A Model for Visionary Land Planning

Nearly 80 years of experience culminates in an award-winning community where people, nature, and innovation thrive together

BY ERIKA COOK

FOR NEARLY 80 YEARS, Carl M. Freeman Companies has been at the forefront of creative, sustainable development, consistently championing practices that enrich both the environment and the communities it serves. One example is Tower Hill, a new community now selling along New Road near historic Lewes, where innovation and environmental stewardship come together to create a thoughtful model for modern land planning.

Tower Hill spans 135 acres and is home to 292 single-family residences that harmonize with their natural surroundings while setting a new benchmark for responsible design. What distinguishes this community is its pioneering use of wildflower meadows — nearly 30 acres seeded with native wildflowers and grasses, making it the first project of this scale in Sussex County to embrace meadows instead of traditional turfgrass. This decision, which goes well beyond regulatory requirements, reflects a bold and thoughtful approach to sustainability. Native meadows naturally reduce maintenance, stabilize soil, reduce runoff, and improve water quality, and they also provide critical habitat for pollinators and wildlife. They transform open spaces into living ecosystems that benefit both residents and the broader environment.

The impact of this initiative has been celebrated by conservation leaders across the state. Jessica Watson, sediment and stormwater program manager at the Sussex Conservation District, praised the project, saying, “Tower Hill is an example of thoughtful and purposeful conservation. The Freeman Companies are setting the bar high by being the first to support the local ecosystem and improve water quality by incorporating native plants, meadows, and buffers into the open space and stormwater design. Meadows act like a sponge, absorbing stormwater runoff and cleaning water before it enters local waterways. They also benefit the birds, bees, and butterflies we all love and need. We are confident this project will become a model for other communities in Sussex County and the state.”

These efforts, combined with the community’s overall design, including tree preservation, have led to Tower Hill being honored with the 2024 Governor’s Conservation Award, as well as recognition as Sussex County’s Community of the Year. Together, these accolades highlight the value of an approach that integrates environmental responsibility with innovative landuse planning.

Carl M. Freeman Companies views these awards not only as a recognition of past accomplishments, but also as motivation to continue leading the way in sustainable development. That vision is already evident in the company’s newest project, Channel Pointe, where a thoughtful approach includes Dark Sky Initiatives to preserve natural nightscapes and reduce light pollution. By prioritizing conservation in both large-scale landscaping and community design, Freeman Companies continues to demonstrate how development can respect and enhance the natural environment.

Reflecting on the company’s legacy and future, Michelle Freeman, CEO of Carl M. Freeman Companies, shared, “At Freeman Companies, we believe that development is about more than building homes. It’s about creating communities that endure — places where families thrive, ecosystems are protected, and innovation leads the way. Tower Hill reflects our nearly 80 years of experience and our ongoing commitment to do things differently, to lead with stewardship, and to set new standards for excellence.”

From the wildflower meadows of Tower Hill to the Dark Sky initiatives at Channel Pointe in Fenwick Island, Carl M. Freeman Companies is showing what is possible when development is approached with vision and responsibility. These communities are more than neighborhoods; they are legacies — proof that sustainability and creativity can go hand in hand to build places that last for generations. n

Erika Cook is the director of marketing at Carl M. Freeman Companies.