Green Renters’ Manual: Liberty Green Apartments 119 Fountain Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11208 Managed by Prestige Management Inc.
Part of the Cypress Hills Verde! initiative by Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation Document created by the Pratt Center for Community Development ____ May 2011
Building Overview
• Going green • My building’s green features
Index
I.
pg. 1-4
II. Green Amenities in the Common Areas
• • • • •
• Laundry • Lighting
Elevator Lobby & mail room Community room Recycling Playground & garden
III. Green Features in My Unit
pg. 9-16
• Appliances: • Oven & rangehood • Refrigerator • Fixtures: • Faucets, showerhead & toilet • Heating • Air conditioner • Lighting • Finishes: • Windows • Walls & flooring
IV. Green Resources
pg. 5-8
pg. 17-31
• Local resources: • Food, community center • Parks & recreation • Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation • Local resource maps: • Transit, emergency & medical services, post offices • Public Schools • Senior center, libraries, green retailers • Online & phone resources
V. Bibliography
pg. 32
I. Building Overview
Building Overview
‘Going Green’ ‘Going green’ is a phrase with many different interpretations. Commitment to going green can be shown by peoples’ decisions to recycle and compost their personal waste, or eat local foods, or limit their use of non-renewable resources. These actions are all different but each one makes progress toward the same goal. ‘Going green’ is not any one action but an overall lifestyle decision; it is a commitment to actively care for the health of the planet on which we all so heavily depend, and in doing so to further your own welfare and that of future generations.
Cypress Hills Local Develoment Corporation (CHLDC), the developer of this building, has a commitment to being ‘green’ and mindful about the environment throughout their operations, and this building is no exception. CHLDC has put forth the utmost effort in reducing costs and keeping this building afforadble for tenants, all the while improving indoor and outdoor air quality and protecting the environment. These efforts and the continued commitment to quality living and environmental support invested in this building are part of an organizational commitment, the Cypress Hills Verde! initiative. The Verde! initiative is the embodiment of a vision of a livable community with permanently affordable housing, energy efficient homes, safe and efficient transportation, access to nutritious, affordable food, and pathways to sustainable, living wage jobs. Buildings, in particular, are responsible for a lot of NYC’s negative environmental impact, but this building and others in the Verde! initiative are hoping to reduce that impact by joining with residents in an effort to preserve the building, keep its systems running smoothly, and promote a healthy environment for all of us, our friends, our neighbors, and the planet. This manual is about the building, but as you increase awareness about how your choices about a healthy building relate to your own personal health and that of your neighborhood and environment you may start to realize there is much more you can do to ‘go green’ inrealtion to food, activity, community involvement and so many other things. That’s why we also included a resource section in the back that can take you where this book stops!
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My Building’s Green Features A building can be considered ‘green’ by the choice of construction materials used, the efficiency of the energy systems implemented, and the lifestyle the building promotes. Your building incorporates all three approaches, though they may not be readily apparent as you go about your daily life. This overview highlights
Building Overview
About my building:
the green features of which you might have enjoyed the benefits without ever knowing of their existence.
Materials: There is a wide variety of green materials available including those that have been or can be recycled, locally sourced materials that have minimal transportation impacts, natural or simple materials that require few resources and little energy for processing, and renewable materials that can be easily replaced without environmental harm.
Your building uses high quality materials that enhance the functionality of the energy systems and tightly secure the building’s envelope, which is the physical separation of the indoor and outdoor environment. A secure building envelope ensures that energy spent to establish your indoor environment stays in your building. These materials include: Roofing: •Average of 6”-thick rigid insulation (avg. R-37); a well-insulated roof prevents heat exchangte with outside air, which saves energy and ensures a comfortable building temperature year round.
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Building Overview
My Building’s Green Features Roofing continued: •High-emissive top layer; the light color of the roof reflects light which keeps the building and its surroundings cooler, reducing cooling costs in hot weather. Walls & Insulation: •2 1/8”-thick XPS foam insulation in building walls (R-17.5); this insulation exceeds NYC standards to reduce your energy bills without reducing yourcomfort. •2”-thick rigid insulation on all foundation walls and floor edge walls (R-13); this insulation reduces the loss of heat through the foundations and the adjacent floor edges. Windows: •Custom, Argon-filled, low-E aluminum windows (U-0.37); Argon filling between panes acts as insulation to minimize heat exchange between the indoors and out. Custom, removable panels avoid the need for A/C sleeves, which let heat escape in the winter.
