Top Stories   JUNE 2009   Financial Institution May Issue First Green CMBS Next Month Is the timing right to kick-start a green building securities market? Full story     Developer Seeks Capital Partner for Platinum Multi-family Project in Ottawa In this non-speculative Canadian market, a deferred payment for land equity would boost returns. Full story     Q&A An Exclusive Interview with Wells Fargo’s Senior Lending Officer Paul Brumbaum Learn how the nation’s largest construction lender approaches green projects? Full story     UN Report Finds Banks Slow to Fund Energy Efficiency Projects A lack of familiarity with the credit risks of energy efficiency finance is largely to blame. Full story     DOE and Healthcare Sector Launch Energy Alliance The government’s third public-private partnership focuses on one of real estate’s most energy-intensive building types: hospitals. Full story     Recovery Act Budgets $467 Million for Geothermal and Solar Projects     New Green Building Endorsement from Chubb     MAY 2009 Co-investment Green Fund May Come out of Hibernation in Third Quarter The Boston-area fund, which was effectively pulled from the market late last year, may begin marketing again if the commercial real estate market shows signs of stabilization. Full story     South Carolina’s First LEED-registered Shopping Center Closes Construction Loan Royal Bank of Canada provided the non-conventional Libor-indexed loan to Fox Capital Partners, a niche developer of grocery-anchored shopping centers. Full story     Group Seeks Equity Partner for Mixed-use Green Project Outside Boise The $80 million development is the state’s first LEED-ND project. Joint venture investor would buy a distressed note on the land from a failed regional bank. Full story     Smart Growth Sponsor Rethinks Funding Strategy For the $2.4 billion project sustainable project south of Boston, the key to successful financing may lie in developing “incremental” assets with different lenders on parallel construction timelines. Full story     New York Proposes New Green Building Laws The bills, which aim to boost energy efficiency of existing commercial and residential buildings, are expected to become law in the fall. Full story     UN Report Notes Key Differences Between RPI and Responsible Equity Investing  The report concluded that the most effective approach for RPI investors lies in engagement rather than screening-based or best-in-class approaches. Full story     New Public Private Partnership with DOE, BOMA and RE Executives Launched The big-name alliance, with firms such as Transwestern, Jones Lang LaSalle, Wyndam Hotels and The Walt Disney Company, aims to dramatically reduce the sector’s energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Full story     Qatari Firms Develop First Sustainability Rating System in Middle East Two large Qatari real estate firms collaborated with U. of Penn. to create a system reflective of both best practices worldwide and the region’s unique characteristics. Full story      Trammell Crow’s First LEED Industrial Buildings in Houston Market Shopped Three green spec buildings totaling 241,000 square feet come online for lease or sale in a tough market. Full story     APRIL 2009   Small Green Fund to Launch Next Month North Street Partners and an unnamed financial co-manager are planning to launch a small private equity investment fund next month focused on high-performance green real estate projects. Full story     Community Bank Offers Lower Rates for Green Projects First Green Bank, a state-chartered FDIC-insured community bank in central Florida that opened its doors in mid-February, is offering lower interest rates for LEED certified projects. Full story     Sustainability Director Exits Studley to Form Consulting Practice After only nine months on the job, George Gosieski, the managing director of sustainability, workplace and change management for Studley, the tenant rep brokerage, has left the firm to set up a new consulting business. Full story     Sponsor to Seek Equity Partner for Transit-oriented Project in Prime Sacramento Location MNA Management is planning a $12.5 million sustainable mixed-use project in the Capitol Park neighborhood of Sacramento about five blocks from the state Capitol. The firm is looking to team up with an equity partner to develop the 5-story project. Full story     Firm Shops LEED-gold Warehouse Portfolio Birtcher Development is leasing up Oregon's first gold-level LEED industrial-warehouse buildings and is looking to sell the portfolio. Full story     U.S. Bank Would Finance Up to $50B in Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency Projects, Including Commercial Real Estate A bill introduced by Maryland congressman Chris Van Hollen would provide financing loans, loan guarantees, debt securitization, and other forms of financing support or risk management. Full story Equity Partnership Planned this Year for $350M Sustainable Project in S. Florida Ram Realty Services and Pinnacle Housing Group will likely team up with an equity partner to develop most of the 40-acre project, which includes 300,000 square feet of retail, 300,000 square feet of office, a 150-room hotel and 1,050 rental apartments. Full story     Is LEED on Top? Study of U.S. Office Buildings Finds Energy Star Boosts Value More than LEED. Full story     Invention Bringing Sunlight Deep Inside Office Buildings Funded An invention that brings sunlight into multi-floor office buildings will receive up to $2.1 million in funding from Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC). The patented system collects sunlight on the exterior façade of conventional buildings through a specially designed array of mirrors. Full story      Get a ONE-MONTH FREE TRIAL   Already had a free trial? Subscribe today. First Year Anniversary Subscription Offer Annual subscription includes complete archive of back issues For subscription and advertising information discounts, please call 818-665-6180 or email us at inquiries@greenrealestatenews.com                                                           Copyright    © 2009 Green Real Estate News. An information service of Green Real Estate Media, LLC