LEED in NYC

LEED in NYC

ML: Credit Crunch Taking Bite out of Manhattan LEED Buildings

Mon

Aug

Two of Manhattan's highest profile LEED projects took blows on the chin last week. After announcing in July that it would likely reduce the tower's size by nearly a third, Vornado's plans for Harlem's first office tower in thirty years appear to be on the ropes. Despite generous tax incentives from both the city and state, Vornado has had difficulty obtaining financing for the Swanke Hayden Connell-designed Harlem Tower, even after planning to invest nearly 30 percent ($127.5 million) of the project's total cost. Instead, the developer recently sought an additional $15 per square foot from planned anchor tenant MLB Network ($2 million annually) and, alternatively, also proposed building a five-story building exclusively for the network. The Times reports that both strokes "infuriated" MLB executives, who "wanted to be in a marquee tower on 125th Street." MLB Network now appears to be staying put in Secaucus through 2011, where it has been leasing temporary space at MSNBC's former studios.

Sales Proceed at Green SOM-Designed Toren Condos in Brooklyn

Tue

Jun

by Stephen Del Percio

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Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Toren (Dutch for "tower") opened its sales office back in April and is offering 241 condominium and affordable units at 150 Myrtle Avenue in Fort Greene. The 38-story, silver-blue aluminum and glass tower is being developed by BFC Partners and is selling at $750 per square foot. BFC head Don Capoccia told The Real Deal last week that the firm has 32 executed contracts and 11 out for Toren's 199 market-rate units, while a whopping 1300 applications have been submitted for the project's 42 affordable units. The Toren is aiming for a LEED Silver rating from USGBC and will feature its own cogeneration facility, rooftop gardens, and (presumably) the other LEED-standard green design features. Units range from 442 square-foot studios to 1967-square-foot, three-bedroom duplex penthouses.

Monday LEEDoff: Albanese’s Visionaire in Battery Park City Casts Eyes on Platinum

Mon

Feb

by Stephen Del Percio

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In the wake of the Albanese Organization’s Verdesian rental building achieving LEED Platinum last month, we thought it would be a good time to check in with the Visionaire, Albanese’s next foray into sustainable living at Battery Park City. A 33-story condominium tower designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli, which also served as architect at the Verdesian and Albanese’s LEED Gold Solaire rental building on the north end of Battery Park, the Verdesian’s 251 units were 40 percent sold as of this past October. The 500,000-square-foot project is aiming for a LEED Platinum rating and should be ready for occupancy later this year. The curving, sail-like façade of the tower, which is located on the southern end of Battery Park at 70 Little West Street, faces the Hudson River and provides for water views in every unit.