Architects, builders and preservationists met in Pittsburgh to discuss ways to get federal guidelines for historic structures to play nice with green building principles.
"Many old structures might be restored and preserved in accordance with federal historic standards. And new buildings can be constructed to adhere to increasingly popular "green building" norms.
But melding those principles is an increasingly intriguing concept for architects and preservationists, one that has been done in Pittsburgh but remains challenging because of conflicting and, in some cases, nonexistent criteria."
" 'It's not easy to certify a historic building' as a green structure, said Cathy McCollom, program director at the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation, which with the South Side-based Green Building Alliance organized the summit. 'But what's more green than using an existing structure? You don't fill a landfill by throwing away brick and wood.' "
FULL STORY: Preservation, 'green building' hit historic wall

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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