This retirement community along the North Shore of Chicago, Illinois, is a hub of outdoor activity. With a rooftop patio and extensive walkways, the landscape provides a perfect setting for social events.
As the initial installation wrapped up, the property managers turned to James Martin Associates, based in Mundelein, Illinois, to maintain the property and uphold their high standards, leading to a 2024 Gold Award of Excellence.
“It’s special for everyone involved with this project, and it validates the team effort that goes into doing a job well done,” says Mike Windhauser, director of client relations with James Martin Associates.
In addition to maintenance, the team had to correct a poorly designed drainage system from an outside company. Overflow from the drainage areas led directly into the beds of vegetation, causing plant health to decline and erosion to appear. James Martin Associates took several steps to solve the issue.
“We installed below-ground drainage collection basins connected to 4″ PVC to carry the water away to a drain,” Windhauser says. “The top of the drainage basins had granite cobbles to diffuse the water discharged from the gutters located 3′ above grade. The soil stays in place, and the plants in this bed are thriving.”
Additionally, the team needed to run PVC under the hardscapes to connect the drainage basins with the existing drainage system. Extra care was given to keep the plants healthy in these areas.
“Plants in the way of the drainage install were transplanted out and reset back into place,” Windhauser adds. “We were able to tunnel and install 4” PVC beneath the concrete sidewalks without damaging them.”
Access was a challenge since one of the garden areas is on the rooftop of a parking garage. The team can’t use the elevator, so they take an exterior stairway to transport a 21-inch mower and plant debris.
Another spot where access is tricky is the property entrance. The entrance is small, so trucks can’t park nearby. Because of this, the team stages materials in small amounts during large projects. This reinforces the need for constant communication between James Martin Associates and the property managers.
“I visit Tamarisk 3-4 times/month and have scheduled site walks with the client as well,” Windhauser says. “Some of these visits involve meeting the crew on days of service.”
A crew of 2-3 team members is onsite each week, and each site walk is scheduled a week in advance. While the work is taking place, the team is proactive in closing off work areas to keep everyone safe.
The parking lot was also a focus as the team began improving the site. In certain spots, cars drove over curbs and damaged the turf, leading to mud tracks in the parking lot. One solution that helped was laying cobblestone inlays in these corner areas. Winter salt damage was a problem in other spots, so the team added compacted gravel on both sides of the walkways to reduce future damage and make the paths wider for wheelchairs.
Since the outdoor areas host various social events, the crew had a tight deadline to finish the larger projects. Meeting those deadlines began with a detailed consultation that allowed each challenge to be addressed and overcome.
“They are very happy with the quality of our work, especially in the areas where drainage had been an issue,” Windhauser says.
Interested in participating in the Awards of Excellence? Enter your projects by July 31, 2025.
