Real Estate and Related Topics

What is The Audubon Signature Program for Residential Communities?

The Audubon Signature Program is designed to provide assistance to developers and landowners who want to design their community with the environment at the forefront of the project. The Audubon Signature Program helps the community managers achieve both their economic and environmental objectives.

The Program begins when the development registers, fees start at $9,500 and additional expenses vary among different projects.The program proceeds as follows.

* The initial site assessment

* The development of a Natural Resource Management Plan that serves as a construction manual for the property.

* Implementation of the Natural Resource Management Plan

* Site visits during major phases of the project

* Training and education for construction and operational personnel as well as consulting staff.

* An on-site Environmental Audit to assess compliance with program and site specific requirements

* Long- term management in accordance with Audubon Signature standards

At Portofino in Clayton we are in the Audubon Signature Program and we are charged with preserving the beauty and nature of this 400 acre property. The development is on land that was owned by moonshiners, so the land has not been touched or built on or been disturbed in many many years. There are 100 year old oak trees, creeks that have carved out deep gorges in the rock over time. There are many many species of wild creatures that live here.

Some of the procedures we have adopted are, landscaping with drought resistant plants and shrubs. We irrigate all the grass and plants from the pond. We have strict rules in place with regards to runoff and the cutting down of trees. We have fewer homes and many lots of 3/4 of an acre and larger. We have approximetly seven miles of trails with eighteen bridges that cross the creeks and wetlands.

Raleigh Farmers Market is Great in Winter, Wait Until Spring Gets Here.

I headed over to the Raleigh Farmers Market on Friday to see what was going on. There are two sections an indoor area and a covered area where the farmers etc back their trucks up and you buy your produce. Despite being the middle of winter and cold by Raleigh standards, there was a good selection of produce to be had. I bought a two pound bucket of tomatoes from Johnston County NC for $2.00!!!

How did I get tomatoes in January from Johnston County at the Raleigh Farmers Market for Pete's sake? Hydroponic and green house and let me tell you they are great. They are grown by Barham Farms who have a unique facility that recycles everything and produces wonderful produce. You can't beat the price and locally grown and January. I bought some kale as well and made Colcannon, a traditional Irish dish with onions and mashed potatoes, it was so good.

This stall had sweet potatoes, kale,turnips,spagetti squash, actually all kinds of squash. It is owned by L and G farms out of Meadow, NC.

The Raleigh Farmers Market has an indoor area with many stalls and vendors where you can buy, jams and relish, wines and molasses. You will also find organic beef, free range eggs, farm raised pork, goat cheese, rabbits. I like to ask where everything is from and if it's local!

The Raleigh Farmers Market is open Mon thru saturday 5am - 6pm and Sunday from 8am - 6pm

The market  is conveniently located on I-40 and Lake Wheeler Road, exit 297. They can be reached at (919) 733 -7417

U.S. 70 Clayton Bypass Spurring Industrial Growth For Clayton And Johnston County.

The Interchange at Highway 70 in Clayton with the U.S. 70 Bypass is seeing some building of industrial plants and office buildings. The area East of Claytonin Johnston County is already home to Talacris, Novo Nordisk, Hertz, Turkington and soon it will have Northeast Foods as a neighbor.

The Northeast Foods plant is a bakery supplier of McDonald's and is building a huge production facility just off Hwy 70. Turkington is an English Company that manufactures bakery equipment and they recently relocated to Clayton and took over their current building after it was remodeled by The Walthom Group.

The growth along this corridor is expected to intensify as Talecris recently announced they plan a $270 million dollar expansion with as many as 250 jobs. Novo Nordisk also recently announced expansion plans with 85 jobs. The proximity to I95, an educated workforce and cooperation from Johnston Community College to provide training for employees are all part of the reason companies are willing to build and expand in Clayton and  Johnston County.

Brrrrrrrrrrrr, Looks Like Old Man Winter Came A Calling To Clayton North Carolina, Time To Light The Log Fire. Excuse me but isn't it a little early for the chilly weather?

You see we are spoiled here in Clayton North Carolina where wehave a very mild climate, now as I've said before it's mild most of the time but we are not immune to a shot of cold weather or a spell of hot weather either. The nice thing about Clayton North Carolina is when we do get a blast of winter as we have now , it will be gone in a little while, in fact the temperature on Tuesday is supposed to be in the high 60's. Perfect for decorating the tree!  

I moved here from Philadelphia about thirteen years ago and they told me I would not need a snow shovel in Clayton. Four months later we awoke to two feet of snow and all I had was a spade and a broom. Didn't matter really cause we weren't going anywhere anyway and besides it didn't take long for the temperature to climb back up and all that snow was history.

Looking For Retail Space in Clayton North Carolina?

Clayton, North Carolinahas been growing for a number of years now as a place where people could get a great deal on a home in a nice neighborhood with a large lot. It is now the largest town in Johnston County surpassing the capital Smithfield.

Along with the homes built around town a great deal of Commercial, Industrial and Retail Development has taken place. Along Hwy 70 on both sides of Clayton there are shops, factories, showrooms and there are industrial plants like Talecris and Novo Nordisk and Caterpillar.

One Retail Development is Southern Village located on Hwy 70. Southern Village has a mix of business's ranging from Restaurant to Chiropractor and from Auto Sound to Comedy Club, from Bakery to Insurance and from Sears to Dentist.

Johnston County Schools Report Card, River Dell Elementary,Archer Lodge Middle.

Ever Wonder how your schools are doing or the school your child is about to attend? Our son is going to be in Archer Lodge Middle next year having spent his former years at River Dell Elementary which is an Awesome school!  Archer Lodge Middle is about three years old now. Here are the Report Cards for both schools.

River Dell Elementary

Archer Lodge Middle

So in 2001 the Report Cards were created to track schools and students progress in those schools. The Report Cards are sent to the principal of each school and then sent to parents.

In order to find out what school your child will be going to you must contact Johnston County Schools

The Best States For Business According To Forbes Puts North Carolina At Number Three.

Not to Shabby, for North Carolina up from number five last year. Forbes cites the labor supply pool, the regulatory environment, the business costs.

The economic climate, growth prospects and quality of life round out the criteria for getting on the list. North Carolinahas been growing steadily in many aspects for a long time, consider the fact that Research Triangle park was started in the 1960's.

The growth for the most part has been restrained compared to other states and there is no doubt the quality of life is a real factor in the state's economy.

We hear from people in Maine who have a six month Winter ( we have two). Or from people from New York whose taxes are $15,000 a year (try $3000). We hear about row homes going for $400,000, this is $415,000.

Come on down or over or up, you'll be glad you did.