GL HOMES SUSTAINABLE PLANNING EQUALS SUCCESS
With a commitment to vibrant community planning, sustainable practices, and environmental conservation, GL Homes has built dozens of master-planned communities that exemplify smart development. Over 100,000 people are living in a GL home across the state of Florida.
Recognizing that each site is unique, shaped by its location, landscape, and past use, GL Homes goes to great lengths to understand the land’s history and environmental context. This approach ensures that every community is thoughtfully designed to harmonize with the natural environment while meeting the needs of future generations.
Responsible Land Development in Action
When building a new community, GL Homes goes above and beyond standard land development practices wherever possible, thoughtfully balancing growth with environmental responsibility.
We conduct comprehensive studies of the land's history to ensure an understanding of its cultural, ecological, and geological significance. Advanced soil testing and geo-investigation techniques are employed to assess the land’s capacity and stability, ensuring sustainable construction practices and long-term resilience.
Water management strategies prioritize conservation, stormwater control, and the protection of local waterways, while wildlife management plans are designed to preserve and enhance natural habitats.
Together, these practices form the foundation of GL Homes' sustainable planning initiatives.
Environmental Stewardship
GL Homes continues to demonstrate that development and sustainability can coexist, resulting in vibrant communities that respect and enhance their natural surroundings. A great example of our dedication to environmental stewardship is our Riverland community in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
Smart Planning
A smart community plan considers every aspect of a property’s surroundings. Our Valencia Trails community in Naples, Florida exemplifies a planning approach that emphasizes vibrant, livable spaces with thoughtful integration of public areas and sustainable infrastructure.
Wildlife Habitats
As part of GL Homes' sustainable planning, the company collaborates with environmental experts to preserve natural habitats, manage stormwater effectively, and conserve native vegetation, tailoring these efforts to the unique conditions and environmental characteristics of each individual site. The rookeries in our Valencia Grand neighborhood in Boynton Beach, Florida, are shining examples of our commitment to enhancing wildlife habitats.
Successful Public / Private Partnerships
GL Homes has built strong relationships with local and state governments. We believe that these partnerships are essential for delivering critical infrastructure projects that enhance mobility and support community growth.
Building Roads
Collaborating on roadway projects involves a coordinated effort in acquiring necessary rights-of-way, as well as securing funding, design expertise, and construction resources. These partnerships ensure that projects are not only completed efficiently but also align with regional transportation goals and community needs.
Over the years, these collaborative efforts have led to the successful completion of numerous roadway improvements, ranging from small-scale neighborhood enhancements to major infrastructure expansions.
Donating Land
GL Development frequently collaborates with local governments to allocate land for public facilities such as schools, parks, libraries, fire and police stations, and civic centers. These partnerships may involve dedicating a portion of the development site, providing financial contributions, or assembling larger parcels to meet specific needs and foster vibrant and well-planned communities. The 32,000-square-foot west of Boynton, Canyon Branch Library in Boynton Beach, Florida, opened in January 2025 on land donated by GL Homes.
Workforce Housing
Over the last several years, GL Homes has contributed millions to workforce housing, resulting in the completion of 145 units. In addition, we built affordable housing projects, including In The Pines in Boynton Beach and Davis Landing in West Palm Beach. By meeting these housing needs, GL Homes demonstrates its commitment to balanced growth and long-term community stability.
Incorporating Sustainability
GL Homes is deeply committed to integrating environmental stewardship into our development projects whenever and wherever it’s possible to make a meaningful impact.
Tree Preservation & Relocation
If there are trees on a project site that can be preserved or relocated, GL Homes makes it a priority to do so, leveraging our in-house capabilities that few developers possess.
Significant, mature trees have been carefully preserved and relocated in some of our communities. Our Lotus Palm community in Boca Raton, Florida, was previously a golf course. During the land development process, we relocated large, mature trees on the property to create inviting spaces where residents could gather, fostering a greater sense of community. Tree preservation and relocation are key examples of how GL Homes' sustainable planning helps protect the environment during development.
