Volunteers in Berkeley, Calif., are collecting signatures for the “Green Downtown & Public Commons Initiative,” a controversial measure that critics charge would halt some development in the city. The initiative has higher green standards and less flexible design guidelines—factors that developers say could stop two major projects, a proposed 180-foot high hotel and a 17-story apartment tower.
The initiative would mandate that developers planning a project taller than 60 feet use the “Green Pathways” provision of the Downtown Area Plan. This rule—currently optional—says that a developer can provide a higher level of community benefits in exchange for a fast-track approval process. Under Green Pathways, developers have to make structures LEED Platinum rather than LEED Gold; build more parking; include spaces for bicycles, electric cars and the handicapped; pay prevailing wages to construction and hotel workers; and make sure that half of a project’s construction workers are Berkeley residents.
The financial proposition for a high-rise hotel in Berkeley is fragile, according to a representative of the proposed hotel, and the new initiative would require additional setbacks and restrictions that would make it impossible to have enough rooms on each floor to make the project viable. The initiative calls for a minimum 15-foot setback, but the hotel developer says the structure must have a 10-foot setback to have enough space per floor.
City Councilman Jesse Arreguín, who supports the measure, says it is not intended to stop development, but is a way of getting developers to contribute more benefits to the downtown area.
Related Stories
| Apr 24, 2013
North Carolina bill would ban green rating systems that put state lumber industry at disadvantage
North Carolina lawmakers have introduced state legislation that would restrict the use of national green building rating programs, including LEED, on public projects.
| Apr 24, 2013
BOMA’s 360 Performance Program approaches 600 building designees
The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International conferred the BOMA 360 Performance Program® designation upon 44 properties in major commercial real estate markets across the U.S. in the first quarter of 2013.
| Apr 24, 2013
New Mexico court strikes down move to repeal energy codes
The New Mexico State Court of Appeals struck down an attempt to repeal energy-efficient building codes.
| Apr 24, 2013
Los Angeles may add cool roofs to its building code
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa wants cool roofs added to the city’s building code. He is also asking the Department of Water and Power (LADWP) to create incentives that make it financially attractive for homeowners to install cool roofs.
| Apr 17, 2013
Army's FY 2014 $130 billion budget includes $2.3 billion for construction
The U.S. Army submitted a $129.7 billion budget for fiscal year 2014, $2.3 billion of which is allocated for military construction, army family housing, and base realignment and closure.
| Apr 17, 2013
Leonardo Academy to develop sustainability master plan standard
Leonardo Academy launched the development of a standard for sustainability master plans using the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) process to define sustainability goals and achievements for regions, states and campuses.
| Apr 17, 2013
Fenestration Council allows some shading system, dynamic glazing to be rated for U-Factor
The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) approved changes to its NFRC 100 and NFRC 200 standards, allowing certain shading devices to be rated for U-factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient.
| Apr 17, 2013
LEED 2009 quarterly interpretations, addenda now available
Quarterly interpretations and addenda to the LEED 2009 rating systems and reference guides are now available.
| Apr 17, 2013
DOE’s Lawrence Berkeley Lab researchers developing new indoor air pollution standards
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) researchers are working on new building standards after discovering previously unknown indoor air pollutants.
| Apr 16, 2013
RMJM acquired by Duthus Investments for £12 million
Sir Fraser Morrison, the owner and chairman of architect RMJM, is the backer behind the investment firm that bought RMJM for £11m in late March.
