OCV Architects

From right to left: Richman Group’s Bill Traylor, HPD Commissioner Shaun Donovan, Phipps Chairman Ronay Menschel, New York City Councilwoman Maria Baez, NYCHA Chairman Tino Herenandez, New York Municipal, Art Society, Brian Connolly, A representative from Citibank, Phipps President and C.E.O. Adam Winestein, NYCHA Executive Director Doug Apple and Representatives from HDC
  
Phipps Houses and OCV architects have broken ground on Fabria Houses, a new construction project, making a better NY by adding 64 units of affordable housing to the East Village, all part of Mayor Bloomberg's New Housing Marketplace Plan. Fabria is in Partnership with NYCHA, HPD, HDC, Richman Housing Resources, LLC and Citibank.  The groundbreaking ceremony took place on a chilly November 29th 2007 on East 7th Street.  

Partner at OCV Architects Richard Vitto and Phipps Group Matthew Kelly
 
OCV Architects has completed many projects in recent years where authorities, non-profits and the private sector have come together and successfully redeveloped neglected properties in New York City.  According to Phipps Houses Group President and CEO Adam Weinstein, “It has been gratifying to see the City’s major housing agencies…come together with the community, elected officials and Phipps Houses to make new affordable housing units possible…We look forward to many more such partnerships with government and the private sector to produce affordable housing for New Yorkers in need.”

New York City Housing Authority Chairman Tino Hernandez addresses the crowd.
Center: Brian Conolly of the Municipal Arts Society of New York
 
All of the units accommodate households earning $42,540 for a family of four or $29,760 for a single person.  Twenty percent of the units will be marked for households earning up to $28,360 for a family of four or $19,840 for a single household.  The rehabilitation of the existing structures at 410, 426 and 428 East 11th Street will yield 27 units and the land from 212-214 East 7th Street to 617-621 East 9th Street will yield 37 new units.

Background: Phipps Chairman Ronay Menschel
Foreground: Councilwoman Maria Baez
 

Phipps Bob Pinkuss and OCV Architects Partner, Sara Arnold

From left to right:
NYCHA Executive Director Doug Apple, OCV Architects Sara Arnold and Carla Pena, NYCHA Chairman Tino Hernandez

Far right:
Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer

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October 2007, New York, NY: At its annual Gala / Fund Raiser, SHNNY honored The Christopher residence in Manhattan and The Cornerstone Residence in Newburgh as their “Residences of the Year”— both designed by OCV Architects.

Common Ground Community sponsored the Christopher to provide urban housing for homeless adults and for teens aging out of Foster Care. Safe Harbors on the Hudson spearheaded the partnership to build the Cornerstone residence — an example of what a community can provide for it’s neediest while revitalizing the community as a whole. This Newburgh, N.Y. residence houses families and artists as well as small businesses and a theater.

430 Network members attended the event including OCV's Richard Vitto, architect of the two outstanding projects. Mr. Vitto has been designing supportive housing for most of his 30+year career in architecture and this unprecedented SHNNY double honor is a testament to his vision.

SHNNY published a gala journal highlighting the event contributors and honorees. The journal states "The Cornerstone Residence is a stunning example of supportive housing addressing the needs of homeless and at-risk New Yorkers. The Network is proud to honor the Cornerstone as a Residence of the Year." The Gala journal (pdf) also pointed out the timeliness of each projects' ‘green’ features and went on to state: "… the Christopher is an exceptional supportive residence that brings out the best in architectural and program design to help more than 200 homeless and housing-needy residents rebuild their lives."

The projects are also extraordinary transformations of existing structures. In these cases, the rehabilitation of a former YMCA and a former grand Hotel makes these buildings examples of the contribution cities, large and small, can expect of forgotten properties. Both projects also focus on space, light and the latest in sustainable materials, finishes and design approach, while working within the budget constraints publicly funded developments traditionally encounter.

“It was a pleasure and an honor to work with these two fine organizations.” Mr. Vitto stated. “Both projects involved complex phasing and construction organization due to the need to accommodate existing occupancies. This coupled with the requirements of multiple programs made each project a fascinating challenge.” 

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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.”

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OCV’s “Jacob's Place”, the first low-income and green apartment building in the nation, had a ribbon cutting ceremony October 15 which was featured on FOXe News. The broadcast focused on the remarkable green features of the building and can be viewed online at MyFox.com. 

Green Architecture benefits families as well as the environment. At Jacob's Place, materials were chosen to make the building healthier for Tenants, especially with regard to people suffering from asthma. All  finishes and furnishings have low-impact on the air quality in the building.

