RSS Feed
A San Diego developer plans to build the most carbon neutral project in the U.S. American Assets Inc. says it will submit plans for a $250 million environmentally friendly and energy-efficient development to the city of Novato in Marin County this month.
The mixed-use, master-planned project called the Commons at Mount Burdell would include the construction of 151 multifamily homes, hotel, retail, health club, day care, restaurants, office space and the redevelopment of 710,000 square feet of existing facilities on 65 acres.
John Chamberlain, chief executive officer for American Assets, hopes this live-work community will receive approval by fall 2009.
Chamberlain says the project is being designed to exceed the highest level of certification by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.
“We are going way beyond the LEED standards,” said Chamberlain, whose business was founded in 1967. “We are developing what will be the first carbon neutral project. All of the waste, energy and water treatment requirements of the project will be handled on site. This project, when finished, will be completely off-grid.”
Ray Keane, principal for San Francisco-based Timmons Design Engineers, the project’s LEED consultant, says he knows of no other development of this scale where all the current environmental issues of water, waste and carbon energy have been tackled in such a comprehensive manner.
The project includes plans to use solar panels, green roofs, energy-efficient appliances and water-saving plumbing fixtures, and incorporate the use of gray water and black water systems.
Chamberlain estimates the return on investment to go green is 7.5 years.
In addition, he says the project would expand open and green space by nearly 15 percent with the removal of 15 acres of asphalt parking and construction of parking structures.
The three-building, Class A office complex on the project site was acquired by American Assets in 2007 for an undisclosed sum and serves as the headquarters for Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co.
Ron Gerber, redevelopment administrator for Novato, explains that American Assets will first submit plans to the city’s Design Review Commission and seek an amendment to its general plan, then the city’s Planning Commission and finally onto the City Council.
“This project differentiates itself because of the carbon-neutral aspects to it,” said Gerber. “That makes it extremely unique and on the cutting edge in green development.”
San Diego-based Carrier Johnson will serve as project architect. Rick Engineering Co. of San Diego will serve as civil engineer and San Diego-based Recon Environmental Inc. as environmental planner.
American Assets’ portfolio consists of more than 3.3 million square feet of retail, 3 million square feet of office and industrial space and 1,000 residential units in California, Hawaii, Illinois and Texas.
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
Posted in 
