Monday LEEDoff: Harlem’s Kalahari at 40 West 116th Street
Stephen Del Percio
We’ll note today’s holiday in honor of Dr. King by pointing you to the Kalahari condominiums, which are still under construction on Fifth Avenue at 116th Street in Harlem, in pursuit of a LEED Silver rating. Developed by Harlem-based Full Spectrum Building & Development, the twelve-story project should open for occupancy sometime during the first two quarters of this year. Full Spectrum (which is also developing green projects in Trenton and at 1400 Fifth Avenue) is an African-American-owned developer of green properties that also provided consulting services in connection with the 20 River Terrace project in Battery Park City. The $119 million, two-tower Kalahari features a sub-Saharan design motif and is named for Africa’s Kalahari Desert. The project will include an African-American Film Center, community center, restaurant, and commercial space, and was designed by Frederic Schwarz, with GF55 as executive architect and Jack Travis as the cultural design consultant.
The Kalahari offers 249 total units, including 120 that were set aside as affordable housing. Each unit includes bamboo flooring, clean air filters, and Energy Star appliances. Twenty-five percent of the power at the building is drawn from solar and wind sources, an on-site Zip Car station offers hybrid automobiles, and the development features a number of green roofs, public gardens, and sustainable vegetation. As of last October, 15 market-rate units were still available for sale, most of which were two bedrooms that start in the $700s (around $700 per square foot). Along with 1400 Fifth Avenue and Vornado’s LEED Silver office tower that’s set to rise on the corner of 125th Street and Park Avenue, the Kalahari stands at the vanguard of a wave of green construction in Harlem that doesn’t appear to be abating anytime soon.
Comment by Mary on 26 January 2008:
I’d like to correct a few errors about this building. The information disseminated would lead one to believe that this building is entirely eco-friendly and is doing a great service by offering mixed-income apartments.
This is not entirely true. The flooring in the apartments through the HPD lottery are not bamboo. They will be carpeted. Buyers were informed that they could work something out with the builder if we wanted to pay for bamboo floors. The parking garage- the spaced are allotted to the market-rate apartments, with the lottery apartments being put on a waiting list for an available spot. Washer and dryers in most apartments only applies to the market rate buyers. Energy star appliances- again there is quite a difference between the appliances being put in the market rate versus the lottery apartments. Concierge? Only in the A building.
Comment by Nancy on 29 February 2008:
How much do the lottery people have to pay to get bamboo floors..do you know? I heard they had to get carpet
Comment by jj on 1 March 2008:
Would like to know if you had any luck confirming cost of bamboo in subsidized units. Also, when are they going to finish this?