We've had a lot to celebrate at EYA communities across the DMV this summer—from park and playground openings to community completions and more. Not only do we love to gather with our homeowners to celebrate these milestones, but it is also important to us that we offer opportunities for residents to come together, meet new neighbors and forge the ties that create strong communities. Below is a snapshot of some recent events at EYA neighborhoods.

We are excited to announce that The Townhomes at Graham Park has received the Award of Merit for Best Infill Site Plan Solution at the national Golden Nugget Awards. Now in its 60th year, the Golden Nugget Awards honor the industry's top architects, planners, builders and developers who improve communities through exceptional design, planning and development. Winners this year were chosen from over 600 entries.

On Friday, thousands of DMV residents celebrated Bike to Work Day by ditching their cars and opting for a greener, healthier commute. A number of our EYA team members are dedicated bike (or scooter!) commuters themselves and regularly take the trails to work. Below is a snapshot of some EYA folks living EYA's motto of life within walking distance (or biking or scootering), and why they choose these alternative commuting options.

Julie and Will Thompson have a special connection with EYA—two special connections, in fact! Not only are they homeowners at EYA's Townhomes at Cabin John Village, they are also the owners of Celebrity Delly located adjacent to EYA's Graham Park community. Celebrity Delly was started by Julie's dad almost 50 years ago and features a variety of delicious deli menu items in a fun, family-like atmosphere. We sat down with Julie and Will to learn more about the history of Celebrity Delly, what they are excited about as new Graham Park homeowners begin to move into the neighborhood, why they chose their home at Cabin John Village and more.

When searching for a new place to call home, it is often not only the home that one takes into consideration, but also the community that you become a part of. Well-designed neighborhoods with outdoor amenities and green spaces can impact happiness and help to bring people together. Thoughtful community visioning integrates design elements and open spaces to connect residents with each other and their surrounding area. Amenities may include neighborhood parks, walking paths, plazas, playgrounds and seating areas to facilitate interactions among neighbors. A well-planned landscape design not only connects residents with nature and creates a visual sense of harmony, but also offers highly sought after amenities and supports community engagement. To learn more about how landscape design can foster community, EYA's approach to neighborhood planning and features you may not have previously considered to look for in your new community, read our Q&A below with EYA's longtime landscape architect Gabriela Cañamar Clark, a partner at LandDesign.

Our three brand new model homes will be opening for tours at The Townhomes at Graham Park on Saturday, February 25th! Join us from 12-4 PM for our grand opening event and be among the first to tour these modern, new townhomes offering the best of urban living just steps to retail, dining and more. RSVP is required as space is limited. Click here to register for the event and get an exclusive first look.