October 2015

In this newsletter:

• Portage Creek Restoration Enhances Oakland Hills Community
• AVB Welcomes Field & Stream to Corner@Drake
• Residential October 25th Event
• Toys R Us & Jo-Ann Fabrics
• Final Grand Colony Home Available Now
•  AVB Summer Party

Portage Creek Restoration Enhances Oakland Hills Community

We are proud to announce that the restoration and renaturalization of the section of Portage Creek West of Oakland Drive in our Oakland Hills Community is complete!

Over 60 years ago, Portage Creek, a designated trout stream, was straightened by the Army Corps of Engineers. It has been suggested that this was an attempt to drain Hampton Lake for agricultural purposes. Although the real reason for the straightening is still unknown, the result was the unnaturally straight section of Portage Creek. The Army Corps of Engineers removed natural bends and curves in the Creek and removed the natural sheltered areas for wildlife. It also removed natural vegetation around the Creek that provided necessary shade and food to help the Creek wildlife flourish. The outcome was a decrease in wildlife habitat as well as an unnatural stream flow. 

AVB initiated a project to improve the Creek and surrounding area, and with the cooperation of the City of Portage, the Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division, and the Department of Environmental Quality we were able to begin the reconstruction in March 2015. To ensure we were following the best practices while working on the project we engaged a wetlands consultant and we also worked closely with VIRDIS Design Firm to design the most authentic stream path and to create extensive natural landscaping.  

Now completed, the newly restored section of the Creek provides a much more desirable habitat for trout and other native creek species.  The added natural features to the stream such as cross-vanes and J-hooks, and native wetland plants were planted, that will provide food and shade to the Creek. In addition, the wetlands area surrounding the Creek has been increased by almost 30,000 square feet and floodplain capacity has been increased by over 3,000 cubic yards with a better hydraulic flow. Additionally, a local Boy Scout troop, Cub Scout Pack 256, was able to build and install 11 wood duck houses for the project. These were installed along the Creek to encourage wild native bird life back to the Creek. 

AVB has always placed a high emphasis on the environment and its preservation, keeping this in mind through all of our developments and our communities. We take pride in our community and in doing what we believe is the right thing to do.  We are excited to have served the community and enhance Oakland Hills by restoring this section of Portage Creek to its natural meandering design.

Come visit our Oakland Hills community during our Fall Residential Event to see a gorgeous view of the completed Portage Creek Renaturalization project from one of our model homes! For more information, check out the ‘Residential October Event’ article inside!

AVB Welcomes Field & Stream to Corner@Drake

Field & Stream is coming to our Corner@Drake development! 

The New Store will feature over 200 quality name brands between their four departments: paddling, fishing- which includes a tackle specialist, camping, and hunting. The hunting department includes a gun shop with a gun specialist and an archery shop with bow specialist. This Field & Stream will be one of the first 15 stores in the country and the 2nd store in Michigan! 

The new MDOT Stadium/ US-131 interchange improvements make the Corner@Drake property ideal for a well-known brand name store such as Field & Stream. The highway visibility will attract customers heading up north for outdoor adventures and the new interchange will provide easy on and off access to Field & Stream. 

As an additional benefit to the community, during the site construction for Field & Stream, AVB coordinated with the Oshtemo Township Fire Department to provide them with a site to conduct Trench Rescue Training. 

The Field & Stream site work is scheduled to be completed in late Fall of 2015 with the store opening in late spring of 2016! We are excited to welcome Field & Stream to the community and we hope to see you at Corner@Drake soon!

Residential October 25th Event

Come out to our October Residential Event on Sunday, October 25th from 12 - 3 to discover how we are Building Something Better this Fall! Tour two AVB homes with different floor plans and discover the innovative and stylish finishes in both. 

