Redbrook Nets Seven More Prism Awards

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BOSTON – The Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston (BRAGB) presented Team Redbrook with another seven Prism Awards at a recent awards ceremony. The annual awards celebrate the best of the best in the region’s residential building industry.

Redbrook Project Executive Daniel Gorczyca noted that five of the seven awards went to individuals who work on the project who were recognized for their hard work and professionalism.

“This speaks to the excellence of the team we have recruited,” Gorczyca said.

Abby Hecke, Redbrook’s office manager, received two Gold awards, for Most Valuable Team Player and Rising Star of the Year.

Amy Mencis netted a Gold for Best Project Marketing and Sales Person of the Year; Cecelia McGonagle of The Valle Group won a Silver for Best Sales Person of the Year; and a Silver for Best Project Manager of the Year went to Redbrook’s Evan Miller.

Overall, Redbrook won a Silver for Best Multi-Unit for Sale Community, and one of the Redbrook builders, Whitman Homes of Canton, won a Silver for Best Attached Townhome.

The company introduced the Redbrook concept in the early 2000s and worked closely with the Town of Plymouth’s planning professionals and elected officials to create an award-winning design that features 1,175 residential units — including single-family homes, townhomes, and apartments — and preserves some 2,200 acres of open space and minimizes the routine car trips that make up so many of Americans’ vehicle miles. The village center, with a new YMCA and its child care facility, restaurants, medical offices, and other amenities, is a quick walk from any Redbrook neighborhood.

Redbrook has won a total of 49 of the prestigious Prism awards since the new village welcomed its first homeowners in 2015.

BRAGB, a trade association affiliated with the National Association of Home Builders and Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Massachusetts, has represented the industry since 1944. BRAGB has evolved into one of the leading trade associations in New England. With over 390 member companies, including single-family, multifamily builders, and commercial builders and remodeling contractors, BRAGB is one of New England’s most prominent and influential trade associations.

The A.D. Makepeace Company is developer of the award-winning Redbrook. The 165-year-old company is the world’s largest cranberry grower, the largest private property owner in eastern Massachusetts, and a recognized leader in environmentally responsible real estate development and stewardship.

Information about the village is available at redbrookplymouth.com.

Canopy Solar Planned for Makepeace Canal

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PLYMOUTH – The A.D. Makepeace Company and Renewable Energy Development Partners LLC are proposing a plan for solar panel canopies installed over some two miles of agricultural canal in a remote section of Plymouth.

The proposal, which is subject to review and approval by the Plymouth Inspectional Services Department, is part of a multifaceted renewable energy initiative which also includes floating solar on an agricultural reservoir, ground-mounted solar arrays and additional canal canopy arrays.

The project is proposed under the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) program. The SMART program encourages the development of new photovoltaic energy sources in a manner that is compatible with current and future agricultural practices. The canals are used for irrigation and bog flooding for harvest and pest management purposes, and will continue to be used as such after the solar canopies are installed.

“This is part of our ongoing effort to site innovative solar projects in areas with minimal impact on wildlife and our neighbors,” said James F. Kane, president and chief executive officer of the A.D. Makepeace Company. “In so doing, we are helping the Commonwealth make meaningful progress towards greenhouse gas reduction goals.”

Renewable Energy Development Partners submitted a proposal for the canal solar to the Town of Plymouth last week. The project will be the second canal canopy solar array that the A.D. Makepeace Company and REDP have partnered to construct.  The first project, roughly half the size of the proposed new project, is located nearby on a cranberry farm in Carver, MA and is expected to be operational by the end of the year.

“This project is an innovative approach to solar energy production that requires minimal land disturbance, creates an additional beneficial use of land already in agricultural use, and is fully compatible with the ongoing agricultural activities.   We hope it will be a model for similar types of projects done in partnership with other agricultural producers,” said Hank Ouimet, a managing partner at REDP.

The canopies require no tree cutting. The land is zoned for residential and agricultural uses.

Mr. Kane noted that the project site is zoned for residential development and Plymouth officials have long feared the prospect of having to provide municipal services to an area separated from the rest of the town by Myles Standish State Forest. In response, the company has explored options with minimal impact on services, such as agricultural and renewable energy uses.

