We have a municipal building that won't likely comply with the open space area needed based on the project site area alone. However there is a City-owned P-Patch nearby. If the City dedicates or allocates the P-Patch as open space associated with the project for the life of the building, can we include it toward achievement of this credit? There is a section in the Reference Guide for "multi-tenant complex only" where non-adjacent space in the same master plan can contribute. A City might be considered akin to a master plan with multiple tenants, i.e. departments. The Multi-Tenant section also notes the open space area "is in or is returned to a natural state". If non-adjacent open space is allowed, could it be any type of vegetated open space as outlined in the credit? In this case we'd be maintaining "a garden space dedicated to community gardening".
Artist, Curator, Writer
Teresa Stern Arts
LEEDuser Basic Member
20 thumbs up
I feel like this is a bit of a reach, but if you can get an official statement from the City claiming ownership, allocating it to this project, state that no other project will be able to claim the same area in the future, and that it will remain as open space for the life of your project, then you may be able to swing it. I would proposed the question and content of the declaration to GBCI or LEED Coach before going through the exercise. Be sure to stress that the strategy is meeting the intent of the credit as stated (which I feel like it is). We have successfully used similar approaches on credits in the past; it just really depends on the project circumstances.