February Upstate New York Green Real Estate Report*

“It's ironic in a way that, while the environmental movement in the U.S. began in upstate New York, the most innovative and green real estate developments in the state are actually happening in New York City with people like the Durst family who built the first high rise green office tower at 4 Times Square in Manhattan,” Schein says. “Upstate New York has a great, creative, green tradition - with the 19th Century Hudson River painters and 19th century environmentalist writers like John Burroughs,” he notes. “These are people that helped helped create the Catskill Park & Adirondack Preserves. But, while upstate New York is still a breeding ground for environmental groups such as Pete Seeger's Clearwater, the most innovative and green real estate developments in the state are actually happening downstate by commercial real estate developers that were not traditionally considered green.”

Schein realizes how important it is to continue to foster a creative, green, and healthy economy in upstate New York and connecting the sustainable economic development of the upstate region with the powerful downstate development issues and trends. His goal is no less than to show how New York as a whole can position itself as a green and sustainable state and lead the way for the whole country, much as how California is making such an impact by fostering widespread use of solar energy for homes and hybrid cars on the West Coast.

Schein and New York House magazine plan to play a more active role in New York State's future as a place that will lead the way in sustainable development. One of Schein’s recent weekly emails included a passionate letter he wrote called “Sustainable State of the Union,” noting that in his January State of the Union Address “Bush may have paid lip service to the environment in his State of the Union, but it's doubtful that any of his proposed solutions will have any sustainable energy of their own.”

One of the things New York House is doing to make a difference is organizing the “Best in Green Building” competition, New York's first regional green building competition for single family residential homes. And, this coming spring, New York House and House Media Network are planning a conference in New York City called “Green Real Estate,” where leaders in green and sustainable real estate development will have the opportunity to meet and discuss issues of import to the industry at large. Further information about New York House and the House Media Network is available here.

The March Upstate New York Green Building Report will discuss what’s hot and green in the New York State Capitol Region, including some interesting green things that the AIA chapter in the Albany Region is up to.