Energy Systems: Energy systems, which provide buildings with heat, cooling and water, are the largest opportunities for a building to save or squander energy. Traditional systems have relied on coal or oil burning that produces harmful chemicals and depletes non-renewable resources, the harvesting of which has also proven to be environmentally devastating. By-product minimization and resource distribution were secondary to production, but new systems have shifted focus to equally focus on all three. New systems rely on cleaner energy sources and focus
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on the efficient distribution and, when
My Building’s Green Features sures reduce initial environmental impact and continue to save resources, energy and money through efficient operation. Your building implements cutting edge, high
Appliances
possible, recapture of resources. These mea-
efficiency systems to maximize functionality while minimizing energy expenditure and waste. These systems include: Heat & Water: •LAARS Rheos modulating “smart” hydronic heating boiler has an efficiency level of 87%, meaning it is significantly more energy efficient than standard boilers. •TURBOMAX high-efficiency hot water heaters •Variable frequency drive pumps deliver heat only when called for, preventing energy waste. Air: •Ventilation and exhaust systems are designed to assure indoor air quality while reducing building heat loss. Special attention is paid to correctly sealing all duct joints. •A Heat Recovery Ventilator, on the roof, captures heat from exhausted air to warm air coming in to the building. (photo bottom right)
Lifestyle Choices: The built environment impacts the lifestyle choices we make, which which can significantly impact the environment.
The rest of this manual outlines building and unit features that enable you, through their proper use, to make conscious decisions to live green on a daily basis.
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II. Green Amenities in the Common Areas
Green Amenities
Elevator About my Elevator: • Make: Kone • Model: Ecospace
What’s special about this elevator? • Most people probably don’t think of energy consumption in an elevator, but elevators can be large energy consumers. For instance, it takes a lot of force to move several hundred pounds straight up and down at a constant rate. Elevators also have no light switches, so the lights are always on. This elevatorhas been engineered to be as efficient as possible while moving people and cargo between floors. All of the lights in the elevator are LED, so they use as little energy and emit as little heat as technology allows.
How can I save energy on the elevator? • The most energy-efficient elevator is the unused one. Elevators are intended for use by the eldery or disabled and those bearing heavy loads; if you are none of those, try taking the stairs. Stairs are located at the end of either hallway, and taking them saves energy and boosts your personal health. • Do not press the ‘Close Door’ button unless you are truly in an urgent situation. The door closes best on it’s own mechanism.
What if I have problems or questions? •Contact your super.
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Lobby & Mailroom, Community Room Though the lobby and mailroom are more passive spaces, care was taken to make them as green as possible. As with the building’s structure, materials were specially chosen to make these spaces green.
What are the green materials?
Green Amenities
About my Lobby & Mailroom:
•The walls of the lobby are surfaced with Plyboo® wall panels, which are crafted from bamboo. These panels are free of harmful chemicals, and Bamboo is quickly grown, and easily harvested. •The mailbox shelf is made of IceStone®, which is an award-winning material made from 100% recycled glass and cement. It is also manufactured in Brooklyn, which provides local jobs. •Like all common areas of the building, all lighting fixtures in the lobby & mailroom are outfitted with LED and/or CFL bulbs.
About my Community Room: The community room has a climate control system that is optimized to provide clean, temperature-regulated air and create a healthy indoor environment.
How can I keep the community room green?
• Please do not touch the climate controls. All climate controls are preset to maintain a comfortable temperature in the most efficient manner. •Contact the super if you are not comfortable with the temperature.
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Green Amenities
Recycling, Playground & Garden About my recycling area: Each floor houses a ‘Refuse Room’ where you can take all of your recycling and garbage for disposal. Bagged and sealed garbage goes down the chute with the silver door; a nondisposables list is above on a red sign. What can I recycle? • Office paper, newspaper, and clean cardboard go in the container labeled ‘Paper’. • Plastic bottle and jugs, glass bottles, cans, tin foil and other household metals go in the container with the clear blue bag. What do I need to do to recycle? • All items should be cleaned prior to recycling; soup cans are recyclable, soup is not. • Sharp or broken objects should be wrapped in cardboard or double-bagged and labeled.
About my playground & tenant garden: The playground and Tenant Garden, run in conjunction with East New York Farms!, have numerous green benefits. • The playground surface is made from all recycled materials, which preserves resources while preventing waste. • Soil allows rainwater return to the groundwater system instead of causing runoff and overflow into the city’s already overburdened pipes. Plants absorb and naturally filter water; they also emit oxygen and improve air quality. • Outdoor activity, aside from requiring no energy consumption, promotes physical, mental and emotional health.
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Laundry, Lighting Your laundry room is equipped with high efficiency (HE) washing machines and dryers. HE machines are designed to save energy and money when maintained and used correctly. Thorough instructions are posted on the bulletin board, but here are a few reminders:
Green Amenities
About my laundry room:
• HE washers use less water and need less detergent. If using regular detergent, only use half the recommended amount. Special HE detergents are available at large retailers. • Clean lint traps save energy and ensure your clothes dry more quickly. • Washing clothes in cold water prevents color-bleeding and saves heating energy. • Air drying saves energy and helps maintain fabrics like wool or athletic material.
About my building’s lighting: All lighting in the communal areas of the building is either light emitting diode (LED) or compact fluorescent (CFL). LEDs & CFLs use far less energy and last much longer than ordinary bulbs, while emitting purer light! LEDs & CFLs even save on cooling bills because they create so little heat. •Hall lights are set to conserve energy. When unoccupied, hallways are lit only along one side. Motion sensors (shown to the bottom left) detect movement to light the halls when in use; outdoor and stairwell lights also operate on a sensor system to eliminate energy waste. If a sensor is defective, please inform the super.