Our popular Oakland Hills community will be featuring a luxury walkout condominium, the Ashford. This model home features stunning light maple hardwood floors that run throughout the main level. Beautiful tile inlay has been included in the foyer that draws the eye into the sunny open concept plan. Coffer ceilings give the rooms a larger feel and are detailed with classic crown molding. Gorgeous satin nickel light fixtures, dark honed granite counters, and subway tile backsplash are featured in the kitchen. The same dark honed granite is featured in the fireplace surround and the innovative pantry with counter space and outlets. In the main level owner’s suite, the same coffer ceilings with crown molding pair with an amazing view of the Portage Creek. The owner’s bath features a large double vanity with makeup counter, huge walk in closet, and a custom ceramic zero clearance shower. An open railing leads to the lower level walk out that is brightened by huge windows. This plan can also be built in Walden Woods, Bridgeview Angels Crossing, and as a free standing home.

Our Homestead community will be featuring a gorgeous single family home, the Hampton. This model home features beautiful medium tone walnut hardwood floors on the main level. The defined, yet open living area flows into the luxury kitchen with a fantastic layout, huge pantry, marble like granite counters, awesome counter space, stylish subway tile backsplash, and lovely views of the private backyard. A huge closet and custom built-ins compliment the mud room off the kitchen. Featured in the upper level is a bedroom with private bath, two more bedrooms connected by a gorgeous Jack and Jill bath, and a huge laundry room featuring incredible storage. The owner’s suite is also found on the upper level with a double door entry and an owner’s bath that includes a large soaking tub with ceramic tile surround that transitions smoothly into the walk-in shower. The lower level walk out features huge windows and tons of storage space. The Hampton can also be built in Barrington Shores, Hidden Lake, and Cranes Pond.

Toys R Us & Jo-Ann Fabrics

The shopping center off Westnedge, that is home to Jo-Ann Fabrics and Toys R Us, recently received a much needed face lift. We began renovations of the shopping center in late July and finished Mid-September. 

The renovations included brand new signs and canopy structures as well as new metal roofing panels and masonry. Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (EIFS), which are multi-layered exterior wall systems that provide superior energy efficiency and design flexibility, were included along with new paint finishes. Toys R Us also updated their pylon sign! 

The update will improve the quality of the shopping center and the Westnedge Ave. strip in general. We loved working with the owners of Toys “R” Us and Jo-Ann Fabrics and we love to have the opportunity to improve and update our community!  

Final Grand Colony Home Available Now

We are excited to be finishing up Grand Colony, our free standing site-condo community located in Texas Township! Our last available home in this community is now complete and available to view! 

This Highland home offers the privacy of a single family home with the convenience of homeowner’s association services including snow removal on all driveways and sidewalks, landscaping and lawn maintenance, and a future replacement fund just to name a few. Gorgeous views of the wooded area and pond can be viewed from the deck. Large picture windows offer an abundance of natural light throughout the home. The unfinished lower level leaves plenty of room for customization and the garden level windows keep it bright and welcoming. 

This home is currently available to tour select Sundays from 12-3 or by appointment. For more information contact Katie vanLonkhuyzen at 269.323.2022 or via email at katie@avbinc.com

AVB Summer Party

Team AVB let loose at Lakeview Park in Portage for our annual Summer Party! We lunched on Arcadia Ales catering and snacked on popcorn from a festive, “serve yourself”, popcorn machine and ice-cream from our very own ice-cream cart! Lolli-pop bouquets decorated the tables and a colorful face painter kept all the AVB kids busy.  We even had a custom AVB corn hole game challenge, which was enjoyed by all. Congratulations to Derek Mathieu and David Innes for winning the corn hole game championship! Other yard games were scattered around our park pavilion such as tug-a-war, a sack race station, a three-legged race station, and a ladder ball game. AVB kids had a blast on the park playground, getting their faces painted and getting balloon animals, flowers, and pirate swords made for them! We all had a great day celebrating summer! Thank you to all of our clients for allowing us the privilege to have such events with our team and their families.