The sites for the projects are in the area where the boundaries of Plymouth, Carver, and Wareham meet, all a mile or more from any publicly accessible roadway. The A.D. Makepeace Company has been growing cranberries there since the early 1900s.

Renewable Energy Development Partners is a boutique Massachusetts-based renewable energy project development firm specializing in innovative solar solutions. Visit redpllc.com for more information.

The 169-year-old A.D. Makepeace Company is developer of the award-winning Redbrook, North America’s largest cranberry grower, the largest private property owner in eastern Massachusetts, and a recognized leader in environmentally responsible real estate development and stewardship. Visit admakepeace.com for more information.

It’s harvest season!

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As the largest grower in North America, the A.D. Makepeace Company is the first to arrive at the Ocean Spray receiving station in mid-September, and the last to depart in early November.

And as the developer of Redbrook, the new village in south Plymouth, the company is able to offer a unique perk to residents only: pick your own cranberries.

“Anyone can go apple-picking or select your own pumpkin in the fall, but this is truly a one-of-a-kind opportunity,” said Daniel Gorczyca, vice president and Redbrook project executive for the A.D. Makepeace Company.

According to Jennifer Maynard, Redbrook’s director of resident services, some 700 Redbrook homeowners and renters were expected to participate in the pick-your-own event on September 23.

ADM harvests about 1,700 acres of bogs in Plymouth, Wareham, and Carver, and with the exception of that special Redbrook bog, all are wet harvested.

Here’s how wet harvest works: Cranberries contain pockets of air, and as a result, they can float in water. For the past 70 years or so, cranberry growers have taken advantage of this by flooding the bogs, then using picking machines to knock the berries off the vines. The berries then float to the surface of the flooded bog.

Plastic “booms” are used to round up the berries, which are then lifted by conveyor or pumped into a truck to take them to the receiving station in nearby Carver for cleaning.

From there, the fruit is sent to various processing plants. Wet harvested cranberries are used for juices, sauces, sweetened dried cranberries, or as ingredients in other processed foods. Dry harvested cranberries are found in bags in the produce aisle during the holiday season.

At this time of year, the growers are hoping for cool nights – needed to cause the berries to turn red – warm daytime temperatures, and a little rain. Hail, excessive rain or heat, and other weather extremes can damage the crop at this stage. Harvest activities are typically put on hold during very windy conditions.

For those not fortunate enough to live at Redbrook, the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association offers cranberry bog tours showcasing the native red berry. Information about public tours is available on their website, cranberries.org.

They also offer self-guided tours. On the CCCGA website, click “Visit a Bog” and you’ll find an interactive map of growers in the region that welcomes visitors to their property. Most growers don’t mind if you pull over to the side of the road to take photos of the picturesque harvest. Just please remember that it’s a working farm and you need to stay clear of truck traffic, hoses, and other potential hazards.

Redbrook Hosts Second Wind Brewing Beer Garden

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Kenny Semcken, a Second Wind owner and the brewery’s general manager

PLYMOUTH, Massachusetts – Looking for a beautiful outdoor venue to enjoy one of Plymouth’s top new local breweries? Second Wind Brewing has introduced a beer garden on the Village Green at Redbrook on Friday evenings.

The Second Wind-Redbrook partnership was a match made not in heaven, but on Facebook.

Alerted that Second Wind was looking for a new location for an outdoor beer garden and that numerous Facebook users had recommended Redbrook as a new site, the Redbrook team worked quickly to make it happen. The town’s Select Board approved licensing on June 20, and the first beer garden was open just 10 days later, on a Green packed with residents from Redbrook and beyond.

“This is a great amenity for the whole region, but it’s extra special for Redbrook residents, who can walk here from their homes,” said Dan Gorczyca, vice president and Redbrook project executive for the A.D. Makepeace Company.  “For us, it’s like a neighborhood get-together.”

The beer garden attracts everyone from families with young children, to couples on date night, senior citizens, and plenty of well-behaved dogs. Jennifer Maynard, Redbrook’s director of resident services, arranges for a DJ, lawn games, and food trucks to augment offerings from the locals: TrailsEnd Bistro, Black Lantern Tavern, and Cranberry Coffee Corner.