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III. Green Features in My Unit
Green Features in My Unit
Appliances: Oven & Range Hood About my oven & rangehood: • Oven Make: General Electric • Oven Model: JGBP27DEM • Hood Make: Broan
What’s special about this oven & hood? Gas ranges like yours are far more energy efficient than electric ones. This model’s solid surface and simplicty of materials also makes it easier to clean. The range hood has been certified by the Home Ventilation Institute, HVI®, for excellent performance.
How do I take proper care of it? • Keep the oven door closed while it is in use; opening a hot oven releases a lot of heat and reduces the oven temperature by upwards of 20 degrees. • Make sure gas heads remain clean; spilled foods could clog holes and create ignition problems. Heads should only be cleaned when the stove top is off and cool. • Clean heads and the oven or hood surfaces with dish soap and a cloth or sponge. Foods, especially those high in acidity, are best removed promptly; they could damage the oven surface if left on too long.
What if I have problems or questions? • Check the owner’s manual, which should be in your kitchen. •Check the manufacturers’ websites for more information: www.ge.com & www.nutone.com •Contact your super.
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Appliances: Refrigerator • Make: General Electric • Model: GTH18IBXCRWW
What’s special about this refrigerator? • An ordinary refrigerator can use more energy than any other appliance in your home. This particular model has been verified for energy performace by CSA International. This means it saves energy and money through better insulation, an efficient motor and more precise temperature control.
Green Features in My Unit
About my refrigerator:
How do I take proper care of it? • Keep the tempereature in your refrigerator between 35 and 38ºF. Keep your freezer at precisely 0º F. This will save the most energy and best preserve your foods. • Minimize the time the door is open, and make sure the door is firmly closed when not in use. • Clean surfaces with mild, non-abrasive cleaner such as Clorox® Green Works, Simple Green®, or Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day®. These cleaners are readily available at most retailers.
What if I have problems or questions? • Check the owner’s manual, which should be in your kitchen. •Check the manufacturer’s website for more information: www.ge.com •Contact your super.
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Green Features in My Unit
Fixtures: Faucets, Showerhead & Toilet About my water fixtures: Your faucets, both in your kitchen and bathroom, and showerhead are all outfitted with Moen ‘low flow’ heads, meaning that they have been engineered to use less water while performing to the same standard as any other faucet. Your toilet is also water-efficient, using only one gallon per flush. Using low flow fixtures is an extremely helpful, everyday way to help conserve the less than 1% of the world’s water that all of humanity has to share.
How do I take proper care of them? • Care is just like any other faucet. Using natural cleaners from Clorox® Green Works, Seventh Generation® or Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day® keeps harmful chemicals out of the water supply and reduces strain on filtration systems. These cleaners are readily available at most retailers.
How else can I save water? • Turn the water off while brushing your teeth, and don’t leave running water unattended. • While it does not save water, washing dishes or showering at night helps reduce strain on local water systems since peak demand generally occurs during the day. • Drink tap water. More water goes into the production of a bottle of water than the bottle itself contains.
What if I have problems or questions?
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•Contact your super.
Fixtures: Heating • By definition, heating systems use energy to maintain your indoor environment at a comfortable level. Typically, sixty percent of residential energy use is devoted to heating and cooling, which means that efficient systems and proper use can save a lot of energy and money. Banded heating systems like yours are more efficient than many systems because they release heat low to the ground and over a long area, thus supporting an easy-to-monitor environment that is
Green Features in My Unit
About my heating system:
created in large part by natural heat transfer instead of pushing air around with motorized fans.
How can I help my system work? • Keep the temperature steady around 68 to 75ºF. This middle-range takes less energy to achieve and maintain while keeping you warm and comfortable in cold weather. • Minimize the time the refrigerator or freezer door is open; the introduction of cold air can put undue strain on your system. • Don’t open your windows. If you are too warm, simply lower your thermoset a few degrees. Opening your windows allows heated air to escape without passing through the heat recovery ventilator and makes your system work harder. • Keep furniture and other items clear of vents, as they will hinder air flow. Keep your vents clean with a duster or damp rag.
What if I have problems or questions? •Contact your super.
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Green Features in My Unit
Fixtures: Air Conditioning About air conditioning systems: • By definition, air conditioning uses energy to pull in atmospheric air, lower its temperature and disperse it through your home in order to maintain your indoor environment at a comfortable level. While this function is not necessarily green, it is necessary. Proper use, especially in relation to other features of your apartment, can maximize your system’s efficiency and minimize unnecessary energy loss.
How can I help my system work? • Only your super can properly size and install a window air conditioning unit. If you desire a window unit, contact him first. An inappropriately sized or installed unit will waste energy and fail to meet your needs. • Keep the temperature steady at around 73 to 79ºF. This middle-range takes less energy to achieve and maintain while keeping you comfortable in warm weather. • Minimize the time the oven door is open; the introduction of very hot air into your apartment can put undue strain on your system. • Don’t open your windows while the air conditioner is running. The seal around your windows ensures stability of your indoor environment, and introducing so much unconditioned air will make your system incapable of doing its job.
