Middleton, WI, USA
Belle Farm is a sustainable neighborhood near Madison, WI focused on physical and mental wellbeing and a deep respect for the earth. All homes at Belle Farm have solar, geothermal HVAC, and deep-rooted native plants.
3-5 years
Last update: October 05, 2023
More housing is needed nationwide. We are also seeing declines in physical and mental health, increases in loneliness, an aging grid, increasing carbon emissions, increasing vulnerability to energy price fluctuations and a lack of connection to nature.
Too many housing stakeholders are focused on short-term rewards and choose to ignore the deep connection between the places we live and the most pressing issues of our times. It is faster, easier and cheaper to put up tract housing or single-use zoned subdivisions that lack sidewalks or places to walk to—increasing our reliance on cars, decreasing the use of our feet and minimizing the chances to bump into our neighbors. It is faster, easier, cheaper (cheaper in the short term) to put in gas furnaces, skip the solar and keep everyone dependent on fossil fuels.
On the rental side, large scale multifamily projects are blanketing nation’s cities with repetitive and bland buildings that often feel like blight within a handful of years of construction. Built with cheap materials and with little regard to creating a sense of place for residents or the extended community, these projects have a cumulative impact on the public realm, the public spirit and the planet. Such buildings also create potential long-term risks to investors by creating undistinguished, commoditized products.
To change course, we need to implement solutions in scalable developments in growing markets.
Belle Farm, located in Middleton, WI, is a fully entitled community approved for up to 880 dwelling units, including 150 single-family homes, 730 multifamily units, health and wellness amenities, and intentional commercial spaces. The design preserves 50% open space and incorporates:
Walkable design connecting residents to trails, shared green spaces, local amenities and each other.
Healthy living options are richly integrated making it easy to move the body and calm the mind.
Solar, geothermal heating and cooling and EV wiring in every home.
An electrified neighborhood (no gas.)
Deep-rooted native landscapes that restore soil health and biodiversity.
Variety of architectural sizes and styles allowing multiple price and access points.
Belle Farm is located in Dane County. Dane County is the fastest growing county in the state of Wisconsin and is expected to surge through 2050.
Belle Farm has secured $16 million in public TIF funding and has the support of the City of Middleton. View our deck here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pS8spm9A0BNzqP7uLY1mv8f2crHjENXV/view?usp=sharing
Belle Farm’s scale allows us to serve as a high impact and replicable model for real estate developers across the country.
