September/October 2017
When Holly and George Stone were planning a move to Clarksville more than 25 years ago, the first building they ever visited was The Gateway School off Route 108. Attending a home owners association meeting inside the cafeteria, Holly Stone recalls being amazed by the site’s potential.
The Stones’ company, GreenStone Ventures LLC, which works in sustainable development, not only acquired and developed the site, but recently received an award for their vision.
Clarksville Commons is a 40,000 square foot mixed-use commercial center featuring business offices and restaurants including You Pizza, Kupcakes & Company, Creig Northrop Real Estate and Vanguard Orthodontics. Food Plenty, an 8,000 square foot restaurant from the Victoria Restaurant Group, is set to open in early fall. They also plan to use one of the larger spaces and turn it into a commercial kitchen space for up to 12 vendors.
The commercial center is outfitted with photovoltaic panels, a living green roof, cisterns to capture rainwater and stormwater runoff mitigation through rain gardens and porous surfaces.
The Stones were recently honored with the Wintergreen Award for Excellence for small commercial redevelopment from the United States Green Business Council Maryland. The award recognizes green building initiatives and achievements. “It was wonderful to be recognized,” says Holly Stone. She acknowledges that incorporating eco-friendly practices can be costly upfront, but points out that, in the long run, are better economically for the business. “It’s also socially responsible for the community,” she says.
