Developer shows off 735 Forest urban, green features

Thursday, March 5, 2009 | Source: metromode

Birmingham's newest and greenest building will be on display this weekend when the developers behind 735 Forest open its doors.

The green credentials of 735 Forest go beyond things like Energy Star heating systems and energy-efficient lighting. It's the first urban-designed, mixed-use building in Birmingham's Triangle District, making it more sustainable than if it were built as office building in the middle of what used to be a cornfield where people have to drive long distances to get to it.

The 3-story building features ground floor commercial space, office space on the second floor and residences on the third. This combination of uses lets the building use energy more efficiently and helps prolong its life expectancy.

With all of this going for it, it's no wonder the developers, Mosher, Dolan, Cataldo & Kelly, and the architect, Victor Saroki & Associates, are going after gold level LEED certification.

The ground floor hosts the Forest Grill, which is run by Brian Polcyn of Five Lakes Grill fame in Milford. The newly opened 65-seat restaurant occupies most of the first floor. Mosher Dolan Cataldo and Kelly, Templeton Building Co. and MJT Development will occupy the second floor offices of the 35,000-square-foot structure.

Eleven lofts are on the third floor. The residences range from 1-3 bedrooms and 763-1236 square feet. For-sale prices start at $299,000 or leases at $2,500 per month. The building will be open to the public between 1-7 p.m. Friday, 1-4 p.m. Saturday and 1-4 p.m. Sunday.

The Triangle District is an emerging urban city center just east of downtown. This is one of the latest buildings to be built or renovated in it. The 735 Forest building is next to the new AAA building about one block east of Woodward Avenue.

Source: Deirdre Greene Groves, spokeswoman for Mosher, Dolan, Cataldo & Kelly
Writer: Jon Zemke