sustaiNYC

Now here’s something we love to see–good, green design accessible to the masses, not just the eco-elite. From the press release:

A new urban vision became reality today in Harlem with the opening of David &

Joyce Dinkins Gardens. The building, residences for foster care graduates and low-income families, was co-developed by

Jonathan Rose Companies and Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement (HCCI) to promote a better quality of life for its residents with community gardens, job training for youth and multiple green building features. Dinkins Gardens, Harlem’s first green building that is 100 percent for low-income residents, demonstrates that environmentally responsible design can work within an affordable housing budget, and that residents can reinforce green aspects of the site. “Dinkins Gardens is the new model for affordable housing,” said

Jonathan Rose, co-developer on the project. “Green projects like these are tremendous investments in the future of the community. By integrating social services, job training, affordable housing and green design, we’re modeling what the future of Harlem and New York City — in fact, cities nationwide — can be.” The green features of David and

Joyce Dinkins Gardens promote energy efficiency, conservation and the quality of life, enhance the urban environment, and reduce utility costs for residents. By employing an integrated design approach from the outset with Dattner Architects,

Jonathan Rose Companies was able to specify energy-efficient mechanical systems, a high-performance wall and roof system, green building materials such as recycled components, and low-VOC materials at no significant additional cost to the project, all for $19.5 million.

Full PR here, Treehugger’s take here, and greenbuildingsNYC’s breakdown here. Specs and green building features after the hop.

Green features of Dinkins Gardens include:
    -- Solar Shades on the south façade. Exterior sun shading on the south-
       facing exposure keeps apartments cooler in the summer, while allowing
       winter sunlight in.
    -- A Green Grid Roof system in which a portion of the roof is planted,
       thanks to a grant from the Home Depot Foundation.
    -- Individually ventilated apartments reduce the mixing of air between
       units, for better indoor air quality. Fresh air is drawn in
       continuously through window trickle vents and expelled horizontally
       through voids in the concrete plank, as opposed to vertical ducts.
    -- Energy Star-Rated Appliances and Light Fixtures provide additional
       savings to both the residents and owner of the building.
    -- A Rainwater Harvesting System will funnel water from the roof into
       storage tanks to be used for irrigation, reducing utility costs and
       stormwater run-off.

Tags: affordable housing, Environmental Justice, Green Building