Intent: Conserve natural areas and restore damaged areas to provide habitat and promote biodiversity. Our project is located on a 200\' x 200\', 40,000 sq. ft. city block in a dense urban area of Portland, Oregon. The existing historic building occupies 20,000 sq. ft., or half of the site, the remaining half of the site area is dedicated to a loading dock/porch, street seating adjacent to the new streetcar line, bioswales, stormwater planters, and parking. The roof of the building also has 5,836 sq. ft. of new green roof and 3000 sq. ft. of wood deck with potted trees and plants for use by building occupants. Local zoning does NOT require open space or landscape area and allows for zero lot line construction on all four sides of the site, in an effort to promote urban density. SS 5.1 Requirement: On previously developed sites, provide a narrative describing restoration of degraded habitat areas. Include highlighted site drawings with area calculations demonstrating that 50% of degraded habitat areas have been restored. We feel that we have achieved this credit based on having 5,216 sq. ft. of bioswales and stormwater planters, and 5,836 sq. ft. of green roof for the project totaling 11,052 sq. ft. or 55% of the 20,000 sq. ft. degraded habitat area. The bioswales, stormwater planters and the green roof are all densely planted with native and adapted vegetation that was specifically selected to represent the native conditions of the bioregion and will provide habitat for birds, insects, and other fauna. Have we achieved this credit?
From the narrative provided the remaining open area after development is 20,000 square feet. To capture the credit half of the remaining open area, or 10,000 sq. ft., of restored habitat is required. As natural habitat is terrestrial or ground based, it is not possible to transfer this restoration to rooftops or elevated areas. As described the project does not capture this credit. Pursue points for the stormwater planters under the Stormwater Management Credit, and points for the green roof under the Heat Islands Credit. Applicable Internationally.