OCV Architects

Norwood News: "Making a Mark"
Published in the November 1, 2007 Edition

Norwood News article about the departure of Pat Logan from the Fordham Bedford Housing Corporation after a decade of making a better New York. OCV's Jacob's Place is mentioned as his latest achievement.

Norwood News: "Affordable and 'Green' Building Honors Activist"
Published in the Oct. 18 - 31, 2007 Edition

This Norwood News feature describes the legacy of Bronx activist Astin Jacobo as it is hornored by the creation of Jacob's Place, the first "Green" supportive Housing project in the U.S.

| Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Located in Manhattan's Financial District, The Calremont Preparatory School is the result of a brilliant rehabilitation of the former Bank of America Headquarters. The new 120,000 square foot private school
accomodates 1000 students pre-K through 8. The project won the Historic Preservation Award from the State of New York, and has been featured in the news since the groundbreaking in 2004.

The grand banking hall was restored and outfitted as a grand auditorium. Interior bank offices were reconfigured to provide new classrooms, laboratories, offices and an Olympic length swimming pool. The bank vault is now a new cafeteria and the bank roof now holds a state-of-the-art gymnasium with a playground on its' rooftop.


"Renovation Project Takes New Prep School to the Bank June 21, 2004"

This New York Times article talks about the rennovation.


"Near Ground Zero, a Mixed-Use Revival September 9, 2007"

This subsequent article comments on the new optimism in the Financial District since 9/11.

| Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Published: October 19, 2007
By Kelly Sheehan, Online News Editor

New York—Enterprise Community Partners and Fordham Bedford Housing Corp., a community developer that creates and preserves affordable housing, has completed Jacob’s Place, a 63-unit environmentally friendly affordable housing complex in the Bronx in New York City.

John Reilly of Fordham Bedford Housing Corp. tells MHN that the project broke ground in August 2005. It includes a solar electric system (pictured) provided through the Solar Neighbors Program, a unique partnership created by Enterprise and BP.

Under the Solar Neighbors Program, every time a participating celebrity purchases a BP solar system for his or her home, BP donated a similar system to be installed on a low-income family’s home. Enterprise identifies these low-income families and affordable housing developers.

In this particular case, Jacob’s Place was provided with an 11 kW, 64-panel electric power system that will provide energy to common areas and elevators as well as for ventilation. Actor and director Owen Wilson, who purchased a solar system for his home, made the solar panel donation to Jacob’s Place possible. The New York State Energy and Research Development Authority (NYSERDA) provided half of the total cost of the solar system.

“Environmentally friendly housing is important not only for low-income residents who suffer disproportionately from high energy costs and environment-related health issues, such as asthma and high blood lead levels, but also for the environment as a whole,” says Abby Sigal, vice president and director of Enterprise New York. “Enterprise has put such tremendous resources behind its Green Communities program because we believe that building green is a necessity, not a luxury, in low-income neighborhoods.”

Continue reading this article  >

| Permalink | TrackBacks (0)