Shapell Liberty InvestmentProperties is raising the bar on sustainable design forretail shopping centers. Its latest project—The Vineyards, amixed-use shopping and entertainment center development in PorterRanch—will feature solar panels, storm water capture systems andcar charging stations, among a long list of the latest sustainablefeatures and systems. The shopping center is scheduled to open inthe spring of 2019.

"The national culture is changing in which we're integrating andaccepting into our lives more sustainable products and actions,"John Love, VP for Shapell Properties, tellsGlobeSt.com. "In California, we've had some major recent droughts,so we are all looking at being more efficient with ourwater.  We know sustainabilityis something the general public cares about and they aremaking conscious decisions to support businesses that incorporateand promote more sustainable options."

Shapell has made a commitment to sustainability in its newprojects, but Whole Foods and Kaiser Permanente, both tenants atthe center, were also committed to creating a sustainable andefficient environment. "Sustainability has become part ofour corporate culture as we've been implementingstrategies at other properties throughout California, most notablyadding solar carports to various apartment projects," explainsLove. "As we began designing The Vineyards, we were alsofortunate to have a few key initial tenants whowere thinking the same way.  KaiserPermanente was committed to have a moresustainable facility, and Whole Foods wanted to integratetheir solar PV plan into thebuilding, and install electricvehicle charging stations.  It has beena productive, collaborative effort."