New York Governor Spitzer And Mayor Bloomberg Open First Green Affordable Housing Development In New York State History

Governor and Mayor Present 64 Home Owners with Keys to New, Affordable LEED-Certified Environmentally Responsible and Energy Efficient Houses in South Bronx

August 14, 2007 -- New York Governor Eliot Spitzer and New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today announced the completion of the first affordable housing development in New York State’s history to qualify for the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Homes (LEED-H) designation from the U.S. Green Building Council. Morrisania Homes, a 64-unit affordable housing development in the South Bronx comprised of 16 three-family and 8 two-family houses, was financed collaboratively by State, City and private funding.

“This successful development proves that we can have it both ways – we can increase the number of affordable homes, which is essential for working New Yorkers to achieve economic security, and we can do so in a way that also protects the environment and increases energy efficiency,” said Governor Spitzer. “Green buildings represent a new frontier in the development of sustainable, affordable housing and will help lay the groundwork for a cleaner, healthier and more affordable future.”

Mayor Bloomberg said: “The Morrisania Homes show that affordable housing can also be sustainable housing. As we work to build housing for the million new people expected to come to New York by 2030, we need to ensure that we are building homes that people can afford and that allow the city to grow in an environmentally responsible way. These new homes are part of our 165,000 unit affordable housing plan, the largest municipal affordable housing plan in the nation’s history. Nearly 65,000 units have already been financed through the plan, putting us on track to complete the plan on schedule.”

The homes meet LEED-H requirements for water efficiency, sustainable site planning, energy, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and design process. All of the homes’ indoor features are Energy Star certified, signifying that energy consumption is at least 30 percent less than comparable standard features, and include high-efficiency sealed combustion boilers, lighting fixtures, and recyclable carpeting. LEED-H requires that new occupants receive detailed instructions and training on the sustainability of their homes. The Morrisania Homes are located within two-blocks of public transportation in the Bronx.

The New York State Affordable Housing Corporation provided a grant of more than $1.5 million, which funded the first phase of the development. In addition, the City provided approximately $1.9 million in subsidies and Borough President Adolfo Carrión provided over $453,115 in additional funding. Council Member Helen Foster funded $40,000 for the preparation of the alternative site for the community gardens. JP Morgan Chase provided a construction loan of over $6.6 million.

President and CEO of the New York State Affordable Housing Corporation Priscilla Almodovar said: “I am proud that the Affordable Housing Corporation has helped finance the next generation of affordable housing. The Morrisania Homes demonstrate New York State’s commitment to innovative housing strategies that create homes that are both affordable and environmentally sustainable.”

Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Donovan said: “The Morrisania Homes represent a significant step forward in integrating affordable housing with environmental sustainability. As New York’s population grows, integrating these two concepts will be crucial to the well-being of the City, its residents, and the environment we all share. Part of the success of the Mayor’s PlaNYC is ensuring that residents also have access to transportation and open space. By bringing these elements of a healthy community together, the Morrisania Homes serve as an example for future developments around the City. I want to thank the New York State Affordable Housing Corporation, the Housing Partnership Development Corporation, Blue Sea Development and JPMorgan Chase for making these homes possible.”

Blue Sea Development Principal Les Bluestone said: “Without support from the City and State, we could not have completed the first affordable LEED-H homes to be built in New York State. What makes this an especially important event is that they are built in an area of the South Bronx that was once written off and abandoned by many. We are extremely proud to be able to offer sustainable design in high performance homes to low and moderate income New Yorkers.”

Housing Partnership Development Corporation President and CEO Daniel Martin said: “Despite the perception that green homes cost more to build than conventional projects, the Housing Partnership believes, as do our construction lenders and our public partners, that the development of sustainable, environmentally efficient homes is a sound investment. The long-term benefits will far outweigh the extra up front cost, and we are delighted to have acted as the financial intermediary on behalf of Blue Sea Development for this high-quality, affordable and energy-efficient development.”

Council Member Helen Foster said: “Congratulations are in order for the new Morrisania homes because we got both new homes and kept our gardens,” said. “These homes are the result of a partnership between HPD, my office and the Bronx United Gardeners under the leadership of Ms. Cordelia Gilford. No active gardens were lost in tribute to gardeners who had worked for decades as community leaders. A special posthumous tribute to gardener Mr. Bill Smith, who agreed to move his garden so that new homes could be built, and to his friends who continue to tend his garden.”

Russell Unger, Executive Director of the New York Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council, the organization that created and administers LEED said: “HPD and its partners have hit the mark with this inspiring, green first development. Our most vulnerable populations – the very young and the very old – spend most of their time inside homes so there is no better place for green building features, like improved air quality. The energy savings from this development is not only great for climate change, but also for the pocketbooks of the low-income New Yorkers who will be living here. As the first LEED Homes certified in New York, Morrisania Homes shows the rest of us how it should really be done.”

The Morrisania Homes are being developed by Blue Sea Development through HPD’s Partnership New Homes Program and financed through the New York State Affordable Housing Corporation. Families of four earning approximately $42,000 are eligible to apply for the two- and three-family homes.

The development consists of two phases, with the second phase to be completed in the fall, which will add 12 additional units and will result in four three-family homes. In total, 76 affordable units will be created.

Governor Spitzer and Mayor Bloomberg were joined at the ribbon cutting by New York State Housing Finance Agency President and CEO Priscilla Almodovar, HPD Commissioner Shaun Donovan, New York City Council Member Helen Foster, Housing Partnership Development Corporation President and CEO Dan Martin, Blue Sea Development Principal Les Bluestone, and U.S. Green Building Council New York Chapter Executive Director Russell Unger.

Source: New York Governor

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