Affordable Green Housing in New York
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto 
on 04. 1.08
It is a point of controversy and a question of degree, but green buildings cost more to build, even though they are cheaper to operate. So when one is built that is completely for low income residents and foster care graduates, one takes notice. David & Joyce Dinkins Gardens was built by Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement (HCCI) and Jonathan Rose Companies, noted in TreeHugger earlier for their work restoring office buildings in Seattle. and designed by Dattner Architects. Features include:
"Individually ventilated apartments reduce the mixing of air between units, for better indoor air quality. Fresh air is drawn in continuously through window trickle vents and expelled horizontally
through voids in the concrete plank, as opposed to vertical ducts." ( this is significant; in traditional buildings, corridors are pressurized to keep smells in the units, but if anyone has their door open or smokes in the corridor it goes everywhere.)
-solar shading on the south facade;
"A Rainwater Harvesting System will funnel water from the roof into storage tanks to be used for irrigation, reducing utility costs and stormwater run-off."
also included are energy-efficient mechanical systems, a high-performance wall and roof system, green building materials such as recycled components, low VOC materials and a green roof. ::Sustainable Design Update and ::GreenBuildings NYC
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All public housing should be made this way - I think these apartments not only look great -they're a great example for a greener environment that the communities who live in them can be proud of.
I love New York.
I live in the burbs of San Diego now and am looking forward to moving back to Manhattan end 2008, or 2009. I just came back from a visit (yuck, I flew on Delta).
i live in Harlem, where is this located? im interested in living there... help me out...
Hey minix00, looks like it's located here: Good luck.
Dinkens Gardens
263 West 153rd Street.
And wow, what a beautiful design.
I agree with the statement all public housing should be built this way. That way the people who live in public housing, if they are on Medicaid or Medicare, will have less health problems related to their environment. I think we all agree that an unhealthy home environment (toxic fumes, toxic chemicals, toxic paints, etc) can create health problems. Plus the city has to spend less on maintanence and electric bills.