Company builds with environment in mind
Builders specialize in structures that
utilize green technology
By Robert Miller
THE NEWS-TIMES
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Joe Sena of Barden Homes, who will supply the materials,
Steve Schappert, president of Connecticut Real Estate and Construction
of Brookfield, and Keith McEachern, an investor, look over plans at the
future site of The Button Factory at 72 Railroad St. in New Milford.
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NEW MILFORD -- The green seeds got planted in Steve Schappert's head when
he was a kid.
"In kindergarten, my best friend's father was Bernard Baker, who found
FuelCell Energy in Danbury," Schappert said. "He drove a blue Fiat with six
batteries in the back -- it was an electric car. It caught my attention at a
very early age."
On Monday, Schappert, the 43-year-old president of Connecticut Real Estate
and Construction of Brookfield, watched as his environmental aspirations began
to take shape.
He is a principal and prime mover of Bios Building, a company that will
specialize in construction of homes and commercial buildings that use green
technology.
He and his partners broke ground on a small lot on Railroad Street to build
what will be the company's showplace -- a 12,500-square-foot building that
will feature three condominium units and office space -- a "smart growth" mix
of uses in a downtown area.
Schappert said he hopes the building will be open by the end of the year.
It will be named The Button Factory, in honor of the Bostwick Button Co.,
which stood on the lot in the 19th century.
It will get its electricity from 108 solar panels that will cover the
southern side of the building's roof. It will be heated and cooled by a
geothermal system that takes advantage of ground temperatures below the
surface.
It will also feature such smart building features as shades that
automatically open to take advantage of the sunlight, then close when the sun
sets.
"We want to show that you can build affordable green buildings in
Connecticut," said Miles Shapiro of Connecticut Real Estate and Construction.
"Our motto is 'You can do well by doing good.'"
The first step of using green technologies was to find a good site. The
Railroad Street property -- past home to the Bostwick Button Co. and The New
Milford Times -- had stood vacant for two years.
The 30- by 110-foot lot was listed at $49,000, but had no buyers.
Schappert's father, William, hearing of his son's plans, lent him the money to
buy it. Others joined in.
"Steve has an extraordinary ability to not just see the big picture, but
the details," said Keith McEachern of New Fairfield, one of the main financial
backers of the project.
One of the smart growth features of the building is the different uses of
its space. It will have three townhouses, 2,400 square feet of office space to
be used by the Bios Building Technology Center staff, and about another 2,400
of office space available to rent.
"You can live in one condominium, walk downstairs and work in the office
space." Providing this mix of uses was "essential," Schappert said.
New Milford's CHW will install the geothermal system, which will consist of
18 copper pipes looping 100 feet under the earth. The company has installed
several geothermal systems throughout the Northeast, including in New York
City.
Michael Sumple of CHW said the pipes will carry a refrigerant, which can be
either liquid or vapor.
In the winter, he said, the liquid refrigerant will be piped down into the
earth, where it will be warmer -- about 50 degrees Fahrenheit. That will turn
the liquid into vapors, which will be condensed and used to heat the building.
In the summer, the process will work in reverse -- the vapors will be
pumped into the earth, where they'll be cooled back to their liquid state,
then be used to run the building's air-conditioning system.
"It's 100 percent clean and efficient," Sumple said. "There are no moving
parts, no carbon dioxide, because we're not burning anything."
Schappert said he's spent most of his time and energy in the past year on
planning the new building. In the past three months, he said, he's used the
company Web site to discuss his plans.
He said he's now begun discussing green building projects in the state that
could be worth more than $1 billion.
"The construction industry estimates there was a 25 percent increase in
green buildings in the United States in 2005 and a 30 percent increase in
2006," Schappert said.
"They estimate there could be $38 billion in green construction projects in
the United States by 2010. We hope to be a major part of that."
Contact Robert Miller at
bmiller@newstimes.com or (203) 731-3345.
Work starts on 'energy' building
By Lynda Wellman
STAFF WRITER NEWS TIMES
Steve Schappert wants to change the world by changing the way buildings are
built.
He broke ground on what he has labeled a "smart growth, mixed-use building"
on Railroad Street in New Milford on Monday and dedicated the building "to our
children, and to all the future generations."
