Frankly it seems more that this article is promoting Ecoflats. Green for the sake of green? At best Ecoflats is filling a very small niche. For example:

“The building will contain a common hydronic heating system and a 3,000-square-foot solar array of photovoltaic and thermal collectors. The system, attached to the fourth floor of the building, will attempt to produce enough hot water and energy for the entire building. This means that each of the 18 apartments in Eco Flats will have to work together to achieve goals set each month so that the building can operate on its own without having to pull power from the energy grid.” [Daily Journal of Commerce 9-1-10].

Lets see how that working together works out.

Not exactly affordable either even if it includes untilities. “Of the 18 apartments in the building, 12 are 600-square-foot, one-bedroom units while the rest are 750-square-foot, two-bedroom apartments. [. . . .] [A]lthough rents aren’t firm yet, he expects they will be about $900 per month to $1,400 per month.” [Daily Journal of Commerce 9-1-10].

Convenient to work? According to Trimet not if you work downtown. A downtown trip, Pioneer Square, is 29 minute bus trip. Try that with a bicycle.

Finally take a Google street walk around that location.