ML: Magnusson Architects’ 1070 Anderson Avenue in the Bronx

1070 Anderson Avenue, designed by Manhattan-based Magnusson Architects is an 8-story affordable housing development in the Highbridge section of the Bronx that will offer 41 units in a variety of studio and one-, two-, and three-bedroom configurations. The $12 million tower’s design is inspired by principles of Art Deco and rises as a south-facing L, increasing the reach of natural light into each apartment and also creating a 6000-square-foot courtyard for residents to enjoy. Green roofs grace the seventh- and eighth-floor setbacks, while low-E, Energy Star-certified windows, an efficient rooftop boiler, and continuous exterior insulation will aim to lower the building’s utility bills. Other green features include low-VOC paints and materials, dual flush toilets, CFLs, and Kone Ecospec elevators. The building’s lobby includes local plants and shrubbery that will receive water from a rainwater collection system.

Developer New Destiny Housing is considering applying for a LEED Silver rating, but will participate in NYSERDA’s Multifamily Building Performance Program for New Construction, which provides financial incentives to affordable housing developers that incorporate energy-saving features into their projects. Itzhaki Properties sold the 41,000-square-foot development site to New Destiny back in May for $1.65 million, or $40 per buildable square foot. Construction broke ground last fall on another affordable housing project designed by Magnusson: the 80-unit Atlantic Terrace development in Brooklyn.

• 1070 Anderson Avenue (World Architecture)
• Atlantic Terrace (gbNYC)
• Magnusson Architects

ML is short for our weekly Monday LEEDoff™ column, which typically profiles a different LEED project generally in (but not limited to) the New York City area. You can access an archive of profiled projects via this link.