2015
STATEMENT OF STEWARDSHIP
BUILD COMMUNITY. BETTER PEOPLE’S LIVES.
Palmetto Bluff, Bluffton, SC
Our commitment to stewardship reflects our appreciation for the natural beauty of the environment, the cherished company of friends and neighbors, the gift of health and happiness and our determination to cultivate and preserve these benefits so others can enjoy them for generations. For consistency, data for this report was taken from available 2014 information.
Throughout this report, this symbol references additional online content
CRESCENT COMMUNITIES
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STEWARDSHIP AT CRESCENT
Stewardship is not just something we practice at Crescent Communities. It defines who we are. Our commitment to stewardship reflects our appreciation for the beauty of the environment, the cherished company of friends and neighbors, the gift of health and happiness and our determination to cultivate and preserve these benefits so others can enjoy them. Simply put, it reflects our desire not only to provide shelter but also to build community and change lives for the better. The choices we face as stewards are not, however, always clear-cut. Neither are the projects we pursue set in stone. In other words, stewardship is a dynamic process that benefits from innovation and creativity, refinement and improvement. We are proud of the stories and examples described in this report, but we also recognize that part of being a good steward is staying open and transparent about our efforts. We don’t pretend to have all the answers, and we acknowledge that this is our starting point. We welcome all new ideas and constructive criticism that can help us be even more effective and challenge our definition of success. We look forward to sharing our stewardship journey with you in future reports.
Todd W. Mansfield
Jenny Vallimont
President and Chief Executive Officer Crescent Communities
Director of Stewardship and Innovation Crescent Communities
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STATEMENT OF STEWARDSHIP
Masons Bend, Fort Mill, SC
FIVE PILLARS OF STEWARDSHIP ENVIRONMENT, COMMUNITY, HEALTH, HAPPINESS, LONGEVITY BEING A GOOD STEWARD IS NOT OPTIONAL. IT IS A FUNDAMENTAL REQUIREMENT OF DOING BUSINESS THE RIGHT WAY. We strive to incorporate stewardship into every project, to make difficult decisions that address current and future challenges, and to improve continuously. Through ongoing measurement, we hold ourselves accountable to challenging goals in traditional areas of environmental sustainability and in community building, health, happiness and longevity. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that the land and com足 munities under our stewardship remain vibrant and healthy for the long term. We seek to leave behind legacies whose value builds with time.
CRESCENT COMMUNITIES
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ENVIRONMENT COMMITTED TO RESPECTING THE NATURAL WORLD
4
STATEMENT OF STEWARDSHIP
Chapel Cove, Charlotte, NC
At Crescent, we know our industry can take away from the environment, which is why it’s our responsibility to give back. And that’s why we make alternative choices, measure our impact, lead by example and take every step toward leaving a smaller footprint.
CRESCENT COMMUNITIES
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Palmetto Bluff, SC
STEWARDSHIP IN ACTION Protecting the Environment The Palmetto Bluff Conservancy. In the southeastern tip of South Carolina is one of those rare places touched only lightly by the passage of time. Here, we are stewards of a singular treasure and it is up to us to protect its rich cultural past and the biodiversity of its marshes, wetlands, fields, and forests. To do this, we created the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy, a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to deepen our understanding of the environment and history of the Lowcountry. The Conservancy’s research and management ensure that no matter where you look, conservation and heritage are
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helping to shape this residential community. Roads bend around live oaks, homes nestle under pine boughs and antebellum cemeteries are shady pauses along oyster-shell paths thanks to the guidance of the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy. Residents and guests explore trails through maritime forest and discover pottery fragments of two millennia ago through the Conservancy’s educational programs. Every day the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy helps Crescent Communities protect our natural and cultural environment so we can continue to share the vibrancy of the Low country with those who visit and live here.
STATEMENT OF STEWARDSHIP
Crescent Archives
A Tree’s Second Life. At Alexander Village, our new community in Charlotte, we practice a form of recycling we call treecycling. Work ing with Kyle Edwards, a sawmill owner in Lincoln County, we converted the white oak logs we harvested in creating this development into the magnificent roughhewn beams that support the roof of the community’s soaring, two-story Meeting House. They serve as a reminder to everyone who enters the building of the continuity of nature at
Alexander Village and the responsibility that we all share to protect the natural world wisely. Treecycling is one of the reasons Alexander Village was designated as a Certified Silver Audubon International Signature Sanctuary and is a Home Innovation NGBS Green Certified development.
COMMERCIAL
100%
*
Pursuing 2 LEED, 1 WELL
90%
*
MULTIFAMILY
Green Certification
LEED (2 pursuing, 1 certified) Audubon (2 pursuing) FGBC (1 pursuing) NGBS (11 pursuing, 1 certified)
At Crescent, third-party verification isn’t about building to checklists. It’s about setting high standards of environmental accountability and making sure that our environmental impact is always front of mind. Certifications are a way for us to keep ourselves honest and bring external input into the decision-making process. Currently, we have properties certified through Audubon Inter national, Florida Green Building Certification, LEED, and National Green Building Standard. We are also pursuing our first WELL Certification, and proudly developed the only multifamily project certified under Audubon International.
