Developers Sweeten Deals With Transit, Carshare Options

"When Tina Aiyer was searching for a new apartment in downtown Oakland, sustainable living was her top priority. A devout environmentalist, Aiyer considers her effect on the environment in everyday decisions, from transportation to food choices.

As an event planner, Aiyer needs transportation options to sustain her business. So when she saw that the LEED-certified Uptown development in downtown Oakland was offering discounted access to the car-sharing service Zipcar Inc., free annual public transit passes and access to bikes, she was sold. She signed a lease the day after she visited the apartment complex.

'I feel better knowing that I am living in a place where I am lowering my carbon footprint,' Aiyer said. 'I love having the option of the Zipcar.'

Like other developers, Forest City Enterprises, the firm behind the Uptown, is incorporating green into its developments as environmental sustainability becomes more popular and alternative transportation options for residents are key features for many potential residents."