City-County Planning Department

The Durham City-County Appearance Commission and Keep Durham Beautiful present the 6th Annual Golden Leaf Awards for Community Appearance

2008 Call for Entries


The Golden Leaf Awards for Community Appearance

The Golden Leaf Awards for Community Appearance recognize the best visual contributions to the community. The goal of the Awards Program is to encourage better designed and better maintained properties in Durham.

Awards Categories: 2008

Commercial Properties Awards will be given for new construction, renovation or adaptive reuse of non-residential properties.

Community Properties Awards will be given for projects that enhance the appearance and livability of highly visible public areas including churches, schools, parks and neighborhoods.

Residential Properties Awards will be given for new residential developments, conversions, or improvements made to existing areas. The entry may be for single or multi-family homes.

Landscaping and Maintenance Awards will be given for projects over two years old, which have consistently maintained high standards of upkeep and appearance, contributing to a better image for Durham.

Outstanding Individual Awards will be given (at the Commission's discretion) to an individual who has shown concern, leadership and/or vision in improving some aspect of Durham's appearance.

Sustainable Properties Awards will be given for projects creating a sustainable built environment by incorporating green building principles in the planning and development of projects. Projects must document these principles in the areas of energy, design, site, water, and building materials.

Keep Durham Beautiful Awards will be given to a person or group for projects, programs, or events that have engaged and inspired individuals to take greater responsibility for their community environment in the following ways: through improving aesthetic beauty, creating a noticeable difference in the amount of or awareness of litter, or by affecting solid waste reduction (recycling, reducing, re-using).

The Awards Selection Process

Nominees will be notified by the Appearance Commission's Awards Committee, who will prepare the written and photographic materials for judging. Judging is done by an impartial panel of local professionals without ties to the year's entries. Awards will not necessarily be given in each category in any given year, nor are there a predetermined number of awards. The winners will be revealed at a ceremony on May 22, 2008 at 7pm at Rigsbee Hall in Downtown Durham.

Selection Criteria

In evaluating entries the panel of judges will give credit to programs or projects that:

  • Exhibit excellence in the design and execution of new development or in the redevelopment or improvement of an existing site and/or structure.
  • Raise community awareness of the value of good appearance and of careful stewardship of the land.
  • Improve the character, environment, or livability of an area or neighborhood.
  • Show a commitment to ongoing property maintenance in landscaping, signage and general upkeep.

Making a Nomination

Nominees must be located in Durham County, North Carolina. Projects may be submitted regardless of the year they were completed. Landscaping and Maintenance projects must be at least two years old. Incomplete projects (buildings that have not yet received their Certificate of Occupancy) are not eligible. Nominees from previous years may be nominated again if they have not already received a Golden Leaf Award. Anyone may make a nomination. Entries may be made using the form below, mailed or faxed to Lisa Miller in the Durham Planning Department. Applications are available online. The deadline for nominations is noon on March 21, 2008.

For more information contact Lisa Miller at the Durham City-County Planning Department at Lisa.Miller@durhamnc.gov or 919.560.4137, ext. 270