Despite ongoing talk of an economic recession, the time was right for Peter Garver to take a business risk.
“You might say it?s not the best time to start a new company, but there are still people doing deals and still people who can use my expertise,” said Garver, who recently left Columbia-based Corporate Office Properties Trust to start his own firm, Sustainable Development Partnerships.
His office is located at the Mount Washington Mill, an adaptive reuse building in Baltimore, close enough to Garver?s home that he bikes to work.
At COPT, where he was vice president of development, Garver oversaw new development activities and led the company?s initiative to become a leader in developing green commercial real estate. Garver?s new firm will develop and provide consultation for green real estate projects that are energy efficient and environmentally friendly.
“Green building is pretty much on fire in the media. This is a trend, it?s not a fad,” Garver said.
Garver has only been at his new office for a little longer than a week, but he said he?s already been in contact with several potential clients. He anticipates building the business on consulting work before developing his own green projects.
Garver has more than 23 years of real estate experience, including 11 years as a developer. At COPT, Garver led the development of 30 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-certified buildings, including three Gold-certified buildings and three Silver-certified buildings.
“His passion for green building is undeniable. It?s just a part of him,” said Sean Moore, a COPT development project manager who worked with Garver for more than two years. “It?s an opportunity for him to do something he truly believes in, and he?ll be able to make an impact throughout the region.”
It might not be the best time to start a new venture, but with green building gaining momentum, Garver said there?s no time like the present.
“The easy thing would have been to keep my head down for 15, 20 years and retire,” Garver said. “I?m optimistic things are going to go well.”