11%
*
RESIDENTIAL Pursuing 1 NGBS Certified 1 FGBC
* % of developments in development or owned CRESCENT COMMUNITIES
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COMMUNITY COMMITTED TO SUSTAINING RELATIONSHIPS
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STATEMENT OF STEWARDSHIP
Goodyear Building, Charlotte, NC
We believe a community is a network of relationships, enriched by shared values and motivated by the fundamental human desire to be part of something greater. Whether we’re working with our employees, customers, or neighbors, we strive to find common ground and provide opportunities for productive communities to form and flourish.
CRESCENT COMMUNITIES
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TreesCharlotte, Charlotte, NC
STEWARDSHIP IN ACTION Building a Sense of Community A Community Canopy. At Crescent, we believe in doing our part to strengthen the communities in which we do business. To encourage individual team members to contribute their time and skills to local nonprofits, we offer one full day off each year for community service. As a corporation, we also work hand in hand with local organizations that complement our philanthropic goals: the
environment, youth education, and shelter. One of these partners is TreesCharlotte, an organization dedicated to enhancing Charlotte’s tree canopy. Every year, over 60 Crescent colleagues, family members, and friends rally behind the cause. So far, we’ve helped plant over 300 trees and served 475 volunteer hours.
Philanthropic Donations Environment. Youth Education. Shelter. At Crescent Communities, we focus on these three impact areas for our philanthropy because they reflect our organizational values as well as the nature of our business. In addition to financial support, we want to make a long-lasting impact on these three areas through meaningful community partnerships.
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STATEMENT OF STEWARDSHIP
The Groves, Houston, TX
Communities That CARE. We’re always looking for the spark that creates community. One place we’ve found it is in CARES, a program designed by Apartment Life, a nonprofit organization, that helps residents at our multifamily communities build a satisfying social network. Apartment Life screens and trains CARES residents, who work with the community’s management to enhance residents’ living experiences by welcoming
new residents, hosting social events, and organizing community service projects. The reception has been enthusiastic. The CARES program is an important reason that Crescent has increased lease renewals by 25 percent. It demonstrates once again that good stewardship makes good busi ness sense.
COMMUNITY INVESTMENT
PROJECT SPECIFIC
5%
CRESCENT COMMUNITIES
SHELTER
7%
YOUTH EDUCATION ENVIRONMENT
8%
15%
65%
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HEALTH
COMMITTED TO THE WELL-BEING OF OUR RESIDENTS
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STATEMENT OF STEWARDSHIP
Shot in University Area for Alexander Village
We invest to create environments
that support people’s physical, emotional
and mental health. We believe if we can design communities where healthy choices are easy to make, then we have the opportunity to support the well-being of every resident, employee and tenant who call that place home. In the end, our mission is to build environments that become the catalyst for a healthier lifestyle.
CRESCENT COMMUNITIES
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Oakland Park, Orlando, FL
STEWARDSHIP IN ACTION Promoting Health and Wellness Making a Healthy Connection. In the 1950s, the Orange Belt Railway linked bustling agricultural communities in Central Florida. Today, a 22-mile stretch of the old track bed has been converted into the West Orange Trail, drawing walkers, runners, bikers, skaters, and equestrians from around the region. As we plan Oakland Park, our Winter Garden community, we see the West Orange Trail as a wonderful opportunity to encourage residents to lead a more active life. It not only connects residents to nature, but also to local shopping, dining, culture, and entertainment in Winter Garden.
well-being of the individuals working in this space. That’s why Crescent Communities decided that Tryon Place would be the first office project east of the Rocky Mountains to enroll in the WELL Building Standard® Certification. This innovative international accreditation reflects the recognition that the built envi ronment has a profound impact on our health and well-being. By adhering to standards in seven areas—air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort, and mind—we intend to make Tryon Place a benchmark, both for Crescent and the Charlotte community.
Doing It WELL. Even before we began work on Tryon Place, our new mixed-use development in the heart of Charlotte, we decided we were not going to be bound by old ideas and traditional practices. Instead, we chose to build a complex that would focus on the
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STATEMENT OF STEWARDSHIP
Walk Scores One indication of a location’s effect on health is its Walk Score, a measure of how long it takes to accomplish routine errands by walking. The higher the score on a scale from 1 to 100, the more accessible the amenities and the easier it is for people who live and work there to lead more active lives.
Urban 80
60
40
Suburban 20
Residential
80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0
Multifamily
Commercial
Tryon Place, Charlotte, NC
CRESCENT COMMUNITIES
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HAPPINESS COMMITTED TO HELPING PEOPLE ENJOY LIFE
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STATEMENT OF STEWARDSHIP
Springfield, Fort Mill, SC
For a place to thrive over time,
the people there need one unsung amenity—
happiness. To us, happiness is about feeling safe and secure. It is about being given the freedom to truly be who each of us is at our core and trusting that this can happen without risk to our emotional or physical well-being.
