A recent conference in Austin, Texas, of real estate appraisers explored how they should incorporate green-building techniques and features into their assessment of properties.
"Sustainable elements, such as high-efficient heating and air systems, provide energy cost savings. Lower operating costs in turn mean the building can become more valuable to an owner or a potential buyer.
'We are starting to see some empirical evidence that investors are willing to pay more for a green building than a non-green one,' says Amorin. 'I think we're at the precipice of a big change in commercial real estate.' Once building owners realize that a growing number of companies want to be in green structures, the money will flow in that direction and the cost of non-green buildings will start to decline, Amorin predicts.
Some of the questions discussed at the seminar included:
Are green building investments going to pay off in the long term?
How can the market and appraisers establish a reliable value of green buildings when there are a limited number of properties for comparison?"
Read the full story: Appraisers look at measuring the value of green
Tornado Clears Way for LEED Platinum Building
The 5-4-7 Arts Center in Greensburg, Kansas gets a LEED platinum designation- evidence that the town, which was 95% destroyed by a tornado in May, 2006, is making good on its sustainable rebuilding plan.
Data center developer offers over $4M per acre to buy out homeowners
Data center builders are outbidding home builders for land, prompting concerns about competition with housing.
Is this the first wave of de-gentrification?
Valencia, Temescal, H Street and the fickle fortunes of the gentrified neighborhood.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
‘Going backwards:’ Baltimore mayor, students rally against state's transit funding plan
Maryland's proposed six-year plan provides no funding for Baltimore’s BMORE bus program and reduces its road maintenance funding.
Detroit to transform waterfront with $2.2 billion investment
Developers will convert about 18 acres of unused parking lot space into civic spaces.
Newsom vetoes high-speed rail supervision bill after agency receives condemnatory audit
The audit found the CHSRA approved almost $600,000 in unallowable travel expenses.
Nation sees first electric plane-boat hybrid take off in public demo
The Viceroy Seaglider can fly at speeds of 180mph for up to 180 miles.
One of nation’s poorest counties to receive $6 billion data center
The developers estimate the project will create 200 permanent jobs and 1,000 temporary construction jobs.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Thousand Oaks
City of Wisconsin Rapids
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA)
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello