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Design with a View to the Future |
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Atlanta Journal Constitution
Atlanta Intown Living Section
August 4, 2008
Design with a View to the Future The word’s out on things homeowners can do to make their houses more environmentally friendly, from installing low-flow showerheads to adding solar panels that produce electricity. But those changes are often made after some not-so-eco-friendly components have gone into building a house. Buyers who want a home that’s “green” from the ground up can look at Oakland Park, a 65-unit complex on Memorial Drive that fits the bill. The units, which range in size from 688 to 1,424 square feet and sell from the $160,000s, are credited with being the first condominium in town to earn a sliver LEED certification. Under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program, buildings earn points that determine whether they qualify as eco-friendly structures. The program has been the guideline for many commercial structures for years, but more residential developers are now into the idea of putting up buildings that go easy on the Earth. For Urban Realty Partners and Melaver Inc., the two companies behind Oakland Park, getting the LEED certification made sense. “We are all about new urbanism and intown revitalization – everything the Memorial Drive corridor is also all about,” said Simon Tuohy, project manager for Urban Realty Partners. “It was the right thing to do.” Going green didn’t require drastic changes to the company’s procedures, Tuohy said. “The biggest piece was making sure that the builders recycled all they could,” he said. “We have already recycled 1,500 tons of waste – 80 percent of everything that was thrown out.” The process also included increasing the size of the windows throughout the building. “You get additional points for rooms being lit by natural daylight,” Tuohy explained. “We designed all the units to be wide instead of deep so the majority of the condo is up against the windows. Many are floor-to-ceiling and the tops are operable, so you can slide them open – another green feature that cuts down on using heat or air conditioning. And we tinted the windows to cut down on heat.” Other green features in each unit include bamboo floors; carpets and tiles made of recycled components and installed with adhesives that are low in volatile organic compounds; Energy Star appliances; dual-flush toilets; and low-VOC paints, sealants and adhesives. Along with the physical components, the project scored points for its location: close to MARTA service, restaurants, bars and a grocery store. It also benefitted from having 20 percent of the units allocated as affordable housing: Some units are priced at $144,000 for buyers who meet certain income guidelines. Other buyers are attracted strictly by the building’s green features, Tuohy said. “Many of them definitely do get it,” he said. “There’s a certain buyer who’s up to speed on all this, and they will come because you are LEED-certified. On the other hand, people like the location and when they hear that it’s LEED-certified, it puts them over the edge of their buying decision.” More information about Oakland Park is online at www.oaklandparkatlanta.com.
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