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Montclair's first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-certified commercial space is now on the market and will be ready for occupancy by April 2009. 100 Grove Street, the former retail site of World Pottery, has been renovated according to the Silver-level certification process by GreenWorks on Grove LLC, jointly owned by Cadbury Properties, SOALDA LLC, the Bravitas Group and Jack Finn & Company. The site currently is pending official approval by the U.S. Green Building Council.

The renovation was taken up by Joel Patenuade, the president of World Pottery and Cadbury Properties. Before World Pottery opened in 2001, 100 Grove Street was a gas station; as a first-time developer, Patenuade was taken by the idea of turning a former environmentally-unfriendly business site into a green space. "We thought it would be less work than it really was," Patenuade says with a laugh.

In order to qualify for a LEED certification, developers must apply for approval and build according to a point system developed by the USGBC. GreenWorks on Grove features solar panels that are projected to provide at least 20% of tenant energy needs, a high-efficiency HVAC system that costs 30-40% less than traditional systems to operate, low-flush toilets, specially insulated glass to reduce heat transfer, and landscaping designed to prevent water run-off. Bike racks are also featured here, and they are accompanied by a shower with a flash-water heater for employees who choose to bike or walk to work.

LEED specifications heavily affect the construction process: 75% of the original building was preserved and some fixtures in the common areas, such as restroom storage cabinets, were recycled from other buildings. Construction debris was sorted so that recyclable materials like wood and metals could be appropriately disposed. All paints, glues and stains used were without volatile organic compounds (VOC are chemical compounds that vaporize easily; they are responsible for high levels of indoor and outdoor pollution.) "It was difficult sometimes, because we're working with contractors who have been doing things a certain way for years; now we're telling them to do it all differently. We've had to re-evaluate every little aspect of the process," says Patenuade.

The sunny space is approximately 3,500 1,150 square feet, and can be divided into three separate retail spaces of 1,150 square feet each. GreenWorks on Grove has ample on-site parking, although prime spots are being reserved for fuel-efficient vehicles. "There has been a lot of interest," says Renee De Geyter, whose company, Renee Realty, is handling the listing. "It's a beautiful, high-end space, and the fact that it's green has been generating a lot of activity. With the LEED certificate, you might be paying a little more for rent, but you'll save on energy costs and it's an environmentally friendly place with great indoor air quality."

As part of their LEED certification, Cadbury Properties has plans to use the space to educate the public about green buildings and construction. They have hosted a seminar on green real estate for local realtors, and plan on taking students from Rand School on a tour later in the school year. Part of the hallway in the entrance has been reserved for an education wall, where details about the construction will be shared.

Corrections: Cadbury Properties is not related to GreenWorks on Grove, and the total available space is approximately 3,500 square foot, not 1,150 as previously reported.