And the beer? Top quality, with something for everyone, even people who don’t care for beer.

“We never wanted to be monochromatic,” said Kenny Semcken, a Second Wind owner and the brewery’s general manager, of the company’s wide variety.

At the Howland Street taproom as well as the beer garden, Second Wind employees are not shy about guiding customers to a beer they’ll love. Like Blue Moon? Then check out “Howland at the Moon,” a nod to both the Molson-Coors product at Second Wind’s downtown Plymouth address.

The Second Wind team even takes into consideration that you might prefer another brewer’s offerings or a hard cider, both of which were on “guest taps” at the Redbrook beer garden.

Semcken envisions Plymouth as a “beer town,” and cheerfully greeted other brewers at the beer garden. “We want all of us to be successful,” he said.

The Redbrook Beer Garden is free and open to the public on Fridays from 3 to 8 p.m. through fall. Parking is available behind the Redbrook YMCA and behind the Beth Israel-Deaconess Plymouth building, both a short stroll from the Green. In the event of inclement weather, rescheduling is posted on the Redbrook Plymouth and Second Wind Facebook pages. Wine, non-alcoholic and a gluten free option are available.

About that Facebook matchmaking: Semcken posted on “All Things Plymouth” that the brewery had outgrown its Bramhall garden and was looking for a new site. After the first Redbrook event on June 30, he wrote, “Quick note of gratitude to the ATP community. In between anonymous posts about beach stickers and foggy fireworks, we’ve created something awesome on Friday nights stemming from member feedback here. The vibe on the Green has been great and we are excited for the weeks ahead.”

 Upcoming Redbrook Events

Saturday, August 19th – 5-9pm – Live Music with John and Amanda of Date Nite

Friday, August 25th – Movie Night on The Green: Turning Red

Friday, September 22nd – Redbrook’s Block Party Kicks Off with Movie Night on The Green: Rudy

Saturday, September 23rd – Fresh Cranberry Picking (residents only)

Sunday, September 24th – Fall Frolic 5K and Fun Run (visit redbrookplymouth.com to register)

Sunday, September 24th – Redbrook Motor Cruisers (RMC) car show, 9am – noon

Sunday, September 24th – Chili Fest

Saturday, October 7th – Redbrook’s Annual Yard Sale

Friday, October 27th – Trunk or Treat with the YMCA

Friday, October 27th – Halloween Movie Night on The Green: Hotel Transylvania

 

Community Farm Planned

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PLYMOUTH/WAREHAM LINE – The A.D. Makepeace Company (ADM) is partnering with the Marion Institute to develop a Farm to Food Relief program to grow food for those in need.

Known as The Neighborhood Farm at Frogfoot, the six-acre farm will be located on ADM property in a remote area on the Plymouth-Wareham town line. On the site, the Marion Institute will grow food for those in need and make more local food available to food relief programs.

Members of the two organizations’ boards of directors and staffs celebrated the start of the project with a private reception and groundbreaking on site last week.

“This is a little bit of a dream come true for me,” said Jim Kane, president and chief executive officer of the A.D. Makepeace Company. He told of his grandmother and her family needing food assistance in the 1920s following the death of her father in a car accident. “How in 2023 there can still be people going to bed hungry is just beyond me.”

Liz Wiley, executive director of The Marion Institute, agreed that the project is the fulfillment of years of effort. “We are grateful to the A.D. Makepeace Company for their support and partnership in bringing this vision to life,” she said.

Both Mr. Kane and Ms. Wiley credited Chris Makepeace, a descendent of ADM founder Abel Makepeace, former company president, and current board member, for championing the project.

In the Marion Institute’s recently published Food System Assessment for Southeastern MA, a consumer survey indicated that the hardest to get food items are affordable meat and seafood, fresh fruits, and vegetables. Being able to address this issue by increasing access to fresh, healthy, culturally relevant foods and prepared meals at low-to-no cost will not only address the high rates of food insecurity we have in our region, but will do it in a nutritionally secure way.

