Hoyt neighborhood scores LEED platinum

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Pearl District developer Hoyt Properties announced Wednesday that the Hoyt Yards neighborhood received the platinum LEED for Neighborhood Development award from the U.S. Green Building Council.

It's the highest possible rating under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design pilot program, launched in 2007, to designate entire green neighborhoods in addition to individual buildings.

Hoyt Yards is just the seventh development in North America to receive the platinum award, including the Olympic Village in Vancouver, B.C., and the first in Portland.

The LEED Neighborhood Development program launches formally Thursday.

Hoyt Yards was among seven Portland-area projects in the pilot program. Of the others in the pilot program, Eliot Tower received a silver award, Helensview and Ladd Tower received gold awards.

Hoyt Yards is on 34 acres of former brownfields formerly occupied by the Burlington Northern rail yards and abandoned warehouses. The neighborhood now boasts 14 mixed-use and condominium buildings, restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques, art galleries, offices, and two public parks. The third park, a 3.2-acre area currently called the Fields, is scheduled to break ground in early 2011.

The LEED neighborhood development award focuses on smart uses of transportation, energy and land use in addition to green building practices. It was co-developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, Congress for the New Urbanism, and the Natural Resources Defense Council.

In order to achieve the LEED ND Platinum rating, Hoyt and the City of Portland used innovative energy, water and transit solutions in the Hoyt Yards plan. Examples include the Portland Street Car's service to the neighborhood and planning for a North Pearl power plant that will provide clean power and heating to neighborhood buildings.

“Our vision for Hoyt Yards all along has been to create a vibrant, urban and green neighborhood that supports sustainability and an earth-friendly lifestyle," said Tiffany Sweitzer, Hoyt president and partner, in a press release. "Receiving the highest rating for our plan is truly the crown jewel of our completed and future efforts here in the Pearl.”