Trepidations over the aesthetics of the Xanadu project have been well documented.  Concerns of naysayers regarding the long-term viability of this ambitious retail and entertainment complex have been voiced.  However, if successful, it will be one of the premier destinations for recreation and commerce in the United States. 

In a State on the cutting edge of progressive environmental policies for over thirty years from the Spill Compensation and Control Act to the Global Warming Response Act and a regulatory climate that is perceived to be difficult if not hostile to developers, it appears that the Xanadu project’s latest public relations hurdle is that it is failing to meet expectations on pledges it would be an environmentally-friendly complex.  Thus, one could argue that the debate is shifting to not whether it will just be an eyesore, but whether it will be an energy-guzzling eyesore.  It also highlights two of the concerns voiced by members of both the building and the regulatory community – how do we define “environmentally-friendly” and what are the repercussions if we miss the mark?

For the full story, see the article in Tuesday’s Record here.

For the Olivia Newton-John/ELO 1980 Pop Hit “Xanadu,” courtesy of You Tube, click here.