DMB’s Early Commitment to Conservation

When the partners of DMB Associates stood at the foot of the McDowell Mountains in 1986, they knew that preserving these lands would be the right decision for both the City of Scottsdale and for future residents. With a commitment to the preservation of 4,600 acres of the pristine Sonoran desert, DMB and our partners, the Corrigan Marley heirs, helped Scottsdale realize its vision for the 36,000 acre McDowell Sonoran Preserve.

In California, our efforts, with our partners at the Tejon Ranch Company, resulted in an historic agreement to preserve a vast majority of Tejon Ranch, a 270,000 acre ranch - the largest contiguous private property remaining in California. This unprecedented conservation agreement will provide for the permanent protection of 240,000 acres – approximately 90% - of this iconic property. The Tejon Ranch Conservancy, a newly created nonprofit, will oversee the conserved land and will benefit from a long-term funding commitment from the two planned communities on the property: Tejon Mountain Village and Centennial. Read more about DMB's conservation efforts at Tejon Ranch.

The Martis Camp Agreement, crafted by DMB Associates, with its partner Highlands Management and a number of major conservation and environmental advocates, provided for reduced development in sensitive areas of the Martis Valley near Lake Tahoe. The partners also donated a 250 acre site for affordable housing, and created a transfer fee to provide for ongoing funding for the Martis Fund, a nonprofit developed to manage the preserved lands and provide for future wildlife habitat protection. This Fund was also an essential component in the acquisition of the Waddle Ranch by the Tahoe Donner Land Trust.

Each new DMB community offers us an opportunity to preserve and restore special places for the future and thereby create a lasting legacy for our partner communities.