
The River District earns sustainability designation rarely awarded in the U.S.
The River District — Crescent Communities' 1,400-acre development under construction in west Charlotte — has earned a rare designation for the way it blends urban living with nature.
Why it matters: The only other U.S. communities that are "One Planet Living Leaders" are in California and Washington — places that are much better known for their sustainability investments than North Carolina.
How it works: One Planet Living is a framework developed by the South London-based sustainability consultancy Bioregional. It recognizes developments that promote healthy lifestyles in harmony with nature, while still preserving space for wildlife and natural ecosystems.
Charlotte-based developer Crescent Communities has intentionally worked on The River District with One Planet Living's principles in mind.
"It's woven into every decision that we're making," says Crescent Communities' stewardship manager, Erika Ruane.
The big picture: The River District master plan will turn Charlotte's largest stretch of undeveloped land, along the Catawba River, into 2,300 single-family homes, 2,350 multi-family units and up to 8 million square feet of commercial space.
Yes, but: The long-term plan also preserves over 500 acres of nature, some of which will be greenways, trails and parks, as well as a 2-acre farm and new access to the Catawba River.
Bioregional notes that The River District is "pioneering new approaches not previously seen in North Carolina or the southern states of the U.S."
The River District also promotes biking and walking, with proximity to a town center, school, and other retail, so residents are less dependent on their cars.
Zoom in: Ruane says the planning behind The River District is very intentional, even the small details. For example:
Crescent planted Zoysia grass, a more expensive turf but one that is drought-tolerant and dense enough to choke out weeds, reducing the need for extra water and herbicides. Although non-native, the species is regionally appropriate, considering climate change, Ruane says.
Boulders discovered during construction were repurposed for a grade break, rather than being hauled to the dump, and a new concrete retaining wall was built.
Crescent used wood from some of the area's harvested trees to build 13 birdhouses for the preserved woodlands. A biodiversity study helped Crescent identify which species live at The River District and how their habitats could be supported.
Zoom out: The other U.S. communities to receive the One Planet Living Leader are:
SOMO Village, north of San Francisco, puts residents within a five-minute walk of the town square, is home to many sustainability-focused companies and has over 16,000 solar panels. Like The River District, it also has a 2-acre farm.
Grow Community on Bainbridge Island, near Seattle, describes itself as an "alternative to traditional suburbia," with all-electric homes, only one car parking space per property, shared gardens and an orchard.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
Puppy Ready To Meet Adopters but They Never Showed, Then Euthanasia Loomed
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Hearts have broken when a German Shepherd facing euthanasia was adopted, only for her new owners to never show up to collect her. Everyone was delighted when Flora, just 8 months old, was adopted. But after the shelter had arranged her spay appointment, the adoptive family never returned to collect her. "Her potential adopters completed the paperwork, and she stayed for her spay surgery. However, when it was time for pickup, they never came, and the shelter hasn't heard from them since. It's disheartening to see people change their minds when a dog's life hangs in the balance," Amanda Downes, from California-based Advocate 4 Paws who network dogs at high-risk shelters told Newsweek. Flora the German Shepherd who was left at the shelter after being adopted. Flora the German Shepherd who was left at the shelter after being adopted. @advocate4paws/Instagram Flora was found as a stray, and like many dogs in shelters across the U.S., was facing euthanasia. According to Shelter Animals Count, around 748,000 animals experienced non-live outcomes, including euthanasia, in 2024. While this represents a 1.6 per cent decrease compared to 2023 and a 20 per cent drop from 2019, the number remains high. Placed at Stanislaus Animal Services Agency, her future looked bleak. "Currently, dogs in the Stanislaus Shelter are given about a month before being placed on the euthanasia list. The shelter is severely over capacity, housing 330 dogs when it's only meant for 180, with more coming in daily," Downes explained. In 2024, approximately 7 million animals entered U.S. shelters and rescues, according to Shelter Animals Count—an increase of nearly 3 percent from 2023. By the end of the year, 103,000 more pets had entered shelters than had exited, contributing to an ongoing capacity crisis in U.S. shelters. There has been a positive update in Flora's story: a rescue has stepped to take over her care. There has been a positive update in Flora's story: a rescue has stepped to take over her care. @advocate4paws/Instagram "She is a typical happy-go-lucky puppy who is all tail wags and gets along well with other dogs," Downes said. "She's an affectionate 8-month-old German Shepherd mix who enjoys attention from shelter volunteers and she just loves people. She's such a great puppy, I can't believe her adopters didn't come back for her." Thankfully, there has been a positive update in Flora's story: a rescue has stepped to take over her care, and Downes hopes that she will soon have a home to call her own. "We want Flora to never see the inside of a shelter again and pray that her forever home is on the horizon, she deserves it," she said. Despite Flora's happy ending, there are still many dogs in need, and Downes hopes that sharing their stories will help them find a rescue too, and encourage more people to adopt or foster. "We hope that her story, along with others we share, will highlight the shelter crisis and encourage more people to open their homes to foster dogs to help lighten the load," she said. Flora isn't the only dog having a tough time being adopted. Earlier this month a dog called Dexter gained viral attention after his shelter revealed he has been returned by adopters five times. While Duke the terrier mix gained sympathy after he was returned just one day after being adopted.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Success for All Foundation Approved to Provide Evidence-Based Literacy Support for Hawaii Public Schools