Mr. Schappert's Bios Building, to be known as The Button Factory, is "powered
by the sun and heated and cooled by the earth," he said, adding he hopes it will
be ready by December.
Bios buildings are energy efficient, technologically advanced and cost
effective, according to Mr. Schappert.
The building is named for the Bostwick Button Factory that occupied the
narrow site until it was destroyed by fire in 1897. The site has been vacant for
years.
The design of the Bios building is patterned on the historic factory, but
with fibre-cement (Hardi Plank) siding and sprinklers. "It's not burning to the
ground," Mr. Schappert said.
The building would have three residential condominium apartments on the top
floor and retail and commercial space on the first two floors (see box, Page
S8).
It will be heated and cooled by a geothermal system that takes advantage of
temperatures below the earth's surface.
Dozens of solar panels will provide power. Mr. Schappert has said the cost of
heating, cooling and electric would be close to zero. Plans call for The Button
Factory to be wired as a smart building, with window shades operating on a timer
and sky lights opening and closing based on the heat in the room.
Mr. Schappert, 43, a Brookfield resident, is also planning to develop housing
for the elderly and assisted living facilities, by "tapping into three of the
largest economic trends of the next 100 years: environmental consciousness, an
aging population, and basic housing that is affordable to build and maintain."
"From an early age I've been interested in alternative technology," Mr.
Schappert said Monday. He explained a childhood friend's father drove a Fiat
with batteries in the back and that sparked a lifelong interest in alternative
energy. The father, Bernard Baker, founded FuelCell Energy in Danbury.
He spent two years designing the building for the property he purchased with
the help of his dad, William, in 2004 for $49,900.
"There is no question the proposal makes financial sense," said Keith
McEachern, a New Fairfield resident and Mr. Schappert's financial partner. "The
land was the buy of the decade."
He said Steve Schappert has a "big picture vision" but his "attention to
detail brings it home for the investor."
Mr. Schappert said reports indicate the green building industry increased by
20 percent in 2005 and by 30 percent in 2006, and by 2010 the industry is
expected to grow to $38 billion.
"Our company is poised to become a market leader in this field by producing
the most stable investment of all time, basic housing," he said. His goal is to
help people, save the environment, and to boost the economy.
He said with the help of investors, his Connecticut Real Estate and
Construction company is in contract or in negotiations for land to develop smart
growth, zero energy "BIOS communities" valued at $1.1 billion (see story, Page
S8).
Miles Shapiro, the vice president of commercial real estate, said his
partner's genius is that he can "look at a piece of land and see possibilities."
"It's exciting to do something new," he said of the Railroad Street building.
The firm will occupy the building
As for the other projects, Mr. Shapiro said they are getting "really
enthusiastic responses."
He said the smart growth projects can be financially successful and "have
such positive repercussions for society."
William Schappert, who served on Brookfield's Zoning Commission for three
decades, believes his son Steve's "concept is really right on with the price of
oil these days. It should help a lot of people."
Remarking he's both excited about the project and proud of his son, William
Schappert said he especially likes the look of the building that "parrots the
old button factory.
"It fits in with the streetscape," he said.
Are two new housing projects coming?
By Lynda Wellman
STAFF WRITER NEWS TIMES
If
Steve Schappert has his way, more buildings operating off the power grid may be
coming to New Milford.
The projects, which would be energy self sufficient, could mean an additional
300 housing units for Grove Street and Pumpkin Hill Road.
Keith McEachern, a financial backer in Steve Schappert's Connecticut Real
Estate and Construction company, said he's "really excited about the prospects"
of development in the works.
"It's inevitable we are going to have depleted [energy] resources," Mr.
McEachern said Monday, adding, "We are on the cutting edge. We spotted a need;
we've seen the trend."
On Monday the partners held a ground-breaking ceremony for a geothermal
heated/cooled and solar powered mixed-use building on Railroad Street in New
Milford.
In addition to a green mixed-use building, Mr. Schappert is interested in
green residential development.
He is in negotiations with the owner of 55 acres near the corner of Grove
Street and Hine Hill in New Milford.
