Neighborhood Tours

The New York Public Library on Wednesday opened its 14th branch on Staten Island and the first net-zero energy library in New York City. Located in the Bricktown Commons shopping center on the South Shore in Charleston, the $17 million, 10,000-square-foot building was designed by Ikon 5 Architects to be energy efficient, with solar panels providing nearly 100 percent of the energy the building will use. Managed by the city's Economic Development Corporation with the Gilbane Building Company, the new branch offers patrons a variety of amenities, including dedicated spaces for adults, teens, and children and flexible multi-purpose rooms for programs and classes.
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This $2.5M Red Hook townhouse gets sustainable modernism right

Photo credit: DDReps/Shannon Dupre

March 17, 2022

This $2.5M Red Hook townhouse gets sustainable modernism right

By Michelle Cohen

This stunning free-standing townhouse at 19 Wolcott Street in Red Hook is a well-executed combination of sustainable construction and beautiful modern design. Innovative materials and an architect's eye are the backdrop for 21st-century living, with enviable features that include a spacious raised deck, an outdoor garden, and a fully enclosed garage with an electrical panel ready to install a charger. This modern classic of a three-bedroom Brooklyn townhouse, asking $2,500,000, was built using energy-efficient passive house construction throughout and solar panels above.
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NYC to resume work on over 100 delayed parks projects this spring

All images courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

March 14, 2022

NYC to resume work on over 100 delayed parks projects this spring

Mayor Eric Adams on Sunday announced over 100 park projects halted due to the pandemic will resume work this spring. The city has invested $417 million in NYC Parks to break ground on the 104 projects, which is a 142 percent increase in new park projects compared to 2021. According to a press release, more than 86 percent of the new projects implement sustainable features like LED lighting, rain gardens, new trees, stormwater capture systems, and the use of recycled materials. Roughly 62 percent of these new projects are being installed in neighborhoods classified as underserved and are expected to be completed by the summer of 2023.
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Project transforming run-down city buildings into ‘green’ affordable housing kicks off in Queens

Courtesy of Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

March 10, 2022

Project transforming run-down city buildings into ‘green’ affordable housing kicks off in Queens

Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday announced a milestone has been reached in a major project designed to improve quality of life and tackle the affordable housing crisis in Southeast Queens. Construction has begun on "Habitat Net Zero," a project that will transform 13 run-down buildings owned by the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) into 16 green homes for affordable homeownership.
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South Brooklyn Marine Terminal to become one of nation’s largest offshore wind ports

Image courtesy of Equinor

March 3, 2022

South Brooklyn Marine Terminal to become one of nation’s largest offshore wind ports

Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday announced an agreement that will transform New York City's South Brooklyn Marine Terminal into one of the country's largest offshore wind ports. As part of the deal made with the city's Economic Development Corporation, Equinor, and the Sustainable South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, L.P., the terminal will become a power interconnection site for the Empire Wind 1 project, with heavy-lift platforms being built on the 39th Street Pier for use as wind turbine staging. The terminal's transformation will help the city meet its climate goal of having 100 percent clean electricity by 2040.
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NYC borough presidents call on Adams to plant one million new trees by 2030

Photo of Riverside Park by Momos on Wikimedia

February 14, 2022

NYC borough presidents call on Adams to plant one million new trees by 2030

All five of New York City's borough presidents are calling on Mayor Eric Adams to improve the city's green spaces by planting one million new trees by 2030. During a joint press conference on Monday, Borough Presidents Mark Levine, Antonio Reynoso, Vanessa Gibson, Donovan Richards, and Vito Fossella introduced the "Million More Trees" initiative, a program first started by former Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and completed by Mayor Bill de Blasio in 2015. Also included as part of the initiative is the goal of increasing the city's tree canopy to 30 percent by 2035.
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Apply for 248 mixed-income units at new Passive House tower in the South Bronx, from $362/month

Rendering courtesy of Trinity Financial

February 11, 2022

Apply for 248 mixed-income units at new Passive House tower in the South Bronx, from $362/month

A housing lottery opened this week for 248 mixed-income apartments in the Bronx. Located at 425 Grand Concourse in Mott Haven, the 26-story mixed-use, mixed-income development is designed to meet Passive House standards and is one of the largest to be built in the United States. New Yorkers earning 30, 40, 70, 100, and 130 percent of the area median income are eligible to apply for the units, which range from $362/month studios to $2,676/month three-bedrooms.
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See inside NYC’s new luxury condo Flatiron House, where gardens bloom into apartments

Rendering courtesy of Wordsearch

January 25, 2022

See inside NYC’s new luxury condo Flatiron House, where gardens bloom into apartments