Materials were also chosen for their durability, sustainability and energy efficiency. All apartments have energy efficient windows and appliances as well as sustainable and durable bamboo flooring. (For more information on the sustainability of bamboo floors, visit economicallysound.com)

But perhaps the most compelling green features cover the roof. 64 solar panels and a garden bed planted with a low growing sedum were an important part of OCV architect’s green design. The panels save on energy and it's costs to the families by producing enough power to operate the elevators and light the common area.

Low-growing succulents, like the Sedum at Jacob's Place, add insulation — cutting costs and saving energy, but also having an impact beyond the building itself. The Sedum absorbs water, taking some burden off the city's storm system. Migratory birds also use green bed to rest on their seasonal routes. (For more information on planting for Green Rooftops, visit greenroofs.org.)
 

As New York City grows, affordable housing is more and more in demand, and the creation of housing like Jacob's Place helps keeps this growth sustainable for the environment, the city infrastructure and the people of New York. 

Jack Coogan (far left), Partner at OCV Architects, attends the ribbon cutting ceremony for Jacob's Place.

Also from left to right: Ivine Galarza (Community Board 6 District Manager), Shaun Donovan (NYC HPD Commissioner), José Rivera (US Congressman), Four members of the Jacobo family?(including Ana Jacobo – Astin’s wife), Joel Rivera (NYC Council Majority Leader)

John Reilly (Executive Director Fordham Bedford Housing Corporation), Cindy Wymore (Director, Government & Public Affairs, BP America – BP Solar), Ed Norton (Actor, Enterprise Board of Directors), Abby Jo Sigal (Vice President and New York Director, Enterprise), Elliot J. Hobbs (Vice President – JP Morgan Chase) 

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OCV Architects is making a better New York with the completion of a 48 unit supportive-housing site. A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place with New York City’s Community Counseling and Mediation organization (CCM http://www.ccmnyc.org ) and many of NYC’s distinguished housing and development officials.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the opening of a new supportive housing facility in the center of Brooklyn. Notable attendees were sponsors and supporters of the CCM organization’s ‘Georgia’s Place’ named after their founding chairperson, the late Dr. Georgia McMurray. Distinguished ribbon cutters included Ruthann Pickering (NYS OTDA HHAP), Timothy O’Hanlon (NYC HPD), Luis Acosta (NYS DHCR), Laura Grund (NYC DHMH), Mike Litvin (HUD), and George Nashack (NYC DHS).

Richard Vitto, Founding Partner at OCV architects, headed up the 2-year project. It is one of many in his career as an urban supportive-housing architecture specialist.

Georgia's Place will be welcoming residents who are homeless and in need of mental health services. This new construction in Bedford-Stuyvesant supports the 48 private units with an on-site mental health clinic, a communal dining room, dining terrace, basketball court and a common room. The architecture is all designed by OCV to provide inviting homes for people with special needs.

Over the years Richard Vitto has partnered with many local non-profits and government agencies as the architect of facilities designed to house, help and re-acclimate people. His experience as an architect has given him skills to help non-profits cope with the financial, community and functional issues as well as the architectural design and construction of these havens. Mr. Vitto believes that certain critical architectural features — like open, light and comfortable common spaces — are an investment in the future of the less fortunate and the community at large. “Building something of quality for this population,” Vitto says, “revives the communal heart of a neighborhood and inspires us, and the surrounding residents, to take care of each other — making a better New York.”

Amy Larovere, consultant to CCM and many affordable housing agencies, highly recommends OCV Architects to all of her clients. “The design is thoughtful - beautiful,” Ms. Larovere said, “OCV helps to navigate the bureaucratic process. They do their job and I don’t worry about it." She went on to state, “Rich Vitto is well-respected by City and State agencies, non-profits and foundations.”
 

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OCV Architects is making a better New York through the use of green architecture techniques at “Jacob’s Place,” a 63-unit affordable-housing construction project being built on Webster Avenue. Green architecture has become a fashionable buzzword in New York City housing, but OCV has made it a reality with beautiful, practical, eco-friendly buildings while maintaining their long-established style of community-inspired architecture. The finished work will include lush green roofs, highly durable bamboo floors and energy-efficient appliances.

Architect Jack Coogan, founding partner of OCV Architects, gave a tour of the sites, which include:

• Jacob’s Place, a 63 unit affordable housing development and daycare center.
• 2241 Webster Avenue, a rehabilitated tenement with green features
• A community computer training center
• A community playground.

On the tour were Elliot Spitzer, NY Attorney General, and Edward Norton, actor, activist and stakeholder in the Enterprise Foundation that is one of the sponsors of the multi-site project.

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