In the June 13 edition of E-NEWS, NRMCA highlighted how persistence paid off for Jim Murray of Rowe Materials. Murray’s tireless efforts with Fredericksburg, VA - based Silver Co. resulted in the inclusion of pervious concrete for the parking areas of its Amelia Square commercial/residential mixed use development. Others may have been satisfied with those results. But not Murray, reports NRMCA Senior National Resource Director Phil Kresge.

Working with his concrete contractor, Matt Cockerham of North Star Foundations, Murray continued to espouse the benefits of concrete pavement to the developer. Applying the pervious concrete thickness guidelines recommended by NRMCA’s Design Assistance Program (DAP) to conventional concrete, Murray and Cockerham were able to convince the developer to include approximately 27,000 square feet of concrete pavement for streets throughout the development. In announcing the change in street design, Murray reports that it will result in an additional 500 cubic yards of concrete for the project. This will be the first all-concrete subdivision project in Virginia since completion of the Winchester development in 1985.

Murray credits his partnering with contractor Cockerham as well as the assistance from the Design Assistance Program. Additionally, the continual support and assistance from Hessam Nabavi and the Virginia Ready-Mixed Concrete Association played a key role.

"This is a perfect example of how important it is to have all the cylinders firing," Kresge said. "Utilizing all the tools available and building partnerships with the contractor resulted in a big win for concrete in general, as well as for Rowe Materials."