Sales launched this week at a new luxury condo building in the Flatiron District that utilizes biophilic design principles. Designed by COOKFOX Architects, Flatiron House, located at 39 West 23rd Street, incorporates nature into its appearance, including planted and irrigated Juliet balconies and a lush central garden. Developed by Anbau Development, Flatiron House contains 44 total residences, priced between $1.98 million and $13 million.
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NY lawmakers introduce ‘Dark Skies Act’ to protect migrating birds and limit light pollution

Photo by Carlos Oliva from Pexels

January 10, 2022

NY lawmakers introduce ‘Dark Skies Act’ to protect migrating birds and limit light pollution

Every year in New York City, tens of thousands of migratory birds are killed after being drawn from their flight paths by the city’s artificial light. To combat this, State Sen. Brad Hoylman and Assembly Member Patricia Fahy last week introduced the “Dark Skies Act,” a bill that aims to prevent the deaths of migratory birds and reduce light pollution. The bill would require the majority of non-essential outdoor lights to be turned off, covered, or switched to motion sensor activation after 11 p.m. Alternatively, lights could be set to shine downwards.
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NYC to invest $75M towards completion of long-awaited Bushwick Inlet Park

Image courtesy of Photographer/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

December 28, 2021

NYC to invest $75M towards completion of long-awaited Bushwick Inlet Park

After 16 years, the 27-acre waterfront park planned for North Brooklyn has taken a major step towards completion. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Monday that the city has allocated $75 million of its budget for the construction of the final piece of Bushwick Inlet Park. The funding will be for work on the next phases of the park, which begins with the demolition of the CitiStorage warehouse that sits on a parcel of land the city purchased in 2017 but has yet to rebuild.
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New $18.3M sustainable playground opens at the Battery

Image courtesy of Diane Bondareff/AP Images for The Battery Conservancy

December 20, 2021

New $18.3M sustainable playground opens at the Battery

One of New York City's largest sustainable parks officially opened last week. Following a 25-year initiative, the Battery Conservancy on Thursday opened the Battery Playscape, a 1.5-acre playground that triples the size of the former park and aims to reinforce sustainable practices in its users through its eco-friendly design and features.
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NYC’s first net-zero community moves forward in Far Rockaway

Image courtesy of Local Office Landscape/Bernheimer Architecture

December 17, 2021

NYC’s first net-zero community moves forward in Far Rockaway

After more than 40 years of planning, the construction of New York City's first net-zero community is moving forward. L+M Development Partners, the Bluestone Organization, and Triangle Equities have agreed on $30.3 million in financing, signaling the beginning of phase one of Arverne East, a sustainability-focused, mixed-use development project in Far Rockaway. The project will bring 1,650 new units of housing, with 80 percent of them affordable, to a 116-acre oceanfront site that has been vacant for more than four decades.
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New York City bans natural gas in new buildings

“Ally Block” will include the city’s first all-electric skyscraper; Rendering: Alloy Development

December 16, 2021

New York City bans natural gas in new buildings

New York City is now the largest city in the United States to phase fossil fuels out of new construction. The City Council on Wednesday approved legislation banning the use of natural gas in new buildings under seven stories tall starting in 2023 and in structures over seven stories in the middle of 2027. The legislation means new buildings in the city, with very few exceptions, will be all-electric.
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Sales launch for net-zero custom-built homes in the Catskill Mountains for under $1M

Photo: James Karpowicz

November 23, 2021

Sales launch for net-zero custom-built homes in the Catskill Mountains for under $1M

One of the greenest new residential developments in New York launched sales recently, offering eco-conscious buyers a chance to custom design an energy-efficient dream home in the mountains. Located in Livingston Manor across 90 acres in the Catskill Mountains, The Catskill Project will feature 11 single-family homes designed to meet Passive House standards. Buyers will choose from three unique designs for their home, all of which will include solar energy and the opportunity for eco upgrades. Pricing starts at $895,000 for two-bedroom homes and $945,000 for three-bedrooms.
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New rooftop terrace with glass pavilion and one-acre farm opens at the Javits Center

Photo credit: © Albert Vecerka/Esto

September 16, 2021

New rooftop terrace with glass pavilion and one-acre farm opens at the Javits Center

A one-acre working farm opened at the Javits Center rooftop this week, providing a genuine farm-to-table experience for visitors of the convention center. The farm will include over 50 crops and 40,000 pounds of fruits and vegetables, which will be used in meals served on-site. The 200,000-square-foot rooftop, which also includes an enclosed glass pavilion, outdoor terrace, and a solar farm, is part of a $1.5 billion expansion project that has added a total of 1.2 million square feet of event space at the Javits Center.
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Neighborhood Tours

