Developers often see green as requirement

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By April Hunt, Stacy Shelton
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sunday, April 19, 2009
At the Brookwood, one of Buckhead’s newest high-rise condominiums, it’s easy to spot the floor-to-ceiling windows, stone countertops and private balconies that add zeroes to the price.
Harder to find are the energy- and water-efficient technologies hidden in the closets, plumbing and walls that have the Brookwood on track to earn Leadership in Energy Efficient Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. That means the 18-story complex will use less water and energy, and produce fewer greenhouse gases, than a similar building.

“That’s just an ethic that’s been more widely accepted,” said Mark Riley of Urban Realty Partners, one of the Brookwood’s developers. “We’ve got to take better care of the Earth.”
Of course, Riley is also hoping LEED status —- along with the promise of lower utility bills —- will give his building an edge in Atlanta’s decimated condo market.
However the market responds, future projects may not have the option. If a proposed green building ordinance gains approval from the Atlanta City Council, the extra effort Riley’s team put in to “green up” the Brookwood could be the baseline requirement for most new buildings in the city by 2012.
Already, Atlanta is trailing two smaller cities in DeKalb County in regulating eco-friendly construction.
In March 2008, Chamblee became the first city in Georgia to make major developers go green. Neighboring Doraville did the same in August, though both cities’ local laws didn’t take effect until April 1 of this year.
In Atlanta, the development community has cited concerns such as cost and whether the city can effectively administer another layer of red tape. But Chamblee and Doraville officials say, so far, pushback from developers has been minimal.
Chuck Schmandt, who hopes to develop 30 acres in Chamblee off Buford Highway into a mix of shops, offices and restaurants, says his pledge to meet the LEED standard is a key draw for the limited credit available in the current environment. The $145 million proposal, called the International Village, is in bankruptcy protection as Schmandt works to secure financing.
“A lot of things in....