The 128-unit building was designed to offer low-income and formerly homeless families the high class home they never thought they’d have.
“All families deserve a beautiful, healthy and safe home and WHEDCo is thrilled to begin the application process for Intervale Green, a building that embodies the beauty, innovation and prosperity that we are working to build and sustain in the Bronx,” WHEDCo founder and president Nancy Biberman said.
Located at 1330 Intervale Avenue, the building was constructed entirely of environmentally friendly materials, part of WHEDCo’s initiative to build green.
Utilizing funding from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, so the building could achieve an Energy Star rating, WHEDCo’s development team is collaborating with energy efficiency consultants from Steven Winter Associates for prime results.
The facility’s high efficiency heating, ventilation and insulation is expected to reduce fuel usage for heat and hot water by 85%, save more than $600,000 in utility costs each year and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of 400 cars.
“There’s nothing like it anywhere else,” Biberman said.
A 24-hour security desk will keep residents safe while on-site underground parking and laundry facilities on each floor will offer convenience.
Each apartment will also be wired for high-speed Internet, as well as receive a free computer and training on its use.
“We are excited to provide every family with access to the Internet because we understand it’s a necessity in the 21st Century,” Biberman said. “It’s especially difficult to be a kid in school and not have Internet access.”
Outdoor residents will also be able to enjoy the more than half an acre of green vegetation in two private courtyards, as well as roof top patios.
The green roofs will help collect storm water runoff, while the 75 new trees will improve the air quality in the neighborhood with the second highest asthma rate in the Bronx.
“It not only looks beautiful, it really does clean the air,” Biberman explained.
A public park and sculpture garden, complete with a rotating exhibit, will also be open for community use.
For those eligible, rent starts at just $782 for a one-bedroom apartment, $943 for a two-bedroom apartment and $1,090 for a three-bedroom apartment.
“It’s especially important for us to show people that just because something is labeled low income, it doesn’t have to look institutional or ordinary,” Biberman explained.
Intervale Green will open this fall. For more information or to apply online visit, www.whedco.org.