“Our nation’s broken food system is characterized by an abundance of cheap, inflammatory, nutrient-depleted, immune suppressing, ultra-processed foods,” Ms. Wiley said. “Unfortunately, our current food relief system relies heavily on these shelf-stable products which ultimately negatively impact public health.”

Mr. Kane noted that his wife, State Rep. Hannah Kane, is a member of the Massachusetts Food Policy Council and a strong advocate for food and nutrition programs.

Through a multi-year, no-cost lease agreement, the Marion Institute will create, develop, and manage a Farm to Food Relief Program on ADM property. The shared purpose of the Neighborhood Farm at Frogfoot is to increase the availability of local food to area food relief programs in Southeastern MA by growing fresh produce directly for food relief.

The initiative will also allow the Marion Institute to launch a regional Gleaning Program that will increase the amount of local food available to area food relief programs. A gleaning program is based on the notion that every year, thousands of pounds of food goes to waste in the field because farmers either do not have the labor to harvest a crop or the market to sell it too. The Marion Institute’s trained gleaning volunteers will “rescue” this food before the crop is lost, delivering it to a local food pantry or processing center for food insecure individuals and families.

Both activities will be developed on a foundation of social justice, regenerative farming practices, education, and equitable access to fresh, local, culturally-relevant foods.

The Marion Institute’s Southcoast Food Policy Council connects and advocates for local food producers, consumers, and community leaders who seek policy and systems that strengthen our regional food system, improve community health, and eliminate food insecurity. The Council is one of several health-related initiatives for the nationally known nonprofit organization, whose vision holds that “optimal health is a basic human right, not a privilege.” Visit marioninstitute.org for more information.

The 169-year-old A.D. Makepeace Company is developer of the award-winning Redbrook, North America’s largest cranberry grower, the largest private property owner in eastern

Massachusetts, and a recognized leader in environmentally responsible real estate development and stewardship.

UMass Celebrates New Cranberry Station

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Members of the A.D. Makepeace Company team recently joined University of Massachusetts officials at a festive ribbon-cutting ceremony at the newly expanded and modernized UMass Cranberry Station, which plays an essential role in supporting cranberry growers and the state’s top commercially grown food crop.

The A.D. Makepeace Company had made a significant donation to the project in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the company’s incorporation.

“For many years, the success of the cranberry industry has been dependent on the work done here,” said Christopher Makepeace, company founder Abel D. Makepeace’s great grandson and a current member of the company’s Board of Directors. In front of the newly named Makepeace Meeting Room, Mr. Makepeace and Cranberry Station Director Hilary Sandler were joined by ADM President and CEO Jim Kane, CFO Lori Flannery, and Glenn Reid, Jim Pinkston, Alex Manchester, and Gavin Bartlett of the ADM cranberry leadership team.

At the main ribbon cutting, Robert Karam, chair of the ADM Board of Directors and former chair of the UMass Board of Trustees, joined UMass Amherst Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy and other dignitaries in praising the new facility.

The new and renovated facilities reflect the station’s position as the hub of cranberry research and extension for the commonwealth and beyond. Features of the updated facility include:

  • A new, two-story 5,000-gross-square-foot addition to the east of the administration building, attached by a two-level connector to the existing laboratory research space.
  • Two new research program laboratory facilities, two new preparation laboratories and the infrastructure to support three fully outfitted laboratories.
  • Addition of four new faculty offices as well as the relocation of the administrative offices to the new addition, with a new main public entrance and reception area.
  • A new meeting room, overlooking the station’s cranberry bogs, equipped with state-of-the-art audio-visual connectivity.
  • Increased access via ramps and full-sized elevator.
  • Improvement of the station’s infrastructure, internet service and laboratory wastewater treatment and disposal.
  • A new septic system and new water and electrical services.
  • Complete upgrade to the HVAC system in the laboratory building.

An investment of $5 million in capital spending authorized in the 2018 Environmental Bond Bill and a $750,000 grant from the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance was used to modernize and expand the research facilities at the station. UMass Amherst committed approximately $2 million in additional funds for necessary deferred maintenance projects on the station.

 

ADM Preserves Thousands of Acres

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A new report shows that the A.D. Makepeace Company is preserving more than 2,250 acres of open space in Plymouth.

