Colonial II Residences at 310 Cottage Avenue in Rome, New York, will quickly be some of the sustainable public housing buildings within the state. A renovation undertaking led by Beacon Communities, present homeowners of the 99-unit property, features a host of high-tech sustainability upgrades that can drastically cut back constructing carbon emissions and obtain net-zero power use.
Valued at $40.8 million, particular retrofits embrace the electrification of all current constructing methods, the set up of high-efficiency geothermal warmth pumps and a brand new photo voltaic subject, and full alternative of the façade with an environment friendly panel system that can cut back the switch of warmth out and in of the constructing. Collectively, these enhancements will cut back the power wanted to maintain an optimum inside temperature, particularly through the hottest and coldest months of the yr.
Earlier than building broke floor, the undertaking was awarded $1.3 million via NYSERDA’s Buildings of Excellence Competitors, which acknowledges exemplary design, building, and operation of carbon-neutral-ready multifamily buildings.
“That is the primary public housing renovation that can be carbon impartial within the state of New York and that is a very thrilling factor to have the ability to say,” mentioned Dara Kovel, chief government officer at Beacon Communities. “We hope that this can be a blueprint for different housing authorities and reasonably priced housing redevelopments throughout the state of New York.”
Floor breaking ceremony Colonial II – Beacon Communities
The renovations will even create bigger, extra livable flats. To perform this, Beacon Communities will cut back the unit rely from 99 to 74 houses. When full, all Colonial II flats can be designated for people and households at or under 50 % space median revenue (AMI).
Part one among renovations at Colonial I, a sister property, was accomplished by the identical developer in 2019. Whole undertaking prices have been estimated at $22 million {dollars} and included comparable enhancements and energy-efficient retrofits.
Along with Beacon Communities, the undertaking staff contains the Rome Housing Authority, RIDA Structure, Staengl Engineering, Lively Photo voltaic Improvement, and New Ecology Inc., a Boston-based firm that helps handle inexperienced rankings and certification processes.
“Preserving neighborhoods and rising neighborhoods is crucial to the wellbeing of any neighborhood,” mentioned state senator Joseph A. Griffo, a former main of Rome. “We’re going to have the ability to serve a phase of our inhabitants, seniors, and people with disabilities, and supply them with trendy, energy-efficient housing.”
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