Waterfront Homes with Sustainable Sites & Classic New England Charm

To mitigate environmental impacts in the development of their waterfront community, Hammock’s Construction Company worked with Unilock to successfully employ a low impact design strategy using permeable pavers and further beautified the site with brick-style concrete pavers.

A Waterfront Community: The Hammocks on Long Island Sound

The Hammocks on Long Island Sound is a private adult community reminiscent of an old-time colonial village with water views in Clinton, Connecticut. Located on the edge of a tidal river and salt marsh, the developer, Hammock’s Construction Company was presented with multiple
environmental challenges. The developer wanted to achieve the appropriate number of houses per acre (HPA) for the site while protecting the natural beauty and habitat around the formerly empty growing fields. It was also important for all design aspects of the site to reflect the reputation of the area by keeping to its historic charm.

Protecting the Environment While Building Bigger: A Permeable Paving Solution

To mitigate the environmental impacts to nature and wildlife caused by potential stormwater runoff into the adjacent waterways, a low impact design (LID) strategy using a permeable interlocking concrete paver (PICP) system was implemented. Not only does this strategy address the stormwater sensitives on the site, it also allowed the developers to minimize the impervious coverage and maximize home size and number of move-in ready amenities like patios, pools, and sunrooms, therefore increasing the salable square footage in their development.

The problem with stormwater is that it has to have somewhere to go. If the ratio of impervious surfaces used in the development is too high, the stormwater will ultimately runoff into the surrounding marsh, waterway and groundwater, carrying heavy metals, bacteria and other pollutants with it. For this reason, proper site planning and engineering of the PICP system was essential for this project’s success. In areas that were designed with permeable pavers, namely the driveways of each home, Eco-Stone™ and Eco-Priora™ from Unilock were chosen. These pavers are manufactured with spacer bars, resulting in joint gaps that allow for rapid penetration of water into the subbase, reducing and/or eliminating stormwater runoff. The joints are filled with a 6 mm crushed, angular, chip stone which allows water to flow through with the added benefit of capturing approximately 80 percent of debris and contaminates within the first 1" (25 mm) to 2" (51 mm) of the system, reducing local water pollution.

Meeting Aesthetic and Technical Requirements with Concrete Pavers

In addition to the permeable requirements, the chosen pavers also had to meet technical requirements. Installed in the driveways of each lot, the pavers needed to be capable of handling vehicular loads. Both Eco-Stone and Eco-Priora offer this capability. They provide sufficient aspect ratio to prevent breakage from any flexing or rocking that could be caused by vehicular movement on the surface. They are also manufactured to meet and exceed the ASTM standards. This makes them stronger than other materials, like poured-in-place concrete and bituminous asphalt, with their higher compressive strength which is achieved by a specialized manufacturing process. They also have lower absorption rates that are essential in freeze thaw climates experienced in New England. 

In addition to the sustainable and technical requirements, the developers of The Hammocks also wanted to fulfill their design vision. Over the years, Clinton, CT has sustained its reputation as a coastal village with unspoiled charm. This village of architecturally accurate saltboxes, capes, federal, georgian and shingle-style custom homes stemmed from a vision to uphold this reputation. It was important for this aesthetic to be reflected in the hardscaping of this development as well. The Eco-Stone and Eco-Priora pavers used in the permeable driveways were specified in a buff color to create a warm and welcoming arrival to the home – a unique curb appeal that offers something special to the residents. A gravel or asphalt driveway would have sold these homes far short of their potential. Additional beautification of the development came with the installation of Hollandstone™ pavers from Unilock in the color Rustic Red along the communities’ walkways. These pavers add to that historical charm, being reminiscent of the brick-paved sidewalks that were prevalent in New England in the nineteenth century. 

“The use of these architecturally pleasing pavers allowed for faster home sales in our development and fit directly into the architectural schemes of our properties creating uniformity. Homeowners are excited about having finished driveways and walkways that blend seamlessly into the local environment. Residents are confident in the performance and the low maintenance of these areas,” says Peter Richards from Hammock’s Construction Company. The result is a unique waterfront community of homes that reflect the rich 375-year history of the town of Clinton and profoundly respect the ecological harmony of the site.

To learn more about how Unilock pavers can be incorporated into your next home building project for increased profits, contact us!

The Hammocks on Long Island Sound Additional Info

Project Name

The Hammocks on Long Island Sound
Beach Park Rd. Clinton, CT
53 units

Developer Information

Hammock’s Construction Company
114 West Main St Clinton, CT 06413
Contact: Peter Richards