The report, prepared for the company by engineering consultant Beals & Thomas, was presented to the Plymouth Planning Board on April 12.

The report shows that the company has recorded 1,516 acres of conservation land to date, is advancing conservation restrictions for an additional 507 acres.

Additionally, about 230 acres of conservation land in the Redbrook area will be preserved, along with acres of open space within the Redbrook mixed-use community itself.

Some of the property is mitigation for development of the new village at Redbrook and was planned with state and local officials during the permitting process.

“We have worked closely with environmental experts to ensure that the protected property is of genuine environmental significance,” said Jim Kane, president and chief executive officer of the A.D. Makepeace Company. “This is legitimate habitat land whose value is amplified due to the proximity to the Myles Standish State Forest and other open space.”

Mr. Kane praised the regulators for their “researched and reasoned” approach to land conservation.

“Combined with more than 1,1000 acres preserved in Wareham, the conservation outcome here surpasses what was contemplated by environmental advocates some 20 years ago,” Kane said. In 2001, a coalition of environmental organizations asked the company to preserve 2,500 acres.

The 169-year-old A.D. Makepeace Company is developer of the award-winning Redbrook, North America’s largest cranberry grower, the largest private property owner in eastern Massachusetts, and a recognized leader in environmentally responsible real estate development and stewardship.

ADM Donates Land to Plymouth

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Dan Gorczyca with Fire Station officials

Plymouth Fire Chief Neil Foley, Redbrook Project Executive Dan Gorczyca, Planning Board Chair Tim Grandy, Building Committee Chair David Peck.

The Town of Plymouth is pleased to announce that the A.D. Makepeace Company/Redbrook has generously donated two acres of land on Bourne Road to the Town.

The A.D. Makepeace Company/Redbrook (ADM) has offered to donate two acres on Bourne Road to the Town of Plymouth for the construction of a future fire station to replace the existing Station 4. The two acres donated to the Plymouth Fire Department are north of the Redbrook development on Bourne Road, near the South Elementary School.

“We are delighted to be able to support the Town in this way,” said Dan Gorczyca, Redbrook project executive and vice president of the A.D. Makepeace Company. “Redbrook has been a collaborative effort since 2005, when the Planning Board and Town Meeting worked with us to develop the zoning needed to create a new village. This is yet another example of our true public-private partnership.”

The land donated by A.D. Makepeace Company/Redbrook will allow the department to pursue constructing a new Station 4 in the area slightly north of the current Bourne Road location.

“On behalf of the men and women of the Plymouth Fire Department, I would like to thank the A.D. Makepeace Company/Redbrook for this extremely generous donation of land,” Chief Neil Foley said. “Their donation will ensure that the Plymouth Fire Department has the resources needed for us to continue to best serve our community. I would like to thank everyone who was a part of this process, especially James Kane and Dan Gorczyca of A.D. Makepeace.”

Added Town Manager Derek Brindisi, “The Town of Plymouth has had a long-standing relationship with the A.D. Makepeace Company/Redbrook since 2005. Throughout the years this partnership has supported residential growth within the town, and now with their generous donation of land they are yet again supporting that growth by allowing us to improve the vital fire services required of this area. We thank them for their continued support and look forward to continuing to grow our partnership.”

The 169-year-old A.D. Makepeace Company is the developer of the award-winning Redbrook, North America’s largest cranberry grower, the largest private property owner in eastern Massachusetts, and a recognized leader in environmentally responsible real estate development and stewardship.

ADM Recognized for Carver Elementary School Donation

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CARVER – Members of the school community recognized the A.D. Makepeace Company and its Read Custom Soils division Monday for contributing special engineered soil valued at more than $50,000 for walking trails around the new Carver Elementary School.

The remarks were made to the School Committee by five very articulate students at Carver Elementary: first graders William Caron, Nolan Farquharson, and Ellie Beaulieu, Hazel Butterworth, Nia Blackwell, who are in the fourth grade.

The students shared their enthusiasm for the new walking/running path and shared their love for running including time with family, following their passions, and gaining a sense of achievement.  The three girls in 4th grade participated in the Thanksgiving race in Plymouth and took three of the top four spots for their age group.  Will and Nolan said the path was also good for bike riding and how it was fun to race and beat their parents.

