When Syd Kitson first talked about his ambitious plans for Babcock Ranch back in 2005, the concept of creating America’s first solar-powered town was considered a bit out there.
“I talked about sustainability and creating this town that is environmentally responsible and had all latest technology,” says Kitson, chairman and CEO of real estate company Kitson & Partners. “And people had no idea what I was talking about. The word sustainability hadn’t really hit the mainstream; people just really weren’t focused on that in 2005. But fast-forward to today, and it’s all anyone is talking about. We were a part of that evolution of really embracing something that I think is becoming more commonplace today.”
Staying ahead of the curve is always the goal for Kitson. “We believe deeply in innovation,” he says. “We try not to do what everybody else is doing. We go down the path that may be the more difficult path; we don’t follow the path of least resistance. We’re looking for ways to change the world, and we think we can do that by building a new town that is the most sustainable town that’s ever been created.”