LISC NYC’s Green and Healthy Neighborhoods initiative seeks to create healthier, more energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable housing and communities.
Initially developed in response to rising energy and water costs, the initiative has since grown into a comprehensive approach to developing sustainable environments. In neighborhoods across New York City, we are reducing energy and water consumption in older, existing affordable housing projects; improving resident health with improved indoor air quality and non-toxic cleaning products; enhancing educational opportunities for youth and adults; and providing opportunities to increase workforce skills in the green economy.
LISC NYC's Green and Healthy Neighborhoods initiative provides funding opportunities and technical assistance for greening communities.
Highlighted on this page are LISC NYC Green and Healthy Neighborhoods innovative projects.
Green Development Work Areas:
Featured Green Development Projects
Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)
Work Area(s): Weatherization
The need to reduce energy consumption in LISC NYC’s portfolio became vividly clear when actual operating costs were exceeding projected costs by 10-50%. In 2010, LISC NYC launched the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) to help low-income families permanently reduce energy bills by making their homes more energy efficient. The mission of the program is to provide energy conservation assistance to multi-family housing for low- and moderate-income families, improve energy efficiency, and reduce fuel and electricity costs. With a grant from the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal, funded through an expansion of the Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) and made available by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009, Community Weatherization Partners LLC (CWP)—a joint venture weatherization initiative of LISC and Enterprise Community Partners —will retrofit 2,143 units by September 2011. Once weatherization is complete LISC NYC plans to support and develop a training program for building operators and staff on energy efficient operation and green management.
Retrofit NYC Block by Block
Work Area(s): Green Retrofits and Rehabs
LISC NYC’s Sustainable Communities work in Bedford–Stuyvesant and Cypress Hills Brooklyn is supporting comprehensive neighborhood greening efforts in an unconventional way—block by block. Local partners Bedford–Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation and Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation are partnering with the Pratt Center for Community Development to implement holistic environmental sustainability plans that tackle one block at a time. The plans, centered around a “Retrofit Block by Block” initiative, include energy-efficiency retrofits to one-to-four family homes, street tree planting, community gardening, green job apprenticeship and training programs, and other efforts. LISC NYC was able to infuse significant grant funding to support the activities of these organizations through State Farm and is working to bring additional resources and technical assistance to the table. New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn announced in November 2010 the allocation of $400K in Council funds to expand upon this successful “Retrofit Block by Block” model to other neighborhoods.
300 Putnam Avenue - Bridge Street Development Corporation
Work Area(s): Green Retrofits and Rehabs
LISC NYC supported Bridge Street Development Corporation’s (BSDC) effort to rehabilitate and green 300 Putnam Avenue, a HUD-assisted building for low-income families in Bedford–Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. Only three years ago, the 52-unit building was a severely distressed eyesore, having suffered terrible physical neglect under prior ownership.
LISC NYC helped BSDC secure a $2.056M loan from the NYC Acquisition Fund and provided grant support for the project at pre-development and construction phases. A Home Depot Foundation grant through LISC’s Green Development Center helped support the installation of solar panels, Energy Star lighting fixtures, energy-efficient windows; low-flow faucets and showerheads, and dual flush toilets. The restoration and greening of 300 Putnam Avenue is having a transformative impact on the residents of Putnam Avenue.
In October 2010, BSDC was awarded LISC NYC’s Big Apple Innovation of the Year Award sponsored by JPMorgan Chase for their commitment to the preservation and rehabilitation of 300 Putnam Avenue.
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