New development promotes environmental responsibility
The new 29th Street Mall is setting an example for retailers by providing better parking for fuel-efficient cars.
Environment-friendly forms of transportation and construction are a notable concern of Boulder residents, but parking spaces may not be the only resolution.
In an atmosphere of college students, independent companies and strong-minded locals, the 29th Street Mall might be setting a new trend. The trend would be for other retailers in Colorado to start rewarding fuel-efficient car owners. Last November, the 29th Street Mall officially opened, and now with 48 stores operating, there are 22 spaces available for environment-friendly cars to have prime parking.
“We understand the people of Boulder are passionate about sustainable energy,” said Lain Adams, senior property manager for the 29th Street Mall. “As new stores came online, I was wanting to set an example.”
Adams said the idea came from the public’s participation when the mall was first being developed. Adams wanted to take a new shopping center one step further by providing examples of retailers being more environmentally conscious.
“It might not have crossed people’s minds that ‘I have an eco-friendly car, (and) I now get a reward out of it,’ but we like to think we’re being progressive. And this is our way of helping the environment,” said Lori Giggey, marketing manager for the 29th Street Mall.
CU is also trying to promote environmentally friendly transportation, but the university is taking a different approach for a different reason.
“We can’t grow on parking there’s no more surface land at CU to continue building parking lots,” said Environmental Center transportation program manager Peter Roper. “We have to encourage carpooling because we have to provide access. It’s not just a matter of looking progressive.”
Roper and other groups such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and the U.S. Green Building Council promote sustainable, environment-friendly construction for local communities.
“With the economics in mind, we really want to try for a bus pass,” Roper said. “Pearl Street mall would be more environmentally friendly because they have fewer parking spaces.”
Roper also said if people still want parking spaces around, businesses would have to increase parking rates to pay for the materials.
The 29th Street Mall is still under development and is constructing a transportation management plan. The plan can improve mobility in Boulder through existing routes, but the future for environmentally-conscious commuters to the mall is still uncertain.
“We take pride in this, and so far, people are honoring it,” Adams said.