Town Crier Articles

As we have heard from our residents, landscaping plays an important part of our community. Proper landscape plantings and care increase our residents’ satisfaction with their homes and community. Additionally, it sustains and improves our property values. New Town has a diversity of housing types and unique neighborhoods all conveniently located within walking distance to a wide variety of commercial establishments. It is this very diversity that also creates challenges for landscape maintenance. 

 

Our response rate, 30% of homeowners, is considered quite good by survey standards. Those who responded told us quite a bit about how our contractor has done and what we can do better.

 

Over 60% of respondents were pleased with the overall quality of landscape work performed. The same number felt that the landscape staff demonstrated knowledgeable, profession and courteous service. Over 75% felt that the landscape staff left the areas clean and neat.

 

When we asked residents if they would prefer to do some or all of their own lawn care, a resounding 80% said “No." Those 20% who would choose to do some of their own work, primarily cited pruning/trimming followed by weeding. 

 

When asked for areas of improvement, respondents cited a need for better communications and related supervision. Subsequently, we have met with Town Management and Virginia Lawn and Landscape.  We have communicated to our landscaper the priorities of our residents as expressed in the survey. 

 

Another area for improvement includes maintaining size and form when pruning trees & shrubs. Pruning is particularly tricky considering the need to maintain security around homes, the variety of plants in New Town and the sheering schedule currently in our contract. There were also numerous comments about the condition of the common areas in New Town. (In some cases, parks are a combined responsibility of the NTRA and the New Town Commercial Association.) Next steps will evolve as we continue to meet with the landscape company.  

 

Our committee of volunteers appreciates the community’s responses to our survey. We need more residents to become involved with our Committee and help oversee beautification efforts. Please come to one of our meetings (third Wednesday of the month) or volunteer to serve with us!