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
| May 3, 2012
Green-roof requirement now includes industrial facilities in Toronto
A mandate that requires installation of green roofs on new commercial and residential buildings in Toronto has been expanded to include industrial facilities.
| May 3, 2012
Innovative wastewater treatment helps achieve LEED rating
LEED for New Construction, Neighborhood Development and the LEED Volume Program offer some ways to achieve LEED points when dealing with wastewater treatment.
| Apr 26, 2012
Lack of bolts on steel support caused collapse at Cincinnati casino
Too few bolts connecting horizontal steel support beams with vertical steel columns was the cause of January’s construction accident at Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati, according to the report of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
| Apr 26, 2012
OSHA criticized for taking too long to roll out safety rules
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration takes far too long to adopt new safety regulations compared to other agencies’ development of rules, safety experts said during a Senate hearing.
| Apr 26, 2012
Contractors fear that GSA scandal will lead to fewer federal construction contracts
In the wake of the recent scandal at the General Services Administration in which workers spent lavishly at a Las Vegas conference, a spokesman for Associated General Contractors of America said contractors are worried the scandal will result in cuts to GSA's construction and renovation budgets.
| Apr 26, 2012
Developers can use LEED wastewater credits to help gain approvals in environmentally sensitive locales
Those wanting to pursue development in heavily regulated and environmentally sensitive areas are benefiting by designing projects that qualify for LEED points, even if the project as a whole does not achieve certification.
| Apr 26, 2012
New York City Council moves to license elevator mechanics
New York’s City Council introduced a measure last week that would require the city’s 7,000 elevator mechanics to meet national standards and be licensed by the city.
| Apr 23, 2012
AAMA releases updated specification for anodized aluminum
AAMA 611-12 describes test procedures and requirements for high performance (Class I) and commercial (Class II) architectural quality aluminum oxide coatings applied to aluminum extrusions and panels for architectural products.
