NY Landlord UAM Expands Green Initiatives
Urban American Management has unveiled plans to expand its sustainability program at 3333 Broadway, one of the largest multifamily buildings in New York City, with almost 1,200 units under one roof.
By Dees Stribling, Contributing Editor
New York—Urban American Management (UAM) has unveiled plans to expand its sustainability program at 3333 Broadway, one of the largest multifamily buildings in New York City, with almost 1,200 units under one roof. While UAM has already reduced its consumption of oil at this particular building by nearly 30 percent, it’s planning further reductions in carbon emissions with an oil-to-gas conversion and other efficiency measures undertaken in 2014 and ’15.
UAM owns other residential buildings in the New York area, and has achieved sizable reductions in carbon emissions in its portfolio in recent years. Between 2008 and 2013, UAM says it achieved total carbon emission reductions of nearly 6.4 million pounds of carbon dioxide in five of its largest multifamily apartment complexes, representing 2,769 units of housing.
“We specialize in renovating and retrofitting older-housing stock and our green focus is on energy efficiency,” Joshua Eisenberg, principal of Urban American, tells MHN. “We don’t actively market the properties as green, as you might see with a newly built LEED-certified project. That said, we’re happy for prospective residents to know that we’re responsible owners.”
Besides 3333 Broadway, other large N.Y.-area properties owned by UAM include the 600-unit Heritage at Schomburg at 1295 Fifth Ave., as well as the Miles & the Parker at 1890 & 1990 Lexington Ave. (405 units), and River Crossing at 1956 First Ave. (761 units). Another UAM property almost as large as 333 Broadway is the 1,003-unit Roosevelt Landings at 510-580 Main St. on Roosevelt Island, which is in the East River between Manhattan and Queens.
The carbon savings in the UAM portfolio were achieved through participation in the New York State Energy Efficiency Development Authority Multifamily Performance Program, and represent the carbon reduction equivalent (for example) of about 326,200 gallons of gasoline not consumed. The savings were achieved through various energy efficiency measures, including investments in energy-efficient lighting, appliances, airsealing, and other measures.
UAM will also participate in the NYC Carbon Challenge. That will involve joining New York City government, the city’s universities, hospitals, and commercial office operators in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in multifamily buildings in its portfolio by at least 30 percent over the next 10 years. UAM and its energy-efficiency development partner, Urban Greenfit, will be working with the Mayor’s Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority to achieve the goals of the Carbon Challenge.
