Passive House

The world's tallest Passive House building, a design standard aimed at cutting carbon emissions, is coming to Brooklyn. Alloy Development on Tuesday unveiled One Third Avenue, a 63-story mixed-use tower with 583 apartments, retail, and office space. Designed to be highly efficient, the project will complete the Alloy Block, a $500 million five-building development in Downtown Brooklyn with over 1,000 homes, the city's first all-electric skyscraper, 60,000 square feet of office space, and two Passive House public schools.
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NYC’s first Passive House public schools open in Downtown Brooklyn

Credit: James Ewing / JBSA

November 21, 2024

NYC’s first Passive House public schools open in Downtown Brooklyn

New York City's first Passive House-certified public schools have opened in Downtown Brooklyn, setting the bar for sustainable education. Designed by Architecture Research Office (ARO), the ultra-low-energy-use building houses two schools: the Khalil Gibran International Academy, the nation’s first English-Arabic public high school, and the Elizabeth Jennings School for Bold Explorers (aka P.S. 456). Part of the mixed-use development Alloy Block, the facility consumes less than a third of the energy of a typical NYC public school.
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Architecture And Design

Leasing begins at Brooklyn’s all-electric skyscraper 505 State Street, from $3,475/month

Photo: Matthew Williams

January 23, 2024

Leasing begins at Brooklyn’s all-electric skyscraper 505 State Street, from $3,475/month

Leasing officially launched on Monday at New York City's first all-electric skyscraper. Developed by Alloy Development, 505 State Street (formerly called 100 Flatbush) is a 44-story tower with 441 apartments in Downtown Brooklyn. The building, which replaces all functions that would normally run on gas with electricity, is part of Alloy Block, a mixed-use development of five old and new buildings that will bring residential, office, retail, and the city's first two Passive House-certified public schools to the neighborhood. Available rentals at the building start at $3,475/month for a studio and go up to $11,200/month for a three-bedroom.
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New Developments

276 units available at affordable Passive House in East Harlem, from $498/month

Renderings courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

December 13, 2023

276 units available at affordable Passive House in East Harlem, from $498/month

Applications are being accepted for 276 mixed-income units at the world's largest fully affordable Passive House in East Harlem. Located at 50 East 112th Street, the building is the second phase of Sendero Verde, a mixed-use project with affordable housing, outdoor space, a school, community space, and retail. New Yorkers earning 30, 50, 60, and 110 percent of the area median income, or between $19,646 for a single person and $192,610 for a household of seven, can apply for the units, which range from $498/month studios to $3,169/month for three bedrooms.
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Affordable Housing

An 1870s Clinton Hill carriage house, rebuilt to Passive House standards, asks $7.5M

Photo credit: Frank Frances

November 15, 2023

An 1870s Clinton Hill carriage house, rebuilt to Passive House standards, asks $7.5M

This one-of-a-kind townhouse at 329 Vanderbilt Avenue on the border between Clinton Hill and Fort Greene, Brooklyn, is a showcase of innovative architecture and peerless modern design, undertaken by architecture firm Schiller Projects. The directive: re-imagining an 1870s carriage house with a focus on sustainability, design, and efficient engineering, in accordance with Passive House standards. The result is Brooklyn’s first mass timber single-family residence, currently asking $7,500,000.
tour this stunning and sustainable home

Distinctive Homes

Lottery opens at new Passive House rental in Gramercy, from $836/month

All renderings courtesy of Redundant Pixel

June 5, 2023

Lottery opens at new Passive House rental in Gramercy, from $836/month

A sustainable rental in one of Manhattan's most sought-after neighborhoods launched a housing lottery last week. Designed by Hill West Architects to meet Passive House standards, Gemma Gramercy is a 20-story building, located at 200 East 23rd Street, that will use 85 percent less energy than traditional buildings. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 40, 60, and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the available apartments, priced from $836/month studios to $3,490/month for two-bedroom units.
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Affordable Housing

NYC’s first all-electric skyscraper tops out in Downtown Brooklyn

Image courtesy of Selvon Ramsawak

January 18, 2023

NYC’s first all-electric skyscraper tops out in Downtown Brooklyn

New York City's first fully electric skyscraper topped out in Downtown Brooklyn this week. The 44-story building 100 Flatbush is part of the first phase of Alloy Block, a mixed-use five-building development designed by Alloy Development to have 850 apartments, 200,000 square feet of office space, and two public schools. 100 Flatbush will contain 441 mixed-income residences, 396 of which will be market-rate rentals and 45 separate affordable residences, and 30,000 square feet of retail space.
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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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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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Apply for 44 mixed-income units at new energy-efficient Bronx rental, from $410/month

Applications are now being accepted for 44 mixed-income apartments at a new rental project near Fordham University in the Bronx. Developed by the BronxPro Group, Cyrus Place Apartments is an eight-story mixed-use, energy-efficient building designed to meet Passive House standards. New Yorkers earning 30, 40, 50, 70, and 80 percent of the area median income are eligible to apply for the apartments, which range from $410/month studios to $2,037/month three-bedroom units.
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Affordable Housing

Lottery opens for 324 units at world’s largest affordable Passive House, from $388/month

Rendering courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

December 29, 2021

Lottery opens for 324 units at world’s largest affordable Passive House, from $388/month

A housing lottery opened this week for more than 300 apartments at the world's largest fully affordable Passive House. Sendero Verde is a mixed-use project currently under construction in East Harlem that includes affordable housing, community space, retail, outdoor gardens, and a school. As part of phase one, the 100 percent affordable building designed by Handel Architects is now accepting applications for 324 mixed-income units. New Yorkers earning 30, 40, 50, 60, 80, and 110 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, which range from $388/month studios to $2,524/month three bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

This luxury-filled $15M Brooklyn Heights townhouse has passive house tech behind its historic grandeur

Photo credit: Evan Joseph for The Corcoran Group

November 30, 2021

This luxury-filled $15M Brooklyn Heights townhouse has passive house tech behind its historic grandeur

This 7,040 square foot townhouse at 37 Sidney Place in the postcard-pretty Brooklyn Heights Historic District spans six stories of living space–all accessed by a bronze-mirrored elevator. From the gym and sauna in the basement to the top-floor treehouse room, there are six bedrooms, nine baths, a landscaped garden, and two terraces. Asking $14,950,000, the Greek Revival-style home was built in 1846. A complete renovation by Baxt Ingui Architects has added every modern luxury and a sustainable future: The house is under review for passive house certification.
Hop on the elevator for a six-floor tour

Distinctive Homes

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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Affordable housing lottery opens at Harlem Passive House with tech space, from $362/month

Rendering courtesy of NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development

August 5, 2021

Affordable housing lottery opens at Harlem Passive House with tech space, from $362/month

By Dana Schulz

An affordable housing lottery for those earning 30, 60, or 100 percent of the area median income has launched at the new Harlem rental Balton Commons. Located at 267 West 126th Street, the energy-efficient building meets Passive House standards and will feature tech incubator space managed by Silicon Harlem, community facility space, and ground-floor retail. The 32 available units range from $362/month studios to $2,398/three-bedrooms.
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Affordable Housing

Construction set to begin on five-building Alloy Block development in Downtown Brooklyn

Renderings courtesy of Alloy

July 19, 2021

Construction set to begin on five-building Alloy Block development in Downtown Brooklyn

After securing $240 million in financing, Alloy Development announced construction will kick off this month on its huge mixed-use, multi-building project in Downtown Brooklyn. Formerly known as 80 Flatbush, Alloy Block includes five buildings with 850 apartments, 200,000 square feet of office space, 40,000 square feet of retail, and two public schools designed to meet Passive House standards. Since first announcing the project roughly four years ago, developers have cut the height of the residential towers, swapped out planned office space for additional residences, and pushed back the expected completion date.
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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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78 affordable senior units available at supportive Passive House residence in the South Bronx

Rendering courtesy of NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development

June 11, 2021

78 affordable senior units available at supportive Passive House residence in the South Bronx

A housing lottery launched this week for 78 units designated for seniors at a new South Bronx rental. Developed by affordable housing operator Breaking Ground and designed by COOKFOX Architects, the building at 445 East 142nd Street, dubbed the Betances Residence, is located within the Mott Haven neighborhood. Eligible applicants must qualify for Section 8 benefits, with rents for the studio and one-bedroom apartments set at 30 percent of household income.
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Affordable Housing

Lottery opens for affordable units at new Passive House project in Ocean Hill, from $457/month

Photo of the Harry T. Nance Apartments, Courtesy of NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development

March 5, 2021

Lottery opens for affordable units at new Passive House project in Ocean Hill, from $457/month

Applications are currently being accepted for 55 affordable apartments at a new sustainable development in Brooklyn's Ocean Hill neighborhood. The Harry T. Nance Apartments, located at 1860 Eastern Parkway, stands 10 stories and includes a new home for the True Holy Church. New Yorkers earning 30, 40, 50, and 60 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, ranging from studios to three-bedrooms priced between $457/month and $1,485/month.
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Affordable Housing

Chelsea’s first passive house building launches affordable lottery with units from $1,169/month

Rendering via ZH Architects

July 31, 2019

Chelsea’s first passive house building launches affordable lottery with units from $1,169/month

As Cityrealty reported, construction topped out at Flow Chelsea at 211 West 29th Street last fall; the 24-story building's distinguished stone facade and framed windows are all the way up, and as work winds down, an affordable lottery has been announced for 17 of the building's 55 units. Individuals and households earning 70 to 130 percent of the area median income are eligible to apply for studio through three-bedroom apartments with rents that range from $1,169/month for studios to $3,051/month for a two-bedroom. As Chelsea's median rent ranges from $3,112/month for studios to $7,295/month for two-bedrooms (figures per CityRealty listings), this is quite a deal.
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113 chances to live beachfront in Far Rockaway, from $331/month

Courtesy of Curtis + Ginsberg Architects

March 18, 2019

113 chances to live beachfront in Far Rockaway, from $331/month

A lottery launched this week for 113 mixed-income apartments in Edgemere, a beach-front neighborhood just outside of Far Rockaway in Queens. Designed by Curtis + Ginsburg, the eight-story building meets passive house certification by utilizing a geo-thermal cooling and heating system with a resilient, flood-proof design. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 30, 40, 50, 60 and 100 percent of the area median income can apply for the available units at 45-19 Rockaway Beach Boulevard, which range from a $331/month studio to a $1,910/month three-bedroom.
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Affordable Housing

June 15, 2018

Snag a one-bedroom at a passive house in Washington Heights, from $1,650/month

A newly constructed rental that meets passive house standards has launched a lottery for six middle-income apartments in Washington Heights. Designed by PM Architecture, the Uptown six-story building contains 20 units and boasts a facade of charcoal-painted insulated panels. Located at 577 West 161st Street, the building will have a medical office on its first floor, residences above it, and an outdoor recreation space in the back. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the $1,650/month and $1,800/month one-bedroom apartments.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

East Harlem’s affordable Sendero Verde complex gets fresh renderings and a 384-unit mixed-use tower

Rendering courtesy of Handel Architects

June 8, 2018

East Harlem’s affordable Sendero Verde complex gets fresh renderings and a 384-unit mixed-use tower

Permits have been filed for a 37-story, 384-unit tower in East Harlem as part of Sendero Verde, a massive mixed-use complex developed by Jonathan Rose Companies and L + M Development. The site's newest building is set to rise at 1681 Madison Avenue and measure just over 385,000 square feet. Floors five through 36 of the Handel Architects-designed building will contain 12 apartments each; offices and retail space will occupy the first three levels, as CityRealty learned. A fresh pair of renderings of Sendero Verde highlights the winding central landscaped path, nonprofit DREAM's charter school and the extensive community space planned for the development.
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Affordable Housing

Affordable senior housing lottery now open in new Corona, Queens passive house building

Rendering via HANAC

January 10, 2018

Affordable senior housing lottery now open in new Corona, Queens passive house building

Rendering via HANAC 46 newly-constructed affordable units at the HANAC Corona Senior Residence at 54-17 101st Street in Corona, Queens are now available via the city's affordable housing lottery. According to QNS, it will be the first affordable senior housing structure in the United States to meet the Passive House Institute design standards and the first affordable housing complex in Corona in three decades. Individuals or households that have at least one household member who is 62 years of age or older and who earn between $0 and $38,200 annually are eligible to apply. Five percent of units will be set aside for mobility-disabled applicants and two percent for vision- or hearing-disabled applicants.
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Affordable Housing

City will replace Nolita’s Elizabeth Street Garden with 121 affordable apartments for seniors

Rendering courtesy of Curtis + Ginsberg Architects

December 8, 2017

City will replace Nolita’s Elizabeth Street Garden with 121 affordable apartments for seniors