While there are no tenants yet — and the building phase is still stuck in permits — Chicago's Green Exchange project is moving ahead with a new website. When completed, the first "green mall" in America will be a 250,000 sq. foot LEED-certified eco hotspot. The plan includes retail space, show and event rooms and incubator spaces. There will also be a bike room, car-sharing service and plans for live/work spaces for tenants among the amenities. Tenants and shoppers can park their hybrid car in the priority spot, pick up an organic snack and shop for sustainable products all during their lunch hour. There will even be a car-sharing service, green roof, and large 9,000sq ft. courtyard garden.

While most of these green dream amentities are still on the drawing board, the people behind the green exchange have started encouraging discussion of the project online. Their new site not only tells you more about the mall (opening early 2008), but also contains a forum for people interested in trading green ideas or learning more about the potential tenants opening businesses on-site.

You can expect this site to change, especially after the mall opens, as the rich asset of having so many green businesses under one roof will spark a great deal of orginal content and consumer awareness. If Green Exchange plays their cards right, we might one day see something on par with Amazon.com; but for the green world. One stop sustinable shopping online — and in Chicago!

Hit their site for more! We'll keep you updated on Green Options as the ground breaks on what we hope is an trend that will spread across America.

Source: The Green Exchange, Chicago