Was something lost in the shuffle when Cleveland City Council deliberated over residential tax abatement policy? Council's reaction to Frank Jackson’s call to scale up abatements for energy efficient homes doesn’t seem to square with the information provided by the mayor's staff and non-profit group Cleveland Green Building Coalition (GBC).
In an recent analysis of the Cleveland State University study that is the nexus of council’s decision, GBC and the mayor’s office draw a bright line connecting what those surveyed in the study want and what a green building policy similar to ones adopted in twenty four other U.S. cities can provide. Read more.
Looking for community activist to fight for green tax abatements
Marc Lefkowitz Says:I just had a call from my source in the mayor's office and he said the mayor personally congratulated him on this article in GCBL. He also asked if there was a community activist out there willing to email Cleveland City Council members with a link to the article and urge them to incorporate green building in the tax abatement policy? If you're willing, respond here -- I have council member emails and talking points.
FYI, I'm told that council will vote to extend tax abatement next Monday, May 21 in the evening. It appears that council will vote to keep the policy unchanged until 2010. A number of issues are at play. Council has a subcommittee that looked at green building requirements in tax abatements, but no public statements were made and no compromises discussed. However, word has reached GCBL that council will make an announcement on Monday at a press conference at noon that it would introduce a green building requirement in 2010.
While that may be a good compromise, it will be hard to hold the current council to its promise since 2010 will be after all of their terms are up (not to mention, a new mayor will be in office, who may or may not be willing to hold council's feet to the fire on this).
The lack of public debate and willingness to recognize the need to start taking baby steps irks advocates of Mayor Jackson’s green tax abatement proposal. My source tells me that a large developer who works in cities across the country told him that inDenver
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“I spoke to those developers and they all expressed interest in building more Energy Star homes,” the source says. “Did council even speak to any developers about a green building policy?”
Would the mayor consider using other incentives? Yes, the source says, it could become a whole package including expedited permitting and reduced fees. “There’s a whole bunch of tools available, but tax abatements are the single largest incentive and the train is leaving the station rapidly.”
another energy star builder in Cleveland
Susan Miller Says:Surprise, surprise! Cleveland Habitat for Humanity knows this stuff well. They have been building Energy Star rated and certified houses in Cleveland for the last three years! As an affiliate of the nation's largest builder of affordable housing, the folks at Habitat have been thinking, planning, redesigning, and will soon be building green because it is the most appropriate path when your mission is to eliminate substandard housing. They are this year's client of the GBC's emerging architects symposium and are working right now to provide a model green Habitat for Humanity home for future construction. Habitat is the only builder that not only recyles everything from their own jobsites, they are taking donations from other sites as well.
The Habitat ReStore is keeping thousands of tons of viable materials out of local landfills by operating a massive construction material and tool recyling center that provides affordable material for home renovation and repair at a fraction of normal retail cost.
Construction Director, Thomas Meyer and his team are well versed in these building techniques. He is probably too busy to get to a city council meeting, but he regularly practices what is being preached here.
I am not a builder and cannot speak to these issues, but I did want to let you know that there is good news at our local Habitat affiliate.
Tax abatement compromise
Marc Lefkowitz Says:I'm glad to hear Habitat for Humanity is building Energy Star homes in Cleveland. Do you know what their take is on LEED for homes which is being piloted right now and includes guidelines for site/water use and lower impact disposal?
Wanted to make all aware that Cleveland City Council will vote on the tax abatement issue tonight at its 7 p.m. meeting. They will hold a press conference before. No word as to a compromise between council and the mayor's position.
My sense from speaking to a few more people is their perception is that the mayor's proposal seeks to 'give up' tax abatement. Obviously, this isn't the way the mayor is framing the issue. My impression all along is he's asked for tax abatements as a tool to be used to gain a policy objective, not as a simple give away.
As expected, city council passed tax abatements as is last night. The compromise is in 2010 all abatements will be tied to an energy efficiency standard, i.e. Energy Star. Read the PD's wrap up here.
still dragging their feet
Susan Miller Says:Why is it we have no get up and go in our regional government? That the mayor saw this as an opportunity to improve building in the city and council members voted it down is ludicrous! And Zaremba! Wasn't he on that panel at CIA during the Green Cleveland show? He was lauded for building "in town" instead of out along the beltway??? OK, but what are you building in town, Nate? By the way, Zaremba may be building “in town” in Cleveland but not in Virginia -- here’s what they have on the boards.
This is backwards. I am stunned that builders would want to build something which will be considered antiquated for new construction in a few years. In 2010 when you're looking to purchase a new home in Cleveland will you want one that needs extensive work to become more energy efficient or a green built home? Duh! Doesn't he read the news to know about the rising cost of energy? Why would I want to pay more for a new space with twice the energy bills of a slightly more expensive space with a lradically owered monthly utility bill? I am stunned that Zaremba and other builders and city council can't seem to remember how to "do the math"! Maybe the after party of developers back in March prepared a lobbying effort to avoid having to learn green building or rearrange their math before building the many new edifices they plan to toss up while abatements are still available for 20th century construction. It helps me to see that citizens concerned for their local economy's wallet need to get up and go to City Hall. These guys need an education and not just the developer's version of the story. The nonprofit community must have been too overwhelmed to be there to present the other side. Was the Green Building Coalition there?
I understand the need to build downtown and improve density, but better might be to listen to preservation expert, Bob Gaede who has plans for Breuer Tower to be adaptively reused as apartments (these plans done long ago and forgotten like the Triangle) and consider other empty downtown office buildings for similar uses retrofitting them in a green way for mixed use.
Get ready for the new weather construction and development community. It’s coming.