Sustainability

Green Development

Green development is a far-reaching term, ranging from the developer’s operational practices to the long-term performance of the project. With the Firm’s wealth of experience in New Urban and sustainable projects, McGuireWoods is poised to assist clients with an array of green development projects including retrofit, brownfields redevelopment, transit oriented development, and high performance greenfield projects

Developers are returning to previously developed areas to add uses and increase densities. Building owners/operators are looking to cut costs and improve marketability. McGuireWoods has helped owners, developers and cities to integrate historic preservation, create utility capacity for new density, provide programs for future densification and clear regulatory impediments to the changes.

Our environmental attorneys have assisted clients with brownfields projects for years. Projects increasingly utilize green remediation (including, for example, injection of molasses into groundwater to stimulate natural anaerobic microbial activity), take social equity into account and coordinate with restorative solutions for post remediation use. We assist our clients with coordination of the post remediation land use restrictions, permitting higher density, mixed use development.

We have helped clients develop mixed use, transit oriented developments as well as high performance greenfield projects. We manage zoning, removing regulatory impediments, utilities structuring and other aspects of project development for these clients.

Our leadership in this field goes beyond projects. McGuireWoods partner Dan Slone co-authored A Legal Guide to Urban and Sustainable Development (John Wiley & Sons, 2008) and contributed the chapter on maintaining sustainability in the best-selling Developing Sustainable Planned Communities (Urban Land Institute, 2007).

Greening Your Project

As a developer, you have many opportunities to "green" your projects.  McGuireWods can assist you in designing your program as well as incorporating your approach into the zoning, codes, covenants and restrictions for your site or project.  Check out some of the ways you can Green Your Project.

Green Real Estate Documents and Professional Liability

The nature of almost all aspects of real estate transactions is changing to deal with emerging green issues. McGuireWoods is helping lenders and buyers recognize the new elements of due diligence they must conduct and the new covenants that they need to protect green assets. We are helping landlords and tenants understand the risks in green buildings and appropriately allocate them. As real estate tax benefits, insurance rates and other aspects of property ownership become increasingly tied to building performance, McGuireWoods continues to help clients understand the challenges and opportunities that will emerge.

We also work with owners, architects and engineers to understand and appropriately mitigate or allocate the professional risk in developing green buildings that comply with third party standards and often incorporate new technologies. As noted in national articles by our attorneys, these new green building risks can be addressed through existing risk allocation tools, if properly adjusted.

Green Home Owner Association (HOAs)

For homeowners and developers looking toward a greener future, the old standard HOAs and covenants, codes, and restrictions (CC&Rs) are no longer adequate. Next generation documents and associations—for both new and existing communities—seize opportunities to incorporate green utilities, facilitate mixed uses, increase connectivity, and even integrate sustainable agriculture cooperatives.

From traditional suburban developments to innovative New Urban and aggressively green communities, McGuireWoods has broad experience with HOAs and CC&Rs, representing associations and developers. Our Firm is uniquely qualified to assist developers and HOAs as they audit existing practices and documents, envision the next generation of communities, and realize the potential of green HOAs and CC&Rs.

Related News & Updates

Heather Nason Earns LEED® Green Associate Credential (4/5/2010)

Dan Slone Quoted in Law360 on Green Leases (2/18/2010)

Dan Slone and Adam Lovelady: Emerging Issues in Green Building Due Diligence (11/2/2009)

Heather Stevenson and Dan Slone Discuss Potential Risks of Green Roof Design, Construction and Installation (9/1/2009)

LEED Guide Publishes Article by Dan Slone and Adam Lovelady (8/27/2009)

Green: The Color of Commercial Leasing (7/9/2009)