Washington CEO Magazine
Daily Intel Tuesday, June 17, 2008 Seattle gets international recognition from Sustainable Cities Awards

Three Seattle-based entities -- the Cascade Land Conservancy, Vulcan Inc. and real estate investment advisor Kennedy Associates -- have received international recognition as winners in the first Sustainable Cities Awards program sponsored by the Financial Times of London and the Urban Land Institute. The city of Seattle was among the finalists for the awards, which "honor global examples of ongoing programs that exhibit new ideas and perspectives for best practices in sustainable land use."
Winners were selected from a field of 86 entries submitted from 15 countries. Awards jury chairman Reinhard Kutscher of Hamburg, Germany, said the winners "are leading positive change in sustainable land use." They are "at the forefront of design and development techniques that are land efficient and energy efficient.
The Land Conservancy?s Cascade Agenda was recognized for its 100-year vision and action plan for conserving Washington?s landscapes in the face of a growing population and a changing economic base. "It takes our breath away ? a regional effort to be recognized in a global competition," said Maryanne Tagney Jones, board chair of the conservancy.
Vulcan was honored for "creating a new model for sustainable, mixed-use urban communities" in its redevelopment of 60 acres it owns in Seattle?s South Lake Union neighborhood. The jury commended the company for its civic responsibility, social inclusion and for providing a model strategy for urban infill redevelopment.
Kennedy Associates was recognized for "responsible property investing." Kennedy, with a $9.6 billion portfolio, targets LEED Silver certification for all development projects as well as Energy Star benchmarking for all existing buildings. Kennedy Associates believes that buildings developed and managed according to sustainability principles have a competitive advantage over traditional structures.
The city of Seattle, a finalist, was cited for having the most LEED-certified buildings in the country. "Seattle?s Green Building Program uses financial incentives, technical assistance and educational programs to spur green building techniques," the awards jury noted.
"Working in the region for the past two decades, it comes as no surprise that three organizations from Seattle won awards," said Gene Duvernoy, president of the Land Conservancy. "With the civic, business and environmental leadership in this area, we can make the [Cascade] Agenda a reality and secure this region?s future."