The path winds nearly half a mile around fields that are used by town soccer for youth games and practices, said School Superintendent Scott Knief.  During the school day, physical education classes will use the path. It will also be used by the Elementary School’s walking/running club, with about 100 students participating, that meets before school two days a week in the fall and spring, and the space is open to the community after the school day is over.

During a brief slide presentation, Superintendent Knief said the walking/running trail was “value engineered” out of the school building plans as a cost savings measure, and the estimate for construction was more than $90,000.

Physical Education Teacher Renee DeMarsh spearheaded efforts to get the walking/running path completed using donations.

According to Chris Ierardi, ADM vice president and general manager of the Read division, the company brought in just under 400 tons of stabilized stone dust to create a surface that is ADA compliant and easy to maintain.

The 169-year-old A.D. Makepeace Company is North America’s largest cranberry grower, the largest private property owner in eastern Massachusetts, and a recognized leader in environmentally responsible real estate development and stewardship.

ADM Issues $10,000 Challenge Match to Benefit Habitat for Humanity of Greater Plymouth

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CARVER AND PLYMOUTH, ISSUED DECEMBER 14, 2022 … Habitat for Humanity of Greater Plymouth is pleased to announce that the A.D. Makepeace Company has issued a $10,000 Challenge Match to benefit the Greater Plymouth affiliate’s upcoming build in Carver. The project entails a complete rehabilitation of the interior of an existing single-family house located at 11 Green Street. The finished product will be a three-bedroom affordable home to be sold to an income-qualified first-time homeowner, giving preference to a military Veteran.

To help fund the project, ADM has pledged to match up to $10,000 in donations received by Habitat for Humanity of Greater Plymouth from December 14th through January 31st, 2023. “A.D. Makepeace’s commitment to the community is truly admirable and we are extremely grateful for their support” said Amy Belmore, Director of Development & Outreach for HFHGP. “With the real estate market skyrocketing in recent years, the void of affordable housing in our area is massive. We are excited to get to work on this project and hope members of the community will take this opportunity to have their donation doubled, thanks to A.D. Makepeace’s generosity with this Challenge Match.”

“Habitat does such a wonderful job supporting those in need in our communities, and we are pleased to see that military veterans will get preference for this home,” said James F. Kane, president and chief executive officer of the A.D. Makepeace Company. “We’re happy to be able to help financially, and we are hopeful that members of our staff can assist with the construction as well.”

Following the traditional Habitat model, nearly all aspects of the build will be accomplished by volunteers to fully rehabilitate the interior of the home and restore the exterior and surrounding grounds. The selected homeowner will pay a zero-interest, 30-year affordable mortgage and will also work alongside the volunteers to build his/her own home through “sweat equity hours”. Volunteer work is expected to begin in early 2023 and anyone interested in signing up should visit www.hfhplymouth.org.

This project will be the latest in the affiliate’s drive to provide affordable homeownership opportunities to low-income families and, specifically in this case, to military veterans. The homeowner application is a multi-step process and will be opened in the near future and will be announced on the organization’s website, www.hfhplymouth.org/own-a-home. Veterans are encouraged to review the eligibility guidelines and apply when available.

About Habitat for Humanity of Greater Plymouth, Inc.

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Plymouth, Inc. is a registered 501c3 non-profit organization with a mission of providing decent affordable housing in the region. Their office, along with its ReStore, is located at 160 N. Main Street in Carver and the service area includes Plymouth, Kingston, Carver, Middleboro, Plympton and Lakeville. In addition to complete home builds, they also make repairs on existing homes that are essential for health and safety. An application process is required for those interested in becoming a Habitat homeowner. HFHGP is continuously seeking volunteers, financial support, and furniture/appliance donations to the ReStore. More information and volunteer sign-up can be found at www.hfhplymouth.org, and readers are encouraged to follow HFHGP and HFHGP ReStore on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. Questions can be directed to info@hfhplymouth.org or 508-866-4188.

About the A.D. Makepeace Company

The 168-year-old A.D. Makepeace Company is North America’s largest cranberry grower, and a recognized leader in environmentally responsible real estate development and stewardship.