Liberty Green Renter's Manual
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Transcript of Liberty Green Renter's Manual
Green Renters’ Manual: Liberty Green Apartments119 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
I. Building Overview pg. 1-4
•Goinggreen •Mybuilding’sgreenfeatures
II. Green Amenities in the Common Areas pg. 5-8
•Elevator •Lobby&mailroom •Communityroom •Recycling •Playground&garden •Laundry •Lighting III. Green Features in My Unit pg. 9-16
•Appliances: •Oven&rangehood •Refrigerator •Fixtures: •Faucets,showerhead&toilet •Heating •Airconditioner •Lighting •Finishes: •Windows •Walls&flooring
IV. Green Resources pg. 17-31
•Localresources: •Food,communitycenter •Parks&recreation •CypressHillsLocalDevelopmentCorporation •Localresourcemaps: •Transit,emergency&medicalservices,postoffices •PublicSchools •Seniorcenter,libraries,greenretailers •Online&phoneresources
V. Bibliography pg. 32
Index
I. Building Overview
01
Build
ing
Ove
rvie
w
‘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,orlimittheiruseofnon-renewableresources.Theseactionsarealldifferentbuteach
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 gen-
erations.
Cypress Hills Local Develoment Corporation (CHLDC), the developer of this building, has a
commitment to being ‘green’ and mindful about the environment throughout their opera-
tions,andthisbuildingisnoexception.CHLDChasputforththeutmosteffortinreducing
costs and keeping this building afforadble for tenants, all the while improving indoor and
outdoor air quality and protecting the environment.
Theseeffortsandthecontinuedcommitmenttoqualitylivingandenvironmentalsupport
invested in this building are part of an organizational commitment, the Cypress Hills Verde!
initiative.TheVerde!initiativeistheembodimentofavisionofalivablecommunitywith
permanentlyaffordablehousing,energyefficienthomes,safeandefficienttransportation,
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.
Thismanualisaboutthebuilding,butasyouincreaseawarenessabouthowyourchoices
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’ inreal-
tiontofood,activity,communityinvolvementandsomanyotherthings.That’swhywealso
included a resource section in the back that can take you where this book stops!
02
About my building:A building can be considered ‘green’ by the choice
ofconstructionmaterialsused,theefficiencyof
the energy systems implemented, and the life-
style the building promotes.
Your building incorporates all three approaches,
though they may not be readily apparent as you
goaboutyourdailylife.Thisoverviewhighlights
the green features of which you might have en-
joyedthebenefitswithouteverknowingoftheir
existence.
Materials:Thereisawidevarietyofgreenmaterialsavail-
able 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 en-
hance 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 envi-
ronmentstaysinyourbuilding.Thesematerials
include:
Roofing:
•Averageof6”-thickrigidinsulation(avg.R-37);
awell-insulatedroofpreventsheatexchangte
with outside air, which saves energy and ensures a
comfortable building temperature year round.
Building Overview
My Building’s Green Features
03
Build
ing
Ove
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w
My Building’s Green FeaturesRoofing continued:
•High-emissivetoplayer;thelightcolorofthe
roofreflectslightwhichkeepsthebuildingand
its surroundings cooler, reducing cooling costs
in hot weather.
Walls & Insulation:
•21/8”-thickXPSfoaminsulationinbuilding
walls(R-17.5);thisinsulationexceedsNYC
standards to reduce your energy bills without
reducing yourcomfort.
•2”-thickrigidinsulationonallfoundation
wallsandflooredgewalls(R-13);thisinsula-
tion reduces the loss of heat through the foun-
dationsandtheadjacentflooredges.
Windows:
•Custom,Argon-filled,low-Ealuminumwin-
dows(U-0.37);Argonfillingbetweenpanes
actsasinsulationtominimizeheatexchange
between the indoors and out. Custom, remov-
able panels avoid the need for A/C sleeves,
which let heat escape in the winter.
Energy Systems:
Energysystems,whichprovidebuildingswith
heat, cooling and water, are the largest op-
portunities for a building to save or squander
energy.Traditionalsystemshavereliedoncoal
or oil burning that produces harmful chemicals
and depletes non-renewable resources, the
harvesting of which has also proven to be envi-
ronmentally devastating. By-product minimiza-
tion and resource distribution were secondary
to production, but new systems have shifted
focus to equally focus on all three. New sys-
tems rely on cleaner energy sources and focus
ontheefficientdistributionand,when
04
My Building’s Green Features
Appliances
possible,recaptureofresources.Thesemea-
sures reduce initial environmental impact and
continue to save resources, energy and money
throughefficientoperation.
Your building implements cutting edge, high
efficiencysystemstomaximizefunctional-
itywhileminimizingenergyexpenditureand
waste.Thesesystemsinclude:
Heat & Water:
•LAARSRheosmodulating“smart”hydronic
heatingboilerhasanefficiencylevelof87%,
meaningitissignificantlymoreenergyeffi-
cient than standard boilers.
•TURBOMAXhigh-efficiencyhotwaterheaters
•Variablefrequencydrivepumpsdeliverheat
only when called for, preventing energy waste.
Air:
•Ventilationandexhaustsystemsaredesigned
to assure indoor air quality while reducing
buildingheatloss.Specialattentionispaidto
correctly sealing all duct joints.
•AHeatRecoveryVentilator,ontheroof,
capturesheatfromexhaustedairtowarmair
coming in to the building. (photo bottom right)
Lifestyle Choices:Thebuiltenvironmentimpactsthelifestyle
choiceswemake,whichwhichcansignificantly
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.
II. Green Amenitiesin the Common Areas
05
Gre
en A
men
itie
s About my Elevator:•Make:Kone
•Model:Ecospace
What’s special about this elevator?•Mostpeopleprobablydon’tthinkofenergy
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.Elevatorsalsohavenolightswitches,
sothelightsarealwayson.Thiselevatorhas
beenengineeredtobeasefficientaspos-
sible while moving people and cargo between
floors.Allofthelightsintheelevatorare
LED,sotheyuseaslittleenergyandemitas
little heat as technology allows.
How can I save energy on the elevator?•Themostenergy-efficientelevatoristhe
unusedone.Elevatorsareintendedforuse
by the eldery or disabled and those bearing
heavy loads; if you are none of those, try tak-
ingthestairs.Stairsarelocatedattheendof
either hallway, and taking them saves energy
and boosts your personal health.
•Donotpressthe‘CloseDoor’buttonunless
youaretrulyinanurgentsituation.Thedoor
closes best on it’s own mechanism.
What if I have problems or questions?•Contactyoursuper.
Elevator
06
Green Am
enities
Lobby & Mailroom, Community Room
About my Community Room:Thecommunityroomhasaclimatecontrol
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.
About my Lobby & Mailroom:Thoughthelobbyandmailroomaremore
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?•Thewallsofthelobbyaresurfacedwith
Plyboo® wall panels, which are crafted from
bamboo.Thesepanelsarefreeofharmful
chemicals, and Bamboo is quickly grown, and
easily harvested.
•ThemailboxshelfismadeofIceStone®,
which is an award-winning material made
from100%recycledglassandcement.Itis
also manufactured in Brooklyn, which provides
local jobs.
•Likeallcommonareasofthebuilding,all
lightingfixturesinthelobby&mailroomare
outfittedwithLEDand/orCFLbulbs.
07
About my playground & tenant garden:TheplaygroundandTenantGarden,runin
conjunctionwithEastNewYorkFarms!,have
numerousgreenbenefits.
•Theplaygroundsurfaceismadefromall
recycