that are not sensitive to the context and character of the neighborhood.

At its best, tearing down homes and building new ones can revitalize neighborhoods - injecting new, resource-efficient architecture that maintains a neighborhood's character, facilitates interior space designs that accommodate modern lifestyles, and preserves important environmental characteristics.  At its worst, these major renovations and new builds can be oversized, unattractive boxes that ruin streetscapes and replace yards with hard surfaces affecting water flows and tree canopies.  Even if "green" and energy-efficient on a square footage basis, they contribute to an overall energy footprint due to the loss of "embedded energy" in the original home , increased materials use, and having to cool/heat larger buildings.  

Arlington neighborhoods are evolving. The question is, can we move forward in a sustainable way that preserves the characteristics that people love, minimizes environmental impacts, and maintains some levels of affordability? ACE is bringing together individuals involved in the business of single-family residential design, development and preservation to explore the answer to this question and begin to paint a picture of what less impactful and more informed sustainable residential development could look like. Join us for a fast-paced conversation that explores challenges and generates ideas for taking the tear-down trend in a more positive direction.