A Symbiotic Relationship Between Trees & a Developer
When it comes to the University of North Carolina’s mulch needs, Glen Lennox has the Tarheels covered!
This past spring, Grubb Properties donated 1,500 yards of top-quality tree mulch from the Glen Lennox redevelopment site to the UNC Chapel Hill Facilities and Grounds Management. When combined with local composted wood chips, the donation served roughly two-thirds of the campus’ mulch needs for the entire year.
The mulch came from the redevelopment of Glen Lennox, which will bring new housing, office and retail to the neighborhood. Grubb Properties has taken extraordinary steps to maintain the health and diversity of Glen Lennox’s beloved tree canopy, and was committed to finding secondary uses for any trees that were taken down.
“The mulch Glen Lennox donated saved our bacon,” said Tom Bythell, the university arborist at UNC for more than 20 years. “It was a win for the campus, the school, our budget and the environment.”
Mulch provides more than just aesthetic appeal—the coverage helps plants retain water, provide food, repel weeds and be healthier overall. Bythell and his team spread the mulch in the main quads and other prime campus locations, as well as in areas the team otherwise wouldn’t have had enough product to cover.
This upcycling is part of Grubb Properties’ strong commitment to responsible urban forestry management at Glen Lennox. All of the species in the area are being mapped to ensure the diversity of trees, and Glen Lennox’s tree management program will continue to care for and monitor their health.
The company will also plant other native species throughout the community, including more than 1,200 shrubs, 400 annuals and perennials, and nearly 200 trees of different species across the redevelopment site. Over 10 years, those new trees will offset more than 7.5 metric tons of CO2—or the equivalent of driving more than 18,000 miles in a car.
In addition to its partnership with UNC, Grubb Properties is collaborating with Carolina Urban Lumber to upcycle felled trees. Some of the lumber is being repurposed into beautiful custom wood pieces and decorative elements that will be installed throughout the community.
While developers and arborists aren’t typical bedfellows, Glen Lennox’s commitment to sustainability shows it’s possible for them to find common ground.