Buds of LEED-ND Begin to Bloom

LEED for Neighborhood Design (LEED-ND) is an innovative program introduced in 2007 that rates entire neighborhoods in terms of sustainability, as opposed to the older LEED program, which rates single buildings. As Urban Land's Brad Berton reports, development of LEED-ND projects has been slowed by the recession. Recently, however, projects have started to take shape in some cities.

"Updates of early activities in three LEED-ND pilot participants-the Brewery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; the SALT District in Syracuse, New York; and Tassafaronga Village in Oakland, California-demonstrate that pilot projects have plenty in common but offer considerable contrasts as well," writes Berton. "A common characteristic of initial activity in these three districts is that obsolete or blighted properties are being transformed into functional homes and nonresidential spaces heavy on sustainable elements."

Not only are such projects incorporating sustainability principles into their design, but also those of housing affordability, historic preservation, and public space. For example, Tassafaronga Village in Oakland, California, includes 99 apartments for Section 8 renters, as well as a public park, library, and elementary school.

Berton provides updates on the features and status of each of the three projects.