Giving Elizabethton a Green Urban Thumb

We have all heard that certain colors can bring our certain feelings and emotions. Well, what about the color green? Green, it is said, relaxes and renews you; a green streetscape is supposed to bring people together, but is this true?

What if I told you that you could make a little extra on the sale if you started by planting a tree and adding greenery? Well, it's true! A 2010 study in Landscape and Urban Planning Journal found that homes in Oregon neighborhoods with street trees sold $8,870 higher than those without them and was sold 1.7 days quicker on average.

What about speeding traffic through your neighborhood? Trees can take care of that too! The presence of street trees in a neighborhood dropped the average speed of traffic by 3 miles-per-hour, according to a 2008 ITE Journal On The Web study.

Trees even have the power to reduce crime! A 2001 study in Chicago comparing neighborhoods with trees and greenery with those with no trees and little greenery found that property damage crimes had been reduced by 48 percent while violent crimes had been reduced by 56 percent!

Trees even have the power to make us spend more. A 2003 study found that customers were willing to pay 12 percent more for an item if the retail or shopping district had trees in it (hint: this is why you see trees, bushes, and greenery in indoor malls!).

There are many other benefits as well, such as encouraging people to exercise, helping to reduce storm flooding, and cleaning the air and water in our cities. Who knew that trees could make so much of a difference!

In Elizabethton, we require that new construction adds trees, bushes, and greenery to their parking lots, buildings, and along the streets. Yes, it does cost more and creates less parking, but it also makes walking to the building more enjoyable, keeps your car cool while you're shopping, and creates a more attractive community.

The next time you see an affordable tree or bush, buy it, plant it in your front yard or add some landscaping to your house. Buy some pots and plant flowers and other greenery in it and place it next to the entrance to your home or business. What more should we be doing to make Elizabethton more green? Let's talk about it!