OTR Goes Green

This is exciting news I hadn't heard about yet.
Press Release from 3CDC:

Two redevelopment projects currently underway in the Gateway Quarter in Over-the-Rhine (OTR) are seeking to become the first residential “LEED-certified” buildings in the neighborhood.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification calls for meeting certain objectives set forth by the United States Green Building Council. It is a rating system that promotes the design and construction of high-performance green homes, which use less energy, water and natural resources resulting in less waste, lower energy and water bills, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and less exposure to mold, mildew and other indoor toxins.

Urban Sites and Northpointe Group/B2B Equities are both building to LEED standards in order to achieve LEED certification. They hope the following projects will be the first LEED-certified condo buildings in OTR:

· Urban Sites: The Belmain, 1202 Main St., 16 residential loft units expected to open summer 2009

· Northpointe Group/B2B Equities: Mottainai (Mot-tie-nai) Lofts, 1222-24 Republic St., eight loft condos expected to open spring 2009

Both buildings are part of a LEED-certified pilot project for mid-rise, multi-family buildings. Certification will be determined in summer 2009.

Bill Baum’s Urban Sites (www.urbansites.net) has been redeveloping historic buildings in OTR for more than 25years. In addition to The Belmain, Baum recently completed renovation of Trideca at 1232 Vine and is nearing completion of Good Fellows Hall Lofts at 1306 Main.

Mottainai is the third joint venture between Rick Kimbler’s Northpointe Group (www.northpointegroup.com) and Brandon Smith of B2B Equities (www.b2bequities.com). Their first two projects are Duncanson Lofts, 1201-1213 Vine St. and Gateway Condominium at 1150 Vine St.

Both the Belmain and Mottainai are part of Phase III development in the Gateway Quarter, a $30.3 million project that includes 106 for-sale housing units and over 15,000 SF of commercial space. Gateway Quarter Phases I & II resulted in 86 for-sale units and nearly 23,000 square feet of commercial space.