CRESCENT COMMUNITIES
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Alexander Village, Charlotte, NC
Palmetto Bluff, Bluffton, SC
STEWARDSHIP IN ACTION Encouraging the Pursuit of Happiness Happy Hounds. There’s something in the unqualified love of a pet that makes people happy. In fact, scientists have found that having a pet lowers stress and anxiety while increasing quality of life and life expectancy. That’s why Crescent has designated all residential and multifamily projects currently in development as pet-friendly communities. Three-quarters of them are equipped with dog parks or grooming stations. The ultimate in pet-friendliness is our new multifamily community in Tampa, Crescent Crosstown. It features three dog parks and a washing station to accommodate the 25 percent of residents who own a pet. The Work-Life Balance. People stay where they’re happy. It’s human nature to want security and respect. One statistic that really captures Crescent’s success in creating a
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happy workplace is our employees’ length of service. Nearly one-third of our team members have worked for Crescent for more than 15 years. Their average service is 7.5 years, far longer than the industry norm. One of the keys to keeping employees for many years is honoring their work-life balance. We do our best to create a fun culture at work, while giving employees the tools, technology and support they need to do their best. We encourage creativity, innovation, and professional growth. At the same time, we help them make the most of their time off the job, by providing flextime, personal paid time off, and generous vacation benefits.
STATEMENT OF STEWARDSHIP
Community Referrals and Employee Retention People who love living in our communities are eager to encourage others to share their good fortune. That’s why we consider referrals a measure of happiness. We also believe that creating great communities in which people want to live would be difficult without motivated employees—that’s why employee referrals and retention rates are also important measures of happiness to us. When people have a good thing, they stick with it.
N/A Community Retention N/A Multifamily Renewals 5% Resident Referrals 4% Multifamily Referrals 14% Employment Referrals 88% Employee Retention Rate
CRESCENT COMMUNITIES
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LONGEVITY COMMITTED TO THE FUTURE
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STATEMENT OF STEWARDSHIP
Rough Hollow, Austin, TX
For us, longevity is about ensuring communities that will remain relevant over time, by honoring the balance of project values with flexibility to adapt. Focusing on a foundation of resiliency allows us to seed a community that will sustain and continue to thrive long after our involvement has ended.
CRESCENT COMMUNITIES
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Belterra, Austin, TX
STEWARDSHIP IN ACTION Ensuring the Longevity of Our Communities Setting the Stage. We don’t measure success solely by sales, occupancy, or property value. For us, a successful community is one that can stand on its own. Accordingly, the final step in creating a residential development is working with community leaders to create an independent governing board. Well before the 90 percent build-out point that marks the transition in control, we begin to incorporate community leaders into its management. This gradual immersion helps community leaders gain the knowledge they need—of operational
issues as well as underlying Crescent values— that will help them govern wisely. The Point, our pioneering Charlotte community, illustrates the value of this graduated process. Since 2008, its resident board has successfully guided the community through a series of important decisions that make it an outstanding place to live. As The Point evolves and grows, Crescent’s values continue to help the community.
Employee Diversity We believe the best way to create a company that will stand the test of time is to attract people from diverse backgrounds. The different perspectives, skills, and experiences they contribute help us make better decisions and respond more flexibly to change. Age is representative of experience, but it is only one measure of diversity. As Crescent grows, we will continue to create a culture that promotes diversity, and to have a workplace that reflects that mission.
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STATEMENT OF STEWARDSHIP
Discovery Place Museum, Charlotte, NC
Thinking Ahead. The effort we put into planning each of our communities—long before the first structure goes up on the site—is critical to ensuring our communities’ longevity. We call this deliberate, step-by-step process CANVAS. We define objectives, build a team of internal and external contributors, explore a wide range of concepts and ideas, and then flesh out experience principles that will be used in every decision. CANVAS helps us create the greatest place for its purpose.
BABY BOOMERS
31%
One example of where this process was put into action is Tryon Place, our mixed-use project in Charlotte. Far-ranging discussions led to a new kind of workplace where community is the foundation—from the design of the project to creation of new partnerships.
AGE DIVERSITY
GEN X 45% GEN Y 24%
CRESCENT COMMUNITIES
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CRESCENT COMMUNITIES VALUES Be Curious We are explorers, seeking information and perspectives that help us consistently generate insight into our customers and our marketplace. We are thoughtful, always asking why and rigorously seeking creative solutions to complex challenges. Do What’s Right We act with unwavering integrity, treating our people, partners, and places we are involved with as we would want to be treated. We are stewards of our relationships, our communities and the land. Innovate Always We challenge assumptions, embrace risk and act with conviction in order to deliver “what’s next” in everything we do. Deliver Excellence For our organization, colleagues, customers, and partners, we are relentless in our pursuit of exceptional work, our search for growth and creating places with lasting value.
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STATEMENT OF STEWARDSHIP
Masons Bend, Fort Mill, SC
Crescent Communities, LLC 227 W. Trade Street Suite 100 Charlotte, NC 28202 (980) 321-6000 crescentcommunities.com