A Golden Shade Of Green

The Solaire, the first residential high-rise to earn “LEED Gold” status, is not just a premier environmentally friendly building—it’s also a big moneymaker.

1 minute read

November 12, 2006, 1:00 PM PST

By Deborah Myerson


"Rising from the streets of Lower Manhattan is the Solaire, a pioneering green apartment tower that has lurched to the edge of calamity and back. Located a few blocks from the site of the World Trade Center, only the first story had been built on Sept. 11, 2001 when terror attacks struck. Not long afterwards, development financing fell apart as lenders lost confidence in the viability of the residential market in the shaken neighborhood. Finally, financing in the form of Liberty Bonds--public guarantees for housing and commercial projects in Lower Manhattan--brought the Solaire back to life. And just as its doors opened in 2004, the Manhattan rental market took off to reach new heights, making the residential building a lovely blend of green and gold."

Friday, November 10, 2006 in The Globe and Mail

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

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

June 11, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of Shirley Chisholm Village four-story housing development with person biking in front.

San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning

SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.

June 8, 2025 - Fast Company

Yellow single-seat Japanese electric vehicle drivign down road.

The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs

The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.

June 6, 2025 - PC Magazine

Two small wooden one-story homes in Florida with floodwaters at their doors.

As Trump Phases Out FEMA, Is It Time to Flee the Floodplains?

With less federal funding available for disaster relief efforts, the need to relocate at-risk communities is more urgent than ever.

14 minutes ago - Governing

People riding bicycles on separated bike trail.

With Protected Lanes, 460% More People Commute by Bike

For those needing more ammo, more data proving what we already knew is here.

2 hours ago - UNM News

Bird's eye view of half-circle suburban street with large homes.

In More Metros Than You’d Think, Suburbs are Now More Expensive Than the City

If you're moving to the burbs to save on square footage, data shows you should think again.

4 hours ago - Investopedia