About the Project

Developer Re+4RM, a collaboration of partners Redesign and 4RM+ULA Architects, serves as master developer at 2800 East Lake Street, formerly a branch of US Bank that was donated to Redesign to be developed into affordable housing, commercial and outdoor retail spaces, nonprofit services, and arts and cultural destinations. The identified goals of the development are to increase density, add public amenities, and reduce environmental impacts in the community, while centering BIPOC voices in the process. Opportunities being considered include multi-family housing, commercial and retail businesses, and a community park.

Re+4RM will reduce the environmental impact of the development by incorporating a district energy system that will use aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES) along with heat pumps to heat and cool buildings. This is a cost-effective approach to eliminating the combustion of natural gas, with the added benefit of requiring only a small footprint. Each of the buildings on the site will be fully carbon neutral once coupled with renewable electricity, and the system has the potential to expand to additional customers in the area.
This is the first time ATES will be used for an urban system in the US and this technology serves as the most practical option for decarbonization, given the small footprint of the site.

2023 Milestones

• Renovation begins on the Coliseum, an existing building in the area that will connect to the new energy system
• Community engagement events
• Aquifer thermal energy storage test well drilling

Ever-Green’s Role

Ever-Green is leading the development, financing, and implementation of this system. It has also supported Re+4RM for outreach events at the site, which engaged community members and provided information about the project. An event in September 2023 focused on energy and featured East Lake Street-based creative learning studio, Curiosity Studio, leading an art engagement project to foster discussion about the energy system.