Published: 2:08 PM, 08/19/2009

Last updated: 12:52 PM, 11/17/2009

By: Scott Nicholson

Development of a 2,000-acre property in that once was planned as a spiritual retreat is shifting toward sustainability and affordable renewable  technology.
David Kaplan, along with his brother Earl Kaplan, are planning an advanced development that uses latest research to combine solar and wind energy with contemporary green building techniques to offer affordable and sustainable houses. Kaplan said he had the goal of establishing the property as the "Center for Sustainability" in the United States.
The development is called Heaven's Nest and is a member of the Earth Charter Initiative and focuses on conservation, organic food production, renewable energy and recycling while also promoting holistic living, community outreach and religious tolerance.
"We have 180 lots," David Kaplan said. "What we're doing is putting up a completely green sustainable home, with the first one starting in September."
The lots will be one to five acres in size, and in addition to the affordable homes it will also have about 20 luxury homes, vacation rentals, a hotel, lodge, and condominiums. A fine-dining restaurant focused on organic foods will be augmented by a casual-dining restaurant. It will also have several community centers.
The new homes will utilize the Sun's Nest Pod design, a green home that produces its own energy, grows food, cycles its own water and uses durable materials. Sun's Nest homes feature natural foundation and retaining walls, modular walls that are mildew-resistant and fire resistant, require 80 percent less energy to heat and cool, and combine with passive solar designs to create a sustainable environment.
It also has its own "living water" system, which creates indoor rain to help grow crops and plants inside. The off-the-grid design is billed as "your insurance policy, social security, retirement package and health care all-in-1."
Kaplan also dispelled rumors that buildings on the site were being used to house homeless people. he said someone approached him two months ago about renting property to house the homeless, but that's as far as the proposal went.
"The next thing I hear is that homeless people are living on our place," he said. "That is completely not factual."
Kaplan formerly owned thousands of acres in the southwestern corner of Watauga County, which was planned as Heavenly Mountain Resort and at one time was associated with the Transcendental Meditation movement. Kaplan broke ties with the group about five years ago and eventually sold about 6,000 acres to the Ginn Company for the Laurelmor Development. That property has since been sold again after the Ginn Company faced foreclosure.



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