WHEDCO's Housing Development
Ventures 2006-2008
WHEDCO is proud to announce that construction will be completed in 2008 on its first housing development project since the rehabilitation of Urban Horizons. Intervale Green and Louis Nine House development (formerly Urban Horizons II & Foyer) will continue our tradition of building beautiful, sustainable buildings that residents turn into beautiful homes. Our standards push the boundaries of affordable housing design and construction, and create safe, healthy living environments.
We are currently developing two buildings on a vacant City-owned Urban Renewal site. Intervale Green is comprised of 128 units of affordable housing for low-income and formerly homeless families, with commercial storefronts along the first floor; the Louis Nine House includes 46 units for young adults aging out of foster care and will provide on-site vocational and educational programs.
Building Green
WHEDCO has been accepted into a pilot program through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). The pilot provides funding to cover technical assistance and capital costs so that our new buildings will achieve an Energy Star rating (an efficiency standard set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy). Energy efficiency consultants from Steven Winter Associates are collaborating with WHEDCO's development team to design high efficiency heating, ventilation, and insulation that will reduce fuel usage for heat and hot water by 85%, save over $600,000 in utility costs per year, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of 400 cars. The apartments will be built with healthy materials, free of the volatile organic compounds that exacerbate respiratory illnesses.
Furthermore, we will place greenroofs on both buildings, adding nearly ½ an acre of vegetation in a neighborhood with the second highest asthma rates in all of the Bronx
and twice the New York City average. Greenroofs will retain storm water run-off, reducing the burden on New York City's sever system during rain storms, and absorb some solar heart gain on the roof. In addition to the greenroofs, we are planting extensive trees along the adjoining streets, 2,800 square feet of landscaped open space, and two residental coutyards for Intervale Green tenants' use.
We would like to thank our community partners-The Enterprise Foundation's Green Communities Initiative, The Home Depot Foundation, and NYSERDA-for allowing WHEDCo to participate in the burgeoning environmental justice movement that is improving New York City's low-income communities.
Creating Public Art
WHEDCO is seeking partners to commission public sculpture installations to be integrated into the open space and other areas of the site plan.
Bridging the Digital Divide
WHEDCo is working to design a data network for the buildings, and all apartments will be wired for high speed Internet access. All families will be given a computer for thier home and training on its use.
The buildings will be completed in 2008.
Looking for information on applications? Click here
Brief History of the Intervale Green Site
Characterized as the site of a "New Record in High Class Apartment House Buildings," in a July 3, 1910 New York Times article, the site of WHEDCo's Intervale Green and Louis Nine House, has long been a picture of renewal and development. See the July 3, 1910 New York Times for more details.