What if I have problems or questions? •Contact your super.
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Fixtures: Lighting All of the lighting fixtures in your apartment are outfitted with compact fluorescent lightbulbs. CFLs use far less energy and last around ten times longer than ordinary bulbs, while emitting purer light. CFLs even save on cooling bills, as they create so little heat.
How can I save more energy through lighting? •Don’t light an empty room or an empty apartment. Turn lights off as you leave a
Green Features in My Unit
What’s different about my lights?
room or your apartment. •When possible, during daylight hours, save energy by leaving overhead lights off and using natural light. •When replacing bulbs, use the right bulb for the fixture; compatibility means efficiency.
What if I have problems or questions? •If a lightbulb burns out, check for the model number at the base of the bulb. Home improvement stores, like Lowes or Home Depot, should carry the bulb, but you can search the company’s website before making a trip. •Don’t try to replace burnt out bulbs with a standard lightbulb. Your fixtures are designed for use with specific bulb types and may not function properly if other types are substitued. •When recycling an old bulb, wrap it in paper or shopping bags to ensure workers’ safety. •If you have trouble locating the bulb’s model number, contact your super.
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Green Features in My Unit
Finishes: Windows About my windows: •Windows affect energy consumption directly and indirectly. All windows let in outdoor light, which reduces need for electric lighting. Some windows waste energy by transferring heat into or out of the indoor environment, but your custom-made windows are double-paned and insulated with Argon gas to minimize heat exchange and cut energy costs.
How can my windows save energy? •The tight seal around your windows ensures stability of your indoor environment, which helps your heating and air conditioning system expend less energy. •The Argon insulation minimizes heat exchange with the outdoors, making sure you stay cool when it’s hot outside and vice versa. •During the day, your windows can replace overhead lights. If it’s too bright, adjust the curtains or blinds before turning on a light.
How do I care for my windows? • Cleaning your windows with natural cleaners keeps chemicals out of the air and your lungs. Clorox® Green Works, Seventh Generation® and Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day®, are natural cleaners available at many retailers and large stores like Home Depot or Lowes. •Window cleaner can be made from 4 tablespoons of lemon juice to 1 gallon of water. Coffee filters are compostable and make good window wipes.
What if I have problems or questions?
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•Contact your super.
Finishes: Walls, Flooring •Walls and floors do not actively expend energy, but a lot of energy and resources can go in to their production. Additionally, some finishes can emit harmful chemicals into your home. •Your floors have the strength and look of wood but are made of something much more sustainable: bamboo. It takes decades for a single tree to reach a harvestable size, but a single stem of bamboo, a grass, can grow
Green Features in My Unit
How can walls and floors be green; they’re just walls and floors, right?
over ten feet in one year. Bamboo also multiplies readily, regenerates rapidly, and can thrive on few resources. •Your tiles are composites of recycled materials; they are made largely from recycled materials and required few new resources. • Your wall paint was formulated to emit fewer VOCs than most wall paints. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are emitted from certain products such as paints or cleaners. VOCs in high quantities can be damaging to health and the environment. VOC-free paints are available at most supply stores, should you need touch-ups or repainting.
How do I take proper care of it? •Finishes on bamboo floors can be delicate; most large supply stores should have a cleaner to preserve your floor’s finish. Clean tiles with mild cleaners like Seventh Generation® or Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day®. These cleaners are available at many retailers. Duane Reed also carries a green cleaning line, Apt. 5®.
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Green Resources
Local Resources: Food East New York Farms!
Farmers Markets:
Our two community-run farmers markets make fresh food available and affordable, while building our local economy and creating places for neighbors for meet and greet. The East New York Farmers Market is a community-run market including 23 local gardeners, 3 regional farmers, and 11 local vendors. Together we serve over 14,000. Since 1998 we have been providing fresh produce, homemade and crafts and a safe public space for families in East New York, Brooklyn. Our market is the only place in East New York to find local and organic produce and Caribbean speciality crops like karela, bora, and callaloo. *Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program coupons (FMNP), EBT/Food Stamps and cash are accepted.
Where & When: Saturdays, June - November, 9pm- 3pm @ Schenck Ave. between New Lots and Livonia Aves. Wednesdays, July - October, 3:30pm- 6:30pm @ New Lots Ave. between Alabama and Georgia Aves. Contact: http://www.eastnewyorkfarms.org/
East NYC- Community Supported Agriculture:
The East New York Community Supported Agriculture, a mixed-income CSA, provides an affordable alternative to standard grocery shopping. Our member-run program works to make healthy, fresh, organic food accessible to everyone in the community. By purchasing a CSA share, a family can get a bag of fresh, organic produce at only $10 a week. In the grocery store, this would cost about $20 each week! Even deeper discounts are provided for lowerincome families and purchases made with Food Stamps. Community Supported Agriculture programs are found throughout New York City. Through CSAs, people are able to purchase fresh vegetables and fruits directly from local farms. This means that all of our money goes directly to the farmers, which helps to support our local economy. The East New York CSA works to encourage a healthy and affordable food community that everyone can enjoy. By ensuring the availability of the freshest produce in East New York for people of all income levels, we are working to increase food security in the community by providing universal access to healthy food. Pick up Point: Wednesdays, June 22 - November 23, 5pm to 7:30pm at 862 Glenmore Ave. (@Montauk) *EBT accepted & price subsidized by NYCCAH. Information contact: Nuala or Yakima at Cypress Hills LDC, ph: 718.235.1013 http://eastnycsa.wordpress.com/ Membership contact: New York City Coalition Against Hunger, ph: 212.825.0028 ext. 210 or email eastnycsa@gmail.com
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Local Resources: Food, Community Center New York Farms!