On another golf course redevelopment site, Polo Trace in Delray Beach, Florida, we constructed two large community parks complete with waterways, relocated trees, and littoral plantings. Incorporating existing trees, lakes, and water plantings helped these neighborhood parks become a small cornerstone of GL Homes' sustainable planning efforts.
Creating and Managing Wildlife Habitats
GL Homes has encountered opportunities to develop or restore wildlife preserves, ensuring a harmonious balance between development and nature. One example of these efforts is the Rookery Islands which were incorporated into our Valencia Grand community in Boynton Beach, Florida. These natural areas are designed to attract and protect the bird population and nesting sanctuaries.
In addition, we created an underground connection between a 64-acre wildlife preserve on our Valencia Trails property in Naples, Florida, to an adjacent preservation area. This corridor enables safe movement for wildlife through natural habitats.
Strategic Landscape Design
As part of GL Homes' sustainable planning, our communities feature generous landscaping that reduces pollution, conserves resources, and supports biodiversity. It also provides habitats for wildlife, attracts pollinators, and reduces noise and light pollution.
We are further committed to emphasizing water conservation and sustainability by incorporating advanced irrigation systems, aquatic ecosystem plantings in lakes, and utilizing eco-friendly fertilizers. Perimeter landscape berms are utilized to creatively enhance privacy and manage excess soil. Through GL Homes' sustainable planning, our community landscape plans consistently exceed local and state requirements.
Advanced Water Management
GL Homes neighborhoods feature state-of-the-art water delivery systems that include conservation features like flow meters and rain sensors. GL Homes also utilizes hydrozoning, the practice of clustering plants together with similar water requirements to conserve water. Littoral Plantings are common in our community waterways. These strategic plantings along lakes serve a dual purpose that improves water quality and provides habitats for fish, birds, and other species.
FEATURED CASE STUDIES
The company’s case studies showcase how thoughtful land development and environmental stewardship can go hand in hand. From preserving natural landscapes to designing resilient communities, GL Homes is committed to creating places where people and nature thrive together for generations to come.
RIVERLAND MASTER-PLANNED COMMUNITY - Port St. Lucie
A thoughtfully designed 4,000-acre master-planned community that prioritizes sustainability and connection to nature. With over 300 acres of preserved land, RIVERLAND is a sanctuary for local ecosystems, providing vital habitats for native wildlife and maintaining the region's natural balance.
VALENCIA TRAILS - Naples
Seamlessly blending modern living with environmental stewardship, Valencia Trails is committed to preserving the area’s natural beauty. The community features over 160 acres of carefully protected preserves, ensuring a harmonious balance between development and nature.
CANYON CIVIC COMPLEX - Boynton Beach
The Canyon District Park project represents a collaborative effort between GL Homes and Palm Beach County, enabling the development of a 52-acre district park in the west Boynton area of unincorporated Palm Beach County on land dedicated to the county.
VALENCIA GRAND ROOKERIES - Boynton Beach
Valencia Grand, stands as a shining example of sustainable land development that integrates thoughtful ecological planning. Located in Boynton Beach, Florida, the community features two man-made lakes on its west side, which are home to unique islands designed to invite native birds to create rookeries.
Land Planning that Exceeds Requirement
As a thoughtful and forward-thinking land developer, GL Homes aims to go beyond industry standards whenever possible. Our integration of environmental stewardship with smart planning and civic responsibility exemplifies a holistic, future-focused approach to real estate development.
GL Homes Designs for Wellness & Longevity
At GL Homes, our wellness-first communities are thoughtfully designed to inspire healthier living and deeper connections, with walking trails, green spaces, and state-of-the-art fitness amenities that promote an active lifestyle. A vibrant calendar of clubs, classes, and events further cultivates meaningful relationships and a true sense of community well-being.
© G.L. Homes of Florida Corporation. Each community described is owned, developed, and sold by a separate and distinct entity, and therefore, no entity is liable or responsible for the acts or omissions of any other entity. All features and initiatives are subject to change at any time and without prior notice. Some photography used herein may be stock photography, which is used to depict the spirit of the lifestyles to be achieved rather than any that may actually exist or that may be proposed.