USGBC-NY

USGBC-NY

City Unveils Pilot Program to Green Foreclosed Homes

Tue

Apr

At a conference held last Friday at the Durst Organization's LEED Platinum hopeful Bank of America Tower, the Bloomberg administration announced plans to launch a pilot green retrofit program for foreclosed one- to four-family homes in New York City. Sponsored by USGBC-NY, "Green and Affordable: Sustainable Strategies for the New Housing Marketplace" featured former Department of Housing Preservation and Development ("HPD") commissioner Sean Donovan, who announced the pilot program during his keynote address. The Enterprise Green Communities criteria will serve as the basis of the pilot, which is part of Mayor Bloomberg's New Housing Marketplace Plan, an initiative aiming to create sufficient affordable housing for 500,000 New Yorkers. GlobeSt.com was unable to obtain information from HPD about the number of homes that will qualify under the pilot program, or where those homes might be located. Funds for the pilot program will come, in part, from HUD, which awarded a $24 million grant to the New Housing Marketplace Plan back in January.

Design Competition Solicits LEED Platinum Proposals for Middle School at Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park

Wed

Jul

by Stephen Del Percio

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The USGBC’s New York Chapter sponsors an annual Natural Talent Competition through its Emerging Green Builders of New York organization. This year, participants’ charge was to design a LEED Platinum-level arts center and middle school in DUMBO; concepts were required to also include a proposed revitalization of the areas adjacent to and including the Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park’s Tobacco Warehouse, which was originally built in the 1870s as a tobacco customs inspection point along the Brooklyn waterfront. In addition to reaching a projected Platinum rating, entries had to incorporate principles from the LEED for Schools rating system, as well as New York City’s Green Schools Guide and the NY-CHPS High Performance Schools Guidelines.

Green Building Illustrated: gbNYC Flickr Photo Pool & USGBC-NY Competition

Mon

Mar

by Stephen Del Percio

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If you check out the bottom of our first sidebar, you'll see that we recently created a Flickr group for folks to share their snapshots of green buildings here in New York City. All of the photos submitted to our pool to date are great; some are absolutely captivating. No matter your level of expertise, we encourage you to check out the group, become a member, and submit your photos to the pool, which is already close to 80 images strong. For those of you who have done so already, we note that USGBC-NY is sponsoring a green building photo competition that closes to entries this coming Wednesday, March 12, at 5PM. The winner will receive $500 in cash and two honorable mention recipients will earn $250 each- not bad, and all of our pool's photos definitely stand a good chance of winning some sort of recognition.

Monday LEEDoff: Poly Prep Lower School Expansion at 50 Prospect Park West (Tour on 3/11)

Mon

Mar

by Stephen Del Percio

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Last fall, the Poly Prep Lower School at 50 Prospect Park West in Brooklyn completed an 18,000-square-foot expansion project, designed by Sam White of Platt Byard Dovell White Architects. The $2 million effort expanded the school's original 21,800-square-foot space in the adjacent Hulbert Mansion- which was reconfigured as part of the expansion- and is aiming for the first LEED certification awarded to any school in New York City. White's design emphasizes natural daylight; the school's Nursery through Grade 4 students enjoy classrooms that offer windows on three sides and a skylit, third-floor dance studio.

More Tenants for 7 WTC, Columbia LEED-ND Plan Approved, & NYC Green Homes

Sun

Dec

by Stephen Del Percio

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Advertising firm Arnell Group pays $70/square foot for 37th floor of LEED Gold 7 World Trade Center
City Council approves Columbia’s Manhattanville expansion plan, which was accepted into USGBC’s LEED-ND Pilot Program
New York City green homes serving as show houses, classrooms
Panel of experts share thoughts on green building in New York City at event organized by USGBC-NY