By Jessica Miller
New Housing Development Being Planned
North Park Innovations (6442 Rt. 242 East, Ellicottville) has a history of providing top tier HVAC/R equipment and training sought out around the world. This reputation began in 1980, when the company was known as Stride Tool, Inc. Over forty years later, this global player in home heating and cooling has led the industry with its iManifold diagnostic line and iConnect training platform is possibly adding a new community of long term and short-term housing units to its roster. Northpark Ellicottville has ambitions of being a sustainable and inviting community within Ellicottville that demonstrates the strengths of Ellicottville and North Park Innovations.
According to the May 2023 initial presentation provided by Lori and Bill Northrup, Northpark Ellicottville is proposed as a planned community suitable for working and living that supports both business and community interests. The community, which will occupy their 12+ acre lot, intends to be an appealing and affordable place for workers, families, students, seasonal residents, and retirees to call home. Northpark Ellicottville is emphasizing an inviting environment that has visible environmental benefits. Shared green spaces, a dog park, a walking trail, a pond for fishing and paddle boating, front porches, village sidewalk connections, and an arboretum are planned for the exterior to encourage walks around the neighborhood and town. Established wetlands will be avoided when possible and unavoidable impact will be mitigated as necessary.
Home interior sustainability features will make use of North Park Innovations’ established expertise in home energy and comfort. Solar voltaic panels will help make use of the sun for electricity. The homes’ thermal envelopes will be optimized to assist in comfortable temperatures all year long with increased energy efficiency. Ground-source heat pumps will make use of heat from lower layers of the Earth’s surface. Taking advantage of natural features as power sources and professional specialties will go far in providing affordable living and power that is also reliable. Northpark Ellicottville’s plans are part of their goal to be a net zero project. “Net zero” means that carbon demands are balanced by the removal of equal amounts of carbon, resulting in ultimately no greenhouse gas emissions due to the decarbonization steps.
There are 48 residential townhouses and 8 live/work townhouses planned for Northpark Ellicottville in the May 2023 plan. Ecologically advanced and affordable housing for these residents will go far in the adage to “think globally, act locally”.