$100,000 Scholarships Available for Eligible Schools to Implement Science of Reading-Based Model HONOLULU, June 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Success for All Foundation (SFA), a nationally recognized nonprofit focused on whole-school literacy improvement, has been approved by the Hawaii Department of Education (HIDOE) as a qualified provider of Comprehensive Assistance, Training & Educational Resources (CATERS). This designation makes it easier for public schools across the state to partner with SFA to strengthen early literacy outcomes through an integrated, proven approach. Already working in 14 Hawaii schools, SFA provides a comprehensive schoolwide model grounded in the Science of Reading, pairing high-quality curriculum with embedded instructional coaching to help educators achieve immediate and lasting results. "Principals and teachers are working hard to do it all: raise reading scores, coach instruction, manage behavior, and find time to plan," said Julie Wible, CEO of Success for All. "With our Science of Reading-based curriculum, built-in coaching, and team-based structures we remove the guesswork and provide educators with an effective model to achieve immediate results. With SFA, schools move forward with clarity and confidence and every child achieves at the highest levels." Success for All partners with schools to align every layer of instruction, support, and leadership into a connected system. Teachers receive real-time coaching as they implement a high-quality, ready-to-teach curriculum. The use of schoolwide practices—such as cooperative learning, daily progress monitoring, and structured leadership teams—ensure that every student's academic and behavioral needs are consistently met. The result is a cohesive, energized instructional environment where educators and students work together toward a shared vision of success. "The transformation in our Hawaii schools has been incredible," said Kathy McLaughlin, Director of Implementation at Success for All. "In just a short time, we've seen classrooms go from silent and disengaged to joyful and alive with student voices. Students are working together, debating ideas, and supporting one another's learning. Schools have embraced cooperative learning, our proven cycle of effective instruction, and practices that help children express their thinking and collaborate respectfully. We're seeing significant academic growth and renewed engagement among teachers, students, and families." In addition to its CATERS approval, SFA is offering $100,000 scholarships to support Title I-eligible Hawaii K–5 schools that are committed to implementing a sustainable, systemwide approach to literacy. To learn more or apply for the scholarship, school leaders can contact:Kenly NovotnySuccess for All Foundationknovotny@ About Success for All FoundationSuccess for All is a nonprofit organization that has partnered with schools for more than 40 years to ensure every child, regardless of background, achieves at the highest levels. Grounded in the Science of Reading and earning the highest ESSA evidence rating, the SFA model offers schools a comprehensive, sustainable path to literacy and academic success. Media Contact Kenly NovotnySuccess for All Foundation396458@ 410.616.2394 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Success for All Foundation Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
Pregnant moose struck and killed on Summit County highway, nonprofit says
PARK CITY, Utah () — A pregnant moose has reportedly been struck and killed on SR-224, according to a local nonprofit. According to (SPSW), a Utah-based nonprofit, the cow (female) moose was found on the side of SR-224 — the highway that runs from I-80 at Kimball Junction to Park City, all the way down to the Summit County border near Midway. 'She was dragged out of sight of the road and discarded like trash,' . 'Let's work together to change our optics and improve safety for all road users by implementing evidence-based solutions to the wildlife vehicle collision problem on this roadway.' Bear sighting in Stansbury Park sparks humor and discussion on social media Save People Save Wildlife was started by residents who were 'alarmed by the number of wildlife-vehicle collisions taking place along the gateway to Park City,' their website says. Volunteers work to track how many animals are killed and push for a wildlife crossing over the roadway. According to numbers compiled by SPSW volunteers, 48 large wildlife were struck and killed on SR-224 in 2024. One coyote, three moose, four elk and 40 deer were counted. SPSW says that this estimate should be multiplied by eight, as experts say 'not all animals die in the location they are struck.' So far, in 2025, seven large wildlife have been killed by vehicles on the road: five deer and two moose. done for the Utah Department of Transportation and Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) identified the road as the fifth-worst hotspot for animal-vehicle crashes in the state. ABC4 News has reached out to DWR and SPSW for more information about the cow moose. Reporter hit by rubber bullet during live report from Los Angeles immigration protests Logan Police ask for help locating missing 15-year-old Gov. Cox's pick to head new state records office gets OK from Senate panel despite criticism Pregnant moose struck and killed on Summit County highway, nonprofit says Best and worst cities for staycations in the U.S. — how does SLC measure up? Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.