Photo via The Sill

August 12, 2021

10 houseplants that are safe for pets

By 6sqft

Pet parents also tend to be plant parents, but it can be hard to get your green thumb on when you're worried about your pet chowing down on a houseplant that might hurt them. We spoke to Erin Marino from The Sill (an NYC-based plant delivery service specializing in providing plants to city dwellers) to learn about which houseplants are non-toxic and won’t harm our furry friends.
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The world’s first Passive House-certified cidery opens in the Catskills

All photos courtesy of Brad Dickson / River Architects, PLLC

June 25, 2021

The world’s first Passive House-certified cidery opens in the Catskills

Located in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains overlooking the Delaware River Valley, the world's first Passive House-certified cidery is now open. The Callicoon-based Seminary Hill Orchard & Cidery was designed as a low energy-use structure, with an air-tight thermal envelope, triple pane windows, and photovoltaic solar panels. Designed by River Architects, the structure is not only sustainable but architecturally appealing, flaunting gapped wood siding, interiors clad with reclaimed wood from the pilings of the original Tappan Zee Bridge, and lovely views of the apple orchard.
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$90M project to renovate deteriorating docks at 79th Street Boat Basin moves ahead

Photo by Jim Henderson on Wikimedia

June 15, 2021

$90M project to renovate deteriorating docks at 79th Street Boat Basin moves ahead

The city is moving forward on restoring the Upper West Side's 79th Street Boat Basin as a waterfront resource for the community. In December 2019, the Parks Department unveiled a $90 million proposal to reconstruct docks damaged by previous storms, add additional boating berths to increase capacity, make the area more resilient to climate change, and expand ecological research and education. To make this possible, the entire marina will be dredged to enable vessels to navigate it at all tidal cycles. With support from the local Community Board and many residents, the plan is now moving ahead, with construction expected to commence in 2023.
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A self-filtering floating pool is officially coming to the East River

+ POOL, designed by Family New York & PLAYLAB, INC. Rendering by Luxigon

May 11, 2021

A self-filtering floating pool is officially coming to the East River

A plan to build a swimming pool on the East River is finally moving forward after being in the works for over a decade. In an Instagram post published on Saturday, the nonprofit +POOL announced the group had received confirmation from the city to proceed with due diligence on their project: a floating, self-filtering pool on the south side of Pier 35 on the Lower East Side.
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Photo by Altifarm Enverde on Unsplash

April 22, 2021

13 simple ways to green your apartment

By Lidia Ryan

As climate change and environmental issues continue to be hot topics on a global scale, more and more people are trying to do their small part at home. To get some easy lifestyle tips on how to “green” your apartment right here in New York City, we spoke to an NYC-based zero-waste expert and an eco-conscious interior designer who filled us in on things like eliminating single-use items, saving energy, and composting.
13 easy ways to go green

April 14, 2021

The Sill launches plant-inspired fragrances for Canopy’s popular humidifier

Dermatologists, fashion magazines, and wellness websites have all been raving about Canopy's humidifier. It's mold-resistant, purifies the air, comes in four cute colors, and doubles as an aromatherapy diffuser. And now we're even more intrigued by their new collaboration with local plant company The Sill on three home fragrance oils--Forest, Greenhouse, and Flower Market.
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Built into a rock ledge, this $7.7M Hudson Valley estate has guest pods, a treehouse, and a pond

All renderings by S3 Architecture, courtesy Corcoran Country Living

September 29, 2020

Built into a rock ledge, this $7.7M Hudson Valley estate has guest pods, a treehouse, and a pond

Sylvan Rock is a new micro compound being designed in partnership by S3 Architecture and Aston Martin. Located in the Dutchess County town of Milan, the 55-acre property was conceptualized as a nature-first retreat that focuses on sustainability and wellness with an eye towards self-contained living. To that end, there is the nearly 6,000-square-foot main house, three guest pods, a treehouse, two reflecting pools, a pool house with a wellness pavilion, a pond, and an agricultural food garden.
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Futuristic tower proposed for Roosevelt Island is 2,400 feet and covered in 10,000+ plants

All renderings via Rescubika Studio

September 23, 2020

Futuristic tower proposed for Roosevelt Island is 2,400 feet and covered in 10,000+ plants

In response to the idea of the "city of tomorrow," one that will become carbon neutral by 2050, French architecture firm Rescubika created a proposal for a 2,418-foot tower on Roosevelt Island. With wood construction materials, 36 wind turbines, 8,300 shrubs, 1,600 trees, 83,000 square feet of plant walls, and nearly 23,000 square feet of solar panels, it would be the world’s tallest "carbon sink" tower--one that absorbs more CO2 than it releases.
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$499K Crown Heights condo got a makeover from a major plant influencer

Photos by Katherine Marks

August 27, 2020

$499K Crown Heights condo got a makeover from a major plant influencer