Urban Agriculture:
We grow food for our community and provide support to help others do the same. We manage two urban farms (the UCC Youth Farm and Hands and Heart Garden) and work with an ever-growing network of over fifty gardeners representing over a dozen community and backyard gardens throughout East New York.
Green Resources
East
Contact: http://www.eastnewyorkfarms.org/
Youth Internship:
Over 20 young people participate in our Internship Program every year. In this intensive 9-month program, young people engage in hands-on learning around environment, health, community development, leadership and social justice. Contact: http://www.eastnewyorkfarms.org/
United Community Centers
United Community Center is a community-based organization that provides services and support for residents of East New York, Brooklyn. For over 50 years, we’ve helped foster social change, worked with neighbors to address community concerns, and provided services to help make East New York a better, healthier place to live. Contact: 613 New Lots Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11207 http://www.ucceny.org/
ph: 718.649.7979
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Green Resources
Local Resources: Parks & Recreation
Highland Park
Conveniently located on a high plateau that straddles Queens and Brooklyn, Highland Park offers stunning views of surrounding neighborhoods, the ocean, and nearby cemeteries. Acquired in pieces over time, the park took its present shape between 1906 and 1908, quickly became a popular spot among residents of both boroughs, and continues to play an important role in the community. Children's farm gardens act as hands-on classrooms, barbecue areas serve as meeting grounds for mass celebrations, and numerous tennis courts, baseball fields, handball courts, and basketball courts provide New Yorkers with safe, clean spots for athletic recreation. Contact: http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/highlandpark
Highland Park Children’s Gardens This is the oldest Children’s Garden in the country. Membership is required, and Cypress Hills Verde has a plot for growing food! Contact: Nuala or Yakima at Cypress Hills LDC, 718.235.1013 http://ridgewoodreservoir.blogspot.com/2009/06/highland-park-childrens-garden.html
YMCA- North Brooklyn Branch
The YMCA of Greater New York is a community service organization which promotes positive values through programs that build spirit, mind and body, welcoming all people, with a focus on youth. All YMCA programs teach the core values of Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility and continue our 158-year tradition of emphasis upon youth, health and wellness, adult education, and community collaboration and problem solving. The YMCA of Greater New York gives young people a place to come after school for safe, productive activities that encourage and support academic performance, help to build their self-esteem and develop healthy lifestyles. Among the hundreds of programs offered by the YMCA of Greater New York are a variety of youth programs, including child care, day care and after-school care programs; swimming, sports leagues; instructional classes; evening Teen Centers; counseling and health awareness; life/social skills; mentoring; leadership training and development; service learning; computer training; college/career preparation; day camps and sleep-away camps. Address: 570 Jamaica Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11208 Contact: phone 718.277.1600 or 718.277.1601; fax 718.277.2081 http://www.ymcanyc.org/north-brooklyn/north-brooklyn-home/ Hours: Monday - Sunday, 5am - 12 Midnight
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Local Resources: Cypress Hills LDC www.cypresshills.org
The Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation (CHLDC) was formed in May 1983 by a group of activist residents and merchants. CHLDC is a not-for-profit community organization, serving 8,000 residents a year through a comprehensive array of community service programs and neighborhood development projects.
Career and Educational Development Programs
Administrative Office, Division Director: Lowell Herschberger
Green Resources
Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation
Contact: 625 Jamaica Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11208 ph: 718.647.2800
College Success Programs
College STEPS helps local young people each year to apply to and enter college. We provide individual counseling to assist with the admissions and financial aid process, workshops, and college trips. The Student Success Center, located on the Franklin K. Lane campus, offers the same services on site to students on the campus. •YouthLEAD: YouthLEAD provides GED instruction and employment services for young people, ages 16-24 who are not in school or working. Contact: 2836 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY, 11207 ph: 718.235.8837 •Youth Build: Offers GED instruction and job training and experience in construction for young adults. Participants gain experience, while working on CHLDC’s affordable housing projects. Contact: 832 Jamaica Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11208 ph: 718.277.3600 •Cypress Hills Employment Solutions: Employment placement services for adults in Cypress Hills. Contact: 2836 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY 11207 ph: 718.235.8837 •Adult Education: Cypress Hills offers free English as a Second Language classes. Contact: 528 Ridgewood Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11208 ph: 718.235.1028. Contact: College STEPS: 2810 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY, 11207 ph: 718.484.8531 Student Success Center: 999 Jamaica Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11208 ph: 647.2100 ext. 8705
Community Development
The Community Development Division develops and maintains affordable housing and community facilities to stabilize the neighborhood through construction and renovation of distressed or underutilized properties. Current Projects: •Cypress Hills Community School Permanent Facility project: Substantial renovation of a 52,000 square foot former industrial facility into the 400-seat permanent home of CHCS, a community-founded alternative public school. The building is now completed.
