EAST HARLEM — An apartment complex that developers claim will be one of the largest energy efficient buildings in the country is planned for East Harlem.
The city announced a deal for "Sendero Verde," a 751,000-square-foot building that would take up almost an entire block bordered by Madison and Park avenues and East 111th and 112th streets.
The project, developed by L+M Development Partners and a team led by Jonathan Rose Companies, would be mixed use and include 665 below market rate homes, the city said.
It would be the nation's biggest "passive house," meaning it uses up to 70 percent less energy than a standard building, the city's Housing Development Corporation and Department of Housing Preservation and Development said.
Officials said the development will target three income tiers: “extremely low-income,” low-income and middle-income.
Extremely low-income units will be for households earning $19,050 a year for an individual and $24,480 for a household of three.
Low-income includes singles earning no more than $38,100 and a household of three earning no more than $48,960, and middle-income is for households earning up to $82,550 for an individual and $106,080 for a household of three.
Officials said 163 of the units will be “permanently affordable” under the city's Mandatory Inclusionary Housing program.
Of them, 79 will be reserved for seniors and 20 percent of the units will be reserved for “extremely low-income” tenants.
The space is currently home to four community gardens — Mission Garden, Chenchitas Garden, Villa Santurce Jardinera and Villa Santurce.
Officials said the developers will work with the gardens to design new spaces on the site.
The development will also include space for the nonprofit organization Union Settlement, a YMCA, a supermarket, a restaurant and space for a charter school.
“This development site represents a tremendous opportunity for the El Barrio/East Harlem community,” said City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, who represents the district.
The city said it worked with local residents and the community board through workshops to gather their ideas for the site.
“This proposal speaks to many of the priorities identified by the community for the site,” said HPD Commissioner Maria Torres-Springer in a statement.
The development will be constructed in three phases, officials said.
