Del-Sano Completes New Green Affordable Housing Development for Seniors

By Erika Schnitzer, Associate EditorWest New York, N.J.—Del-Sano Contracting Corp. has completed construction of West New York Urban Renewal II’s William Jefferson Clinton Tower, formerly Kennedy Tower II, an 11-story, 71-unit sustainable senior affordable housing community in West New York, New Jersey.  “The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency has green future guidelines and it makes recommendations for the project during the planning stages,” Angelo Del Russo, founder and CEO of Del-Sano, tells MHN. The $16,735,000 million project, which was funded by HMFA (Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency), broke ground in July 2008 and was ready for occupancy on July 1, 2009. The building is currently approximately 50 percent occupied.“It’s a very densely populated area in that section of West New York and Hudson County, and the senior population is growing older and more in need of a comfortable place to live and a less taxing place to live.” Because the project is built to New Jersey Affordable Green Program standards—and as “one of the major functions” of the program is air infiltration—the “air quality is much cleaner and more appropriate for living conditions,” notes Del Russo.Designed by Hackensack, N.J.-based Jose Carballo Architecture, the development utilizes daylighting, Energy Star appliances, low-E windows, low-VOC paints, water-saving fixtures, recycled-content flooring and concrete—which includes fly ash—and drought-resistant landscaping. During construction, 80 percent of the construction waste was recycled. The building’s TPO (thermoplastic polyolefin) roof reflects the sun, reducing the heat island effect.  In addition, says Del Russo, “We have a high efficiency elevator—Gen 2 by Otis. It’s very quiet in operation, it has very low horsepower and it’s non-hydraulic; there are no oils in the elevator mechanism and it’s a top traction elevator in that traction belt timing system is at the upper level of the building and there are two mechanical closets that are the elevator operators.”William Jefferson Clinton Tower offers one- and two-bedroom apartments, averaging 630 sq. ft. each, and 82 parking spaces, 76 of which are located in structured parking facilities. The new tower is adjacent to the original Kennedy Tower, which was constructed in 1968.  The property is in close proximity to bus routes.