Al Gore isn't the only one who likes to live green
Posted 3/8/2007 by alison
Future residents of a new condo building in Woodlawn will cook with energy-efficient appliances, walk on sustainably harvested bamboo floors and relax on the green roof of their parking garage.
From the solar panel roof to the recycled fibers of the carpet in the bedrooms, Living Green Lofts was designed with an eco-friendly ethos in mind, according to real estate agent Pamela Holt, who's marketing the 24-unit project, at 1501 E 65th St.
Florian Architects designed the LEED-certified new-construction building, which contains simplex and duplex condos with one, two or three bedrooms, said Holt, of real estate agency "reChgo," a division of At Properties.
The residences come with lofty-looking exposed ductwork and rustic concrete countertops, which are available in brown, gold and other stains. Developer Woodlawn Renaissance Partners is confident there's demand for new homes constructed from materials that are sensitive to the environment, Holt said.
"There are passionate environmentalists out there," she said. "I don't think it's just Al Gore."
But even if preventing global warming isn't uppermost in a buyer's mind, living in an eco-friendly home helps people conserve a different kind of "green," too, Holt noted.
"When homeowners get their gas bill and their electricity bill and their water bill, they'll appreciate the dramatic difference in the product we are offering, she said. "Solar panels will offset the individual unit owners' utility costs, and there are super-insulated windows so that you're not running your furnace or your air conditioning to the extent that you would in a traditional condominium."
In keeping with the "green community" concept, the developer is creating a landscaped courtyard adjacent to the condo building, and installing a green roof on the parking garage were residents can relax and socialize, Holt said. The developer expects to break ground in April, and anticipates delivering the units before the end of the year. The residences are priced from the $190s to the $360s, which includes a parking space. A sales office is located at 618 W Fulton St.
Comments
3/8/07
The Woodlawn Wonder said:
Methinks the project is on 65th Place as 1501 65th Street already has an exiting building. I personally can't wait until they break ground. I'll keep everyone posted with updates on my blog.
woodlawnchuck said:
There's only room for one Woodlawn in here and I am Chuck so I rule the roost. Really though, this is incredible to me. I grew up being chased around the patch that was Mt. Carmel's football field by a young guy named Jeff Fort. This was back when he bilked thousands of dollars for his Blackstone Rangers, who later became the Black P-Stone Nation, who would later be used as part of Jesse Jackson's physical muscle to strong arm and demand money from people (until Fort and co kicked in a door to find Jesse counting money and they pulled guns on him STANDOFF!)
Anyways, Woodlawn was indeed a rough place when I rolled with the Caravan of Mt. Carmel, but it's turning a corner. Between the construction of the school itself and all of the new homes going in, as well as some of the older ones that have been preserved, I'd say parts of Woodlawn are poised for a comeback. Proximity Jackson Park, U of C, the Lake and the rest bodes well.
Devyn said:
Bamboo floors are pretty, but they don't hold up long. I guess it is a good thing they are sustainable.
the urban politician said:
Where's the parking garage in the rendering?
3/9/07
The Woodlawn Wonder said:
Chuckles,
Let's have a throw down over the Woodlawn name—whoever mixes the best drink wins!
If it makes you feel better Chuck, my friends thought that I would get killed when I moved down in '01. I had heard the stories from back in the day so I knew it was relatively tame. Plus I had just moved from Uptown so how bad could it be?
And yes, it is exciting to see the hoody ho turn a corner for the better. The place is beautiful, it just needs some love and attention.
3/11/07
theloosh said:
UM..there's nothing green about this building. Developers like to use bamboo floors because they're cheaper than regular hardwood. Green roofs aren't nearly as great for the environment as some say, either - but they look cool, and the mayor likes them, so Chicago is into them. And - energy-efficient appliances. So, the developer spent an extra couple thousand dollars and is able to charge several times that back.
Unless some features are lacking in Yo's description, this is a greenwashed building, not a green building. Luckily for the developer, the general public seems stupid enough so far not to understand the difference.
theloosh said:
I take some of that back. Didn't see a couple of the features list. And it's good to see any developments built on that front. Still not crazy about it, but it has to make a profit, also.