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Green Affordable Housing Project Opens in the Bronx
Published: October 19, 2007
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By Kelly Sheehan, Online News Editor
New York—Enterprise Community Partners and Fordham Bedford Housing Corp., a community developer that creates and preserves affordable housing, has completed Jacob’s Place, a 63-unit environmentally friendly affordable housing complex in the Bronx in New York City.
John Reilly of Fordham Bedford Housing Corp. tells MHN that the project broke ground in August 2005. It includes a solar electric system (pictured) provided through the Solar Neighbors Program, a unique partnership created by Enterprise and BP.
Under the Solar Neighbors Program, every time a participating celebrity purchases a BP solar system for his or her home, BP donated a similar system to be installed on a low-income family’s home. Enterprise identifies these low-income families and affordable housing developers.
In this particular case, Jacob’s Place was provided with an 11 kW, 64-panel electric power system that will provide energy to common areas and elevators as well as for ventilation. Actor and director Owen Wilson, who purchased a solar system for his home, made the solar panel donation to Jacob’s Place possible. The New York State Energy and Research Development Authority (NYSERDA) provided half of the total cost of the solar system.
“Environmentally friendly housing is important not only for low-income residents who suffer disproportionately from high energy costs and environment-related health issues, such as asthma and high blood lead levels, but also for the environment as a whole,” says Abby Sigal, vice president and director of Enterprise New York. “Enterprise has put such tremendous resources behind its Green Communities program because we believe that building green is a necessity, not a luxury, in low-income neighborhoods.”
Jacob’s Place, named in honor of the late Astin Jacobo, a long-time community leader from the Crotona section of the Bronx, includes several other green elements designed to preserve health and save energy while reducing emissions. These features include a green roof, rainwater harvesting system, and energy-efficient appliances, lighting and elevators. Additional green elements include low VOC paint; Low E, argon-filled windows to improve building insulation; bamboo; recycled ceramic tile and linoleum.
Jacob’s Place, designed by Jack Coogan of Oaklander Coogan & Vitto, also includes six classrooms for early childhood education, a community meeting room and playground. Units are available for households earning between 30 and 60 percent of the area median income.