His proposal for "Sunland Village" calls for 240 one, two and three bedroom
units for the elderly and other affordably priced housing in 15
elevator-serviced buildings.
In addition there would be office space, a club house, a restaurant with
views over the Housatonic River, and a convenience store.
The environmentally friendly project would be for all ages and built with
green materials, heated and cooled by the earth and powered by the sun with
solar panels. Fuel cells would also be used.
Mr. Schappert said they have negotiated a $1.35 million price for the land
and the finished value of the project at $250 per square foot would be $42
million.
According to the company's Web site, the project "has preliminary approvals
from Zoning and Wetlands" and will not need any variances. It could be ready for
sale or rent by the winter of 2008.
But Zoning Enforcement Officer Kathy Castagnetta said Tuesday she knows
nothing about the development plans.
"He's never discussed it with me or the Zoning Commission," she said. "As
currently zoned, the uses aren't allowed."
Mr. Schappert plans more residential development for the west side of Pumpkin
Hill Road at Dogwood Drive in New Milford. Some land clearing has already begun
on the steeply- sloped 16-acre site where the partners say they have plans for
40 to 60 one-bedroom condominiums.
According to Mr. Schappert, it's an $11.13 million project. He said they are
negotiating with the property owner, but have offered the full asking price.
Engineering estimates are completed and preliminary building design pricing
is being requested.
But the ZEO said the development "wouldn't be an approved use for the site."
In addition to the two New Milford projects the company has the following
projects planned or being negotiated:
100 Walnut Tree Hill, Newtown, a 2,500-square-foot $600,000 single family
home.
533 Federal Rd., Brookfield, 37,000-square-foot Energy Free Elderly
congregate housing; $11.1 million project in contract.
1,000,000-square-feet project in Brookfield powered by fuel cells and solar
panels. Full price offer submitted on land, and engineering estimates ordered. A
$4 million project
153 Toddy Hill Road, Newtown, 50-unit affordable housing project. $25
million project with a partnership structured with land owner. Surveys and
feasibility study completed.
Waterbury, 2 million square-feet of mixed use office, retail, restaurant and
residential space powered by fuel cells and solar, a $500 million project.
Newtown, 150 waterfront condominiums, a $40 million project.
Newtown, an 80-acre mixed- use village, nearly 350 units of affordable, and
elderly residential as well as grocery store, and offices, restaurant. $94.5
million project -- in negotiation.
Total value of projects approved: $3.1 million.
Total value of projects with investors and engineering: $67.33 million.
Total of all projects in negotiation: $1.1 billion.
Source and for more information:
http://connecticutrealestateandconstruction.com/currentprojects/index.htm
It should be noted that no representation has ever been made in reference to
any New Milford projects having approvals other than Railroad Street.
New Milford
Projects environmentally friendly, but are they
in right locations?
Jun 01 2007
A local developer is on the right track with creating an energy-efficient
building for mixed use on Railroad Street in New Milford.
Nonetheless, the town needs to move with caution and care on the developer's
plans for dense housing on Pumpkin Hill Road and on Grove Street.
Steve Schappert, who has an estimated $1.1 billion in projects planned in
Brookfield, Newtown and Waterbury, broke ground in mid-May for what will be
called The Button Factory.
It will contain commercial space on the first two floors and three apartments
with views of either the Housatonic River or the town green on the third floor.
The venture is laudable because it puts previously vacant land onto the tax
rolls and provides quality housing downtown, which is essential to a vibrant
core.
Most of all, the energy efficiency of the building -- with solar panels for
power and a geothermal system for heating and cooling -- shows respect for the
environment.
Although Schappert wants to build the other 300 housing units for energy
efficiency, more factors must be considered by zoning and planning officials.
His proposal calls for 40 to 60 one-bedroom condominiums on 16 acres on
Pumpkin Hill Road. Clearing already has begun.
The land is steeply sloped and the road carries heavy traffic.
The Grove Street proposed project calls for 240 one-, two- and three-bedroom
units on 55 acres.
Such dense development obviously impacts town services.
Schappert certainly is going in the right direction with his environmentally
friendly buildings, but the town must consider whether the Pumpkin Hill Road and
Grove Street sites are the most appropriate sites for more housing and traffic.
