small modern living blog - the case for wetlands

The built environment has a responsibility to emulate the same principles to the wider ecosystem. Our new home is sited next to a pristine wetland. When we toured the home initially with our realtor, I vividly recall the majestic calls of the trumpeter swans. The backyard became this enchanted story-book I had suddenly entered. That day began an unspoken commitment to protect this wetland and honor it’s habitat.

I didn’t realize how quickly this commitment would be called into question. The following year, I received a post card in the mail from the city indicating there was a proposed development that involved our wetland. To my disbelief, a car dealership wanted to move in and build a massive four story parking ramp almost surrounded by our wetland, while destroying almost the entire buffer area protecting the habitat.

A year later, we continue to advocate for our incredible wildlife and ecosystem here. Our trumpeter swans who have nested here for many years deserve a protected homeland. This developer and the city ignored our requests for an environmental assessment, yet emphasized the sustainability measures their new development would offer.

Sustainability isn’t just a buzz word you can incorporate into your design process. It’s an actual commitment to the environment - This development fell short. The saga continues, but for now the developers have been kept at bay. I am feeling like an environmentalist for the first time in my life. I eagerly await the warmer months of Spring, when the trumpeter swans will triumphantly make their way home again.