URBAN ECOSYSTEM RESTORATIONS, INC. Make Every Square Foot Count - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

URBAN ECOSYSTEM RESTORATIONS, INC.

Make Every Square Foot Count

February 2018

The Economics of Eco-Functioning Spaces

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WEBINAR AGENDA

v Quick Background and Analytic Framework

vSystems Thinking

v Eco-Functioning Spaces

vEnvironmental Function – Brief Summary vSocial Function – Brief Summary vEconomic Function – Concepts and Case Studies

v Relationship to Chesapeake Bay Agreement v Questions & Answers

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So here we are…

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Interdependent Systems

Global Region State Local

šAIR šFOOD WEBS šBIODIVERSITY šHABITAT šWATER šCLIMATE/WEATHER

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Predominant Land Uses Today

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Chesapeake Bay Region – Land Use in Context

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Ø Historic deforestation Ø Current development Ø Parcelization Ø Invasive species Ø Deer

https://www.chesapeakebay.net/issues/forests

A New Analytic Framework

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E-S-E Framework & Performance Goals

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Environmental Economic Social

• B4B Goals
• Stormwater management
• Temperature control
• Clean air
• Energy efficiency
• Mitigates climate change
• Supports food webs and

living soils

• Community

engagement

• Personal

enjoyment

• Spiritual/

emotional restoration

• Public health
• Property value
• Low operating cost
• Safe and secure

buildings

• High absorption,

high retail sales

• Low turnover
• Regulatory

compliance

Environmental Economic Social

Scaling Site-Based Solutions Using New Systems to Achieve E-S-E

Land Use Choices become restorative and long-term:

• 1. Create ecologically

restorative landscapes

• 2. Strengthen
• ccupant health

and social needs

• 3. Produce Net

Economic Benefit

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SYSTEMS THINKING

Eco-Functioning Spaces

The Right Systems for E-S-E Outcomes

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Eco-Functioning Spaces: Landscape systems that achieve E-S-E goals over time.

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Spectrum of Eco-Functioning Spaces: Three Illustrative Case Studies

1. 1.The Avenue 2.

• 2. Ca

Cawrse & & Assoc

• ciates

3.

• 3. Prairie Crossing

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Ultra urban; highly engineered Suburban; natural systems

EFS Environmental Goals

Th The Foundation

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Environmental Performance

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Abundant Life: native habitat Clean Water: stormwater retention and filtration Other: air/temperature improvement Climate Change: mitigation and resilience

Nature’s Systems

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EFS Social Goals

Ne Necessary for public demand and behavior change

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Social Performance

Ø Eco-service functions promote mental and physical health Ø Teach people about the space, and allow them to reconnect with nature, producing deep attachments to the land and building Ø Create a sense of place while maximizing eco-function – connecting people to each other Ø Design and maintain for beauty, function, and distinctiveness – they become emotionally restorative

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EFS Economic Goals

Es Essential for Achieving Scale

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Economic Net Benefit: Life-Cycle Components

First Costs Value Creation Cost Reduction/ Avoidance Risk Management Subsidies/OPM

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Key Economic Variables

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Use Type

• Residential
• Office
• Retail
• Hotel
• Trophy
• Class A
• Class B
• Class C

Owner/Occupant Type

• Commercial

Owner-Occupied

• Owner-Tenant
• Residential

Owner-Occupied

• Rent-Control/

Affordable

• Public Access/

Controlled Access Urban Density, Zoning & Massing as of Right

• Height Limit
• Footprint smaller

than Lot Line

• Open Space/

Green Area Requirement

• Lot Size/Square

Footage

• Surrounding

Area Land Use/ Land Cover

Economics: Value and Revenue

Lever 1

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The Avenue: Value Creation

SITE PLAN

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Economics: Cost Savings

Lever 2

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Life-Cycle Cost and Risk Mitigation

Costs/Revenues: NOI & ROI

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First cost investment of $450,000 for highly engineered system with water reuse; 7% increase of rent; $20,000 cost savings for O&M and vacancy rate drops to 1%. NOI up by $117,186; ROI in under 4 years.

Costs/Revenues: NOI & ROI

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Prime location apartments; 50 units on 1.5 acres with .5 acres of

• ld blacktop and
• ther open space.

First cost investment of $350,000 for full ecological restoration on .5 acre; 5% increase

• f rent; $25,000

cost savings for O&M and vacancy rate drops to 2%. NOI up by $89,134; ROI in under 4 years.

Conservation Communities – Prairie Crossing, Illinois

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š 677-acre site š 60% is protected open land that is actively used by people and wildlife. š more than 175 acres of restored prairies š 20 acres of restored wetlands, and š 16 acres of historic hedgerows š part of a corridor of open space with a trail system through to Grayslake, Independence Grove and beyond via the 31-mile Des Plaines River Trail.

Economics: Risk Management

Lever 3

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Risk Management: Cawrse & Assocs.

Treatment train with bioswale, bio- retention, rain garden and permeable pavers. “In July 2015, there was 5 inches of rain in one hour and no flooding in the parking lot. The rain garden contained the roof runoff and the bioretention/bioswale stored rainwater

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and did not contribute to flooding on surrounding properties, which were under more than a foot of water”

Subsidies

Le Leve ver r 4

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Subsidies/Incentives

š Storwater management direct subsidies for green infrastructure š Stormwater utility fee abatements š Green banks š Forest conservation banks š Stormwater retention credits š Crowdfunding/Nonprofit partner fundraising š Special district/BID assessments š Informal carbon offset fundraising š Developer incentives, like increased height or density

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Urban Ecosystem Restorations

Ur Urban Land Trust

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UER Role Supports E-S-E Goals

EFS: Natural System UER: Protection, Maintenance, & Engagement Services OUTPUTS: Fresh Air, Water, Energy Efficiency, Temperature Control, Stress Management, Community Engagement and Cohesion, Community Health, Higher Rents, Lower Costs

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Relationship to B4B Requirements

šAbundant Life (Habitats & Fisheries) šClean Water šConserved Lands šEngaged Communities šClimate Change Resilience šOther Green Initiatives

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Questions?

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Thank you

Rachel Toker, President & CEO

rachel@urbanecosystemrestorations.org (202) 494-8562

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