Green News Sustainability Trends
Cash Guzzlers - Developers brace for rising costs as big oil commands
In late spring, the price of oil hit a new record at $135 per barrel—and the price at the gas pump quickly followed. As a high-demand commodity, gasoline has a price tag that fluctuates daily, but recent price increases have been astronomical. Since January 2001, the national average for a gallon of unleaded gas rose from $1.85 to about $4.08 in mid-June 2008—a 221 percent increase, according to reports published by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) at the U.S. Department of Energy.
Dark Horse Markets - We’re betting these six under-the-radar cities will be the next hot spots for development.
Developer identified six markets that are hot spots for development based on Moody’s Economy.com forecasts for cities with the highest projected job growth over the next 12 months and low unemployment rates—both of which point to high demand for employees and a competitive situation for employers. Interestingly, none of these markets are major metros. Instead, the markets that are primed for the biggest job gains are small, off-the-beaten path markets that rarely show up on any developer’s hit list.
Empty Space - Declining imports and plummeting demand for distribution
Other U.S. markets are experiencing a similar oversupply of warehouse space, thanks to a surge of development activity from 2004 to 2006. Spending on warehouse construction nationwide increased 19 percent from mid-2006 to mid-2007, according to Norcross, Ga.-based Reed Construction Data; increases of, respectively, only 4 percent to 5 percent are anticipated in 2008 and 2009.
Urban Renewal - American City Agenda launches in Cleveland
Living Cities wants to get Cleveland rockin’ again. At the end of May, the New York City-based organization, which has invested more than $543 million in 23 cities, launched its American City Agenda initiative. It’s a multidisciplinary approach that seeks to improve the nation’s most challenged cities by dealing with everything from crumbling infrastructure to housing affordability and inventory.
Big Winner - Atlanta wins City of the Future Contest
Imagine you’re stuck in Atlanta traffic. A maze of cars, asphalt, powerlines, and skyscrapers is the vista du jour. Fast forward 100 years from now and a radically different view will include lush forests, green spaces, and pristine waterways. At least that’s the hope of some of the nation’s leading designers, architects, and engineers.
