Write a Letter!!! Help Stop Global Warming

Hey E-CATs, its Dave, your political outreach coordinator!! I hope all of you are enjoying our unseasonably warm weather!!! Since my last blog update on 2/24/06 , I have done some research on the New City Project. Remember, our focus is on incorporating energy efficient building designs and features into the master plan for this project!! Currently, both DC and Hines/Archstone-Smith (developers) are in the process of creating a master plan for this project. The master plan allows for community feedback and suggestions for all aspects of the redevelopment. The letter writing campaign that I outlined in the blog from 2/24/06 will be directed to Hines, a development company working with Archstone-Smith on this project.

Some Important Facts: An overview

You can access more information about this project at http://www.oldconventioncenter.com/

• The New City Project will be constructed on the ten acre site of the former Washington Convention Center.
• This site is surrounded by 9th, H and 11th Streets and New York Avenue, NW in downtown.
• Construction is anticipated to begin in 2008.
• The site will include an anticipated: 275,000 square feet of retail space, 300,000 square feet of office space, 772 units of housing, at least 1,900 parking spaces, up to one acre of open space, plus a reserved 120,000 square feet of space to be decided upon for use by the District.
• The Hines/Archstone-Smith development team will work in conjunction with the Distirct on this project.
• "The Land Disposition Agreement / Exclusive Rights Agreement calls for a 99-year lease of the site to the developer for all private uses, except the for-sale housing parcels which will be sold outright."- press release, 6/7/05, www.oldconventioncenter.com
• "The District estimates it will receive $200 million in value for the land (in today's dollars) over the course of the 99-year lease." - press release, 6/7/05, www.oldconventioncenter.com
• According to www.oldconventioncenter.com, the Master plan will "strengthen neighborhood businesses, generate quality housing, and improve the public realm." - www.oldconventioncenter.com

Hines/Archstone-Smith claims that "we take seriously our commitment to consider input from the community in formulating its master plan, designing and constructing the project and, finally, during ongoing operations of the development." - www.oldconventioncenter.com, under the Community link.

E-CATs, if this is so, then this is the perfect opportunity to reveal our feelings on this project!!!

We must petition the developers to include green building designs and features into the master plan!!!

The blog from 2/24/06 will instruct you on crafting your letter to Hines.

Contact Information-

Please direct your letters to:

Dawn C. Marcus

Communications Manager

Hines

555 13th Street, NW

Suite 1020 East

Washington, DC 20004

Phone: (202) 347-6337

hines-smith@hines.com

E-CATs, lets make this happen!!! Taking five minutes to type or hand write a letter to the Communications Manager at Hines is all that it takes. It will be an effort that is totally worth your time! This first step in our campaign is crucial because we must generate a response from the developers on this issue. They may or may not be open to our suggestions, but our job is to demand that they listen to us and seriously consider the importance of this issue. Just think, this project will set an example for future building projects across the country to think green and clean when it comes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and providing cost-savings for energy consumers. Enjoy!!

peace

Dave Kessler