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Green Resources
Local Resources: Cypress Hills LDC Community Development, continued •Cypress Hills Homeownership Initiative Project (CHHIP): Acquisition, rehabilitation and sales of formerly vacant 1-4 family homes to low income, first time homebuyers. Click here for information both in English and Spanish. •Renovation and maintenance of multifamily affordable rental housing: We have created and currently maintain approximately 200 affordable rental apartments in Cypress Hills and East New York with 300 additional units in development. •Vacant land development: We are working to construct affordable housing on vacant land parcels in our neighborhood. •Homeownership Opportunities: There are affordable homes for sale, some with reduced prices. We are taking applications for the Glenmore Grove Condos, which will be placed on a waiting list. Special preference for residents of Brooklyn Community Board 5, and households with persons having mobility, visual or hearing impairments. •Cypress Hills Verde: CHLDC has launched a new, holistic community development initiative called Cypress Hills Verde! The goal of Verde is to make the community a greener, healthier, more sustainable place to live for all of its residents. We envision a livable community with permanently affordable housing, energy efficient homes, businesses, and churches, safe and efficient transportation, access to nutritious, affordable food, and pathways to sustainable, living wage jobs. Contact: 625 Jamaica Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11208 ph: 718.647.2800
Community Organizing
The Community Organizing Division brings local residents together to advocate for positive change in their community. •Cypress Hills Advocates for Education: Parents and residents who work to improve local public schools. •Future of Tomorrow: Young people who organize to improve local high schools. Contact: 3214 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY 11208 ph: 718.647.8100
Cypress Hills Child Care Corporation
A wholly-owned subsidiary of the Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation 3295 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, New York 11208 ph: 718.235.3949 Director: Maria Contreras-Collier •Cypress Hills Family Day Care Network: We train and support neighborhood residents to open family day care businesses in their homes and refer parents to child care services. The Network administers the Child and Adult Care Food Program, which provides family day care providers with subsidies to serve nutritious meals to low income children.
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Local Resources: Cypress Hills LDC •Head Start Program: Full day child care and comprehensive education, health, parental involvement services to low-income families in Cypress Hills. •Cypress Hills Child Care Center: Full day care for families and Universal Pre-K for 4 year olds; admissions and fees set by the NYC Agency for Child Development, based on income, family size and other criteria. Contact: 108 Pine Street, Brooklyn, NY 11208 ph: 718.647.5005
Green Resources
Cypress Hills Child Care Corporation, continued
•Financial Literacy Classes for Women: Education and support in budgeting, savings, credit repair and other financial topics.
Cypress Hills Collegiate Prep
Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation led a planning team of teachers, residents, parents, and CHLDC to staff to create Cypress Hills Collegiate Prep, an alternative public high school, which opened in 2006. •The school includes three distinctive elements: Latin American and Caribbean studies, community service, and college preparation. •Cypress Hills Collegiate Prep offers students an intellectually challenging curriculum and small classes that emphasize developing college level writing and analytical skills. Our belief is that every student can succeed, and will leave high school ready for college. •We use an inquiry-based curriculum, which encourages students to formulate questions based on their own interests, identify resources to explore their questions, and to take ownership over their education and their future. •We have a partnership with Sarah Lawrence College. A private liberal arts college in Westchester County, NY, Sarah Lawrence is known for its seminar style of teaching and strong emphasis on writing Contact: 999 Jamaica Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11416 ph: 718.647.1672 * Located on the FK Lane Campus, not inside FK Lane
Cypress Hills Community School (PS 89) Co-Directors: Irene Greene and Maria Jaya-Vega Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation co-founded the Cypress Hills Community School in 1997 with the NYC Board of Education and a group of activist parents. The school was opened the doors to its newly built permanent location on the corner of Warwick & Atlantic on September 10, 2010, after many years of being housed inside an intermediate school and portable classrooms, and now serves students in grades K-8. •Dual language curriculum: All students learn their subjects in both English and Spanish.
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Green Resources
Local Resources: Cypress Hills LDC Cypress Hills Community School (PS 89), continued •Parent Governance: Parents are actively involved in all levels of decision-making at the school, and the school is led by parent and teacher co-directors. •Our school has small class size, with no more than 18-20 students per classroom, so that all students receive individual attention from teachers. •CHLDC sponsors an afterschool program in the school serving its students Contact: 265 Warwick Street, Brooklyn, NY 11208 ph: 718.964.1180
Economic Development •Access to Public Benefits: Our staff assists residents to use EarnBenefits, a computerized screening tool which helps determine eligibility for public benefits such as Food Stamps and the Earned Income Tax Credit. We also provide free tax prep assistance to low-income families. •Small Business Support: We provide technical assistance to local merchants, and organize a merchants association. Contact: 2832 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY 11207 ph: 718.647.8477
Housing Counseling
Division Director: Rene Arlain Contact: 3214 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY 11208 ph: 718.647.8100 •Homeownership Counseling: As part of the New York Mortgage Coalition, we connect prospective home buyers with ten banks dedicated to increasing minority and low income homeownership and help buyers understand mortgage products and credit reports and obtain affordable mortgage products, closing costs and down payment assistance grants. •First Time Homebuyers Workshops: We run a free, four part workshop series teaching smart home buying practices - - qualifying for a mortgage, savings and budgeting for homeownership, legal aspects of homebuying, inspection of the house prior to purchase and much more. Click here to register for the upcoming seminar. •Foreclosure Prevention Counseling: Help for homeowners falling behind on mortgage payments to negotiate repayment agreements, clear up debt and avoid foreclosure. •Home Repair Loans: We package low interest rate home repair loans and grant applications to weatherize homes.
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Local Resources: Cypress Hills LDC Division Director: Rob Abbot Contact: 625 Jamaica Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11208 ph: 718.647.2800 •School Aged Child Care: We provide high quality, fun afterschool programs to 625 children in several public schools: PS 7, PS 65, PS 89, IS 171, and IS 302. We also provide summer camps. Contact: Director of Youth and Family Services, 625 Jamaica Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11208 ph: 718.647.2800
Green Resources
Youth and Family Services
•Beacon: The Beacon is a school-based community center which provides adult education, including GED, afterschool and summer programs, and recreation, health and fitness for youth and adults. Click here for the Fitness Room brochure information. Contact: IS 302, 350 Linwood Street, Brooklyn, NY 11208 ph: 718.277.3522 •Beacon Family Place: The Beacon Family Place provides family counseling. Contact: IS 302, 350 Linwood Street, Brooklyn, NY 11208 ph: 718.277.9593
Youth and Family Services, continued •Cypress Hills Community Learning Center at IS 171: Offers adult education, including ESL, and after school and summer programs. Contact: IS 171, 528 Ridgewood Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11208 ph: 718.715.8602.
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Local Resources:
Transit, Government &Health Services Map
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Post Office
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*For detailed transit information, visit www.mta.info.
Local Resources:
Transit, Government &Health Services Map
• New York City Fire Department, Engine 252 Emergency Phone: 911 Address: 617 Central Avenue Non-emergency ph: 718.965.8252
Police 1. New York City Police Department, Brooklyn 75th Precinct Emergency Phone: 911 Address: 1000 Sutter Avenue Non-emergency ph: 718.827.3511
Green Resources
Fire Department
2. New York City Police Department, Police Service Area #2 Police Service Area: 718.922.8001 Community Affairs: 718.922.8003 Domestic Violence: 718.922.8019 or 718.922.8020 Auxiliary Coordinator: 718.922.3912 Website: http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/housing_bureau/psa2.shtml Address: 560 Sutter Avenue
Post Office 1. United States Post Office, Cypress Hills Address: 222 Crescent Street ph: 718.277.6057 2. United States Post Office, Ozone Park Annex Address: 7802 Liberty Avenue, Suite 1 ph: 718.843.6776 3. United States Post Office, New Lots Address: 1223 Sutter Avenue
ph: 718.277.0217
4. United States Post Office, East New York Address: 2645 Atlantic Avenue ph: 718.498.3453
Hospital or Medical Center 1. Preferred Health Partners, Lindenwood Center Website: http://www.brooklyndocs.com/location_lindenwood_center.htm Address: 2832 Linden Boulevard ph: 718.240.2000 2. Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center Website: http://brookdalehospital.org/index.php Address: 2554 Linden Boulevard ph: 718.240.5000 •Poison Control Website: http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/poison/poison.shtml Phone: 212.764.7667 or 1.800.222.1222
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Local Resources:
Public Schools Map
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*For detailed transit information, visit www.mta.info.
*The schools shown on this map are those within New York City Public School District 19 that are located closest to Liberty Green Apartments. For further information and a complete list of District 19 Schools, please visit www.schools.nyc.gov
Local Resources:
Public Schools Map
• P.S. 065 Grades: K, 1-5, SE
Address: 696 Jamaica Ave.
ph: 718.235.2223
Address: 200 Linwood St.
ph: 718.277.7010
• P.S. 158: Warkwick Grades: PK, K, 1-5, SE Address: 200 Linwood St.
ph: 718.277.6116
• P.S. 214: Michael Friedsam Grades: PK, K, 1-5, SE Address: 2944 Pitkin Ave.
ph: 718.647.1740
• P.S. 345: Patrolman Robert Bolden Grades: PK, K, 1-5, SE Address: 111 Berriman St.
ph: 718.647.8387
• P.S. 108: Sal Abbracciamento Grades: K, 1-5, SE
Green Resources
Elementary Schools
Intermediate & Middle Schools • P.S. 089: Cypress Hills Grades: PK, K, 1-8, SE
Address: 265 Warwick St.
ph: 718.277.5044
• J.H.S. 166: George Gershwin Grades: 6-8, SE
Address: 800 Van Siclen Ave.
ph: 718.649.0765
• I.S. 171: Abraham Lincoln Grades: 5-8, SE
Address: 528 Ridgewood Ave.
ph: 718.647.0111
• J.H.S. 218: James P. Sinnott Grades: 6-8, SE
Address: 370 Fountain Ave.
ph: 718.277.5044
• J.H.S. 302: Rafael Cordaro Grades: 6-8, SE
Address: 350 Linwood St.
ph: 718.647.9500
• P.S. 420: Franklin K. Lane High School Grades: 9-12, SE Address: 999 Jamaica Ave.
ph: 718.647.2100
• P.S. 510: World Academy for Total Community Health High School Grades: 9-12, SE Address: 400 Pennsylvania Ave.
ph: 718.922.0650
• P.S. 615: Transit Tech Career and Technical Education High School Grades: 9-12, SE Address: 1 Wells St.
ph: 718.647.5204
• P.S. 618: Academy of Innovative Technology Grades: 9-11, SE Address: 999 Jamaica Ave.
ph: 718.827.2469
• P.S. 639: Brooklyn Lab School Grades: 9-11, SE
Address: 999 Jamaica Ave.
ph: 718.235.3592
• P.S. 659: Cypress Hills Collegiate Preparatory School Grades: 9-12, SE Address: 999 Jamaica Ave.
ph: 718.647.1672
High Schools
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Local Resources:
Senior Center, Libraries & Green Retailers Map
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*For detailed transit information, visit www.mta.info.
Local Resources:
Senior Center, Libraries & Green Retailers Map
• Cypress Hills Senior Center
Address: 3208 Fulton St.
ph: 718.827.2487
Libraries
Website: www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org • Arlington Library • Cypress Hills Library • New Lots Library
Address: 203 Arlington Ave. ph: 718.277.6105 Address: 1197 Sutter Ave. ph: 718.277.6004 Address: 665 New Lots Ave. ph: 718.649.0311
Green Resources
Senior Center
Green Product Retailers
• Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day® Products: From: www.mrsmeyers.com: “Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day is an eco-friendly line of aromatherapeutic household cleaners and laundry care that combines hardworking, naturally derived ingredients and essential oils that are tough on dirt, yet gentle on your home and earth. Inspired by Mrs. Thelma A. Meyer’s own garden, our products clean your entire home from top to bottom in a variety of garden-fresh scents... All the products are eco-friendly and environmentally safe. Packaged in recyclable bottles, products are biodegradable, don’t include ammonia, chlorine bleach, parabens or phosphates, and are not tested on animals.” Products are avaialable at these nearby stores: - Bed Bath & Beyond Address: 519 Gateway Dr. ph: 718.235.2049 - Target Address: 519 Gateway Dr. ph: 718.235.6032 - Waldbaums Address: 83-25 153rd Ave. ph: 718.843.5585 - Pathmark Address: 92-10 Atlantic Ave. ph: 718.835.7903
• Clorox Green Works® Products: From www.greenworkscleaners.com: “Meet Green Works®, a line of naturally derived cleaning products brought to you by the people who invented clean: Clorox. Now you can enjoy the best of both worlds — extraordinary cleaning power without harsh chemical fumes or residue.” Products are avaialable at these nearby stores: - Target Address: 519 Gateway Dr. - Waldbaums Address: 83-25 153rd Ave. - Pathmark Address: 92-10 Atlantic Ave. - Rite Aid Pharmacy Address: 1242 Liberty Ave. - Rite Aid Pharmacy Address: 7814 Linden Blvd.
ph: ph: ph: ph: ph:
718.235.6032 718.843.5585 718.835.7903 718.235.7041 718.296.2581
* Check for these products and other natural cleaners at smaller retailers too!
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Green Resources
Online & Phone Resources • Dial: 311 311 is a government informational service that can give you information on
recycling, among a multitude of other community services
• www.earthlab.com Learn ways to save energy and live sustainably • www.business.earth911.org Find out where and how to recycle almost anything • www.epa.gov Access government resources, statistics and educational materials • www.prattcenter.net Learn about local actions, organizations and how you can get involved • www.nyc.gov/greenyc Get fun facts and tips on how to live a green lifestyle in NYC •www.mta.info
Gain access to public and mass transit information, routes, schedules and fares
• www.nyc.gov/wasteless Learn more about New York City’s recycling systems and options • www.madeinnyc.org Learn about local products, services and the people who provide them • www.studiombk.com/StudioMBK/Links.html Link to resources ranging from energy conservation, to food, to living green
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Bibliography It” www.habitatnyc.org. New York City Habitat for Humanity, n.d. Web. 03 March 2011. “Illinois Department of Public Health Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality” www.idph.state. il.us. Illinois Department of Public Health, n.d. Web. 20 April 2011.
Bibliography
“HOMEOWNER’S MANUAL:The What and Why of How We Build and How to Take Care of
“New York City Department of Education School Search” www.schools.nyc.gov/schoolsearch. New York City Department of Education, n.d. Web. 30 May 2011. All photos by Jonathan Warner, Pratt Center for Community Development, or Michelle Lee, Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation.
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