All Posts Tagged With: "green real estate"

gbNYC selects green news items of note that were reported across the New York City area during the week of November 10, 2008, including additional efforts to green the World Trade Center redevelopment project, on top of LEED Gold ratings for each new tower, “stunning” energy savings at the New York Times Tower on Eighth Avenue (a green, but non-LEED-certified building), the 2008 International Highrise Award to the Hearst Tower, and positive news for green building generally even in light of the economic downturn.

Starwood recently announced plans to develop one of its element brand hotels in Ewing, New Jersey. The element Ewing will be located just outside Trenton in Mercer County and feature 123 guest rooms with a modern design aesthetic. The project plans to seek an unspecified level of LEED certification pursuant. LEED-standard features in each element hotel include Energy Star-rated appliances and lighting, water-efficient fixtures, low-VOC and recycled-content materials, and priority parking for hybrid vehicles. The element Ewing will offer guests 2900 square feet of meeting space and rooms with modular furniture and a full kitchen. Each hotel that opens under Starwood’s element brand is required to pursue LEED certification, which raises some interesting issues with respect to franchise law.

The Harp, which would be the first green commercial office building to open in Long Island’s Nassau County, broke ground back on September 22. Developed by Foremost Real Estate, the project is aiming for a LEED Gold rating and should be ready for a January 2010 occupancy. The 3-story, 54,000-square-foot tower along Great Neck’s “Miracle Mile” was designed by Guilor Architects and will include a number of green design features, including efficient water and lighting fixtures, air flow measurement devices, and extensive daylighting thanks to the building’s all-glass curtain wall. Majestic Property Affiliates, which is the Harp’s exclusive leasing agent, will also offer each of the 18,000-square-foot, loft-style office floors for sale prior to opening lease negotiations.

A proposed Best Western hotel in East Elmhurst could become the first green hotel in Queens. The project, to be located at 112th Place and Astoria Boulevard, adjacent to the Grand Central Parkway, LaGuardia Airport, and the Mets’ new CitiField, will pursue an unspecified level of LEED certification, according to architect Gerald Caliendo (though note Mr. Caliendo’s quote about “bronze” certification in the context of recent posts here at gbNYC regarding the importance of accurately describing green projects and qualifications from a legal perspective). Community Board 3 granted the six-story, 100-unit project a zoning waiver at a recent meeting, despite local residents’ concerns about increased traffic. Details on specific green features are not available yet.

Anbau Properties and BKSK Architects have teamed up for another luxury green condominium project, this time at 124 West 23rd Street in Chelsea. As you’ll recall, BKSK designed the Upper West Side’s Harsen House (see image) for Anbau, whose 22 units sold out in just seven months and is awaiting formal LEED certification from USGBC. Despite the horrific lending climate, Bank of New York Mellon recently provided Anbau with an acquisition and construction loan for the project. The 16-story tower will offer 34 residences and 4000 square feet of ground floor retail. BKSK will implement similar green features at 124 West 23rd Street as Harsen House, and Anbau will seek an unspecified level of LEED certification for the project. Anbau paid $19 million for the project’s 55,000-square-foot footprint.

Greenock Capital is executing a green renovation of the historic two-story Risk Building at 535 Springfield Avenue in Summit, New Jersey. The building dates from 1873 and is named for Dr. William H. Risk, a medical doctor who settled in Summit that same year. Greenock has retained Wesketch Architecture of Millington, New Jersey as the architect of record for the project, which will preserve much of the building’s original granite and brownstone facade features. Although the project is incorporating numerous green design elements, it does not appear that it will seek any formal third-party green building certification. The new structure will be called the Claremont Corporate Center and include various energy-efficient upgrades, ranging from extensive daylighting and interior occupancy sensors to new elevators and exterior lighting.