Dorado Development’s three partners – Steven Chavez, brother John Chavez and Jon Harbour – make “building green” their mission.
The men, all younger than 30, say their work is as much about a commitment to enhancing a community as it is about pleasing a homeowner. “We work to
separate our projects from the pack by only building ‘green,'” says Harbour.
“It is common sense to us, a timely ‘building ethic.’ To do otherwise goes
against our professional credo, and against what is best for the community.”
ICFs (insulating concrete forms) are, literally, at the heart of Dorado’s
projects. “ICFs are made with a recycled byproduct of oil production,” says
John Chavez. “Those byproducts would otherwise be discarded, so the ICF
installation produces little to no waste material to add to our landfills –
20 to 30 trees are saved every time we use ICFs.
“It adds up to about a 10 percent price increase over traditional wood
framing,” says Chavez. “But the cost is quickly offset by lower utility
bills, lower insurance costs and lower mortgage rates.”
Dorado Developments’ latest projects – Flats 15, Phases I and II – are a
residential town-home development located in East Highlands in Denver. Phase
I includes three duplexes, with the six units priced from $599,000 to
$699,000. Half are pre-sold. Phase Two involves one duplex and a seven-unit
town home structure, priced from $575,000 to $725,000.
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