Two green redevelopment projects completed within the past year have boosted affordable housing and revitalized neighborhoods in the Bronx borough of New York City.
Completed in late 2016, the 3160 Park Ave project is a mixed-use, mixed-income development that turned a vacant and underutilized parcel in into a vibrant and economically revitalizing addition to the community.
The project is located within the Melrose Commons Urban Renewal Area established by the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) with its community partners. The site was one of the last undeveloped parcels within the Urban Renewal Area, and offered a unique opportunity to put the finishing touches on an ambitious revitalization effort.
Vacant lot before the 3160 Park Ave project.
Photo credit: Welcome 2 the Bronx.
More green redevelopment of affordable housing recently took place in the Bronx with the CAMBA Gardens Phase II project. It was a continuation of the successful national model of CAMBA Gardens Phase I, creating an additional $98.8 million investment of 293 units of LEED Silver affordable and supportive housing on the current G-Building site near the Kings County Hospital Center.
CAMBA Gardens Phase II provides affordable housing for low income households earning under 60% AMI and for individuals and families exiting the NYC shelter system. CAMBA Gardens Phase II builds upon the national model for a partnership between a public hospital, non-profit developer and a service provider. Both phases were a unique and beneficial opportunity to provide affordable housing, streamline healthcare services for tenants, provide revenue for adjacent businesses and continue established relationships with the hospital and community.
Phase II of CAMBA Gardens represents the continued commitment to this unique partnership model, aligning the missions of the public hospital system and non-profit developers and service providers to repurpose underutilized hospital property to provide housing and access to comprehensive healthcare services. Co-locating housing with healthcare is a critical connection in order for special needs tenants to lead healthy lives.
CAMBA Gardens Phase II is participating in the NYSERDA Multi-Family Performance Program, is sustainable and transit-oriented and is designed to achieve a LEED Silver rating and meet the Enterprise Green Communities/HPD criteria, the first comprehensive green building framework for affordable housing. CGII will provide healthy indoor air quality that is critical for tenants with chronic illnesses and lower electricity bills for tenants and building operations. A roof-top solar panel system will provide at least 50% of common areas’ electricity needs.
This LEED-Silver, energy-efficient and sustainable development features CAMBA on-site services, 24-hour security, laundry rooms, computer/study room, two community rooms and well-appointed, non-toxic finishes. CAMBA Gardens Phase II will provide both indoor recreational spaces and over 60,000 square feet of outdoor recreational and landscaped spaces, including a landscaped roof terrace, children’s play area, tenant gardening beds, walking paths and a Shona sculpture garden.
Featured rendering of 3160 Park Ave courtesy of Newman Design
REVITALIZATION thanks Swetha Ramkumar, Sustainability Consultant and Project Manager at Steven Winter Associates for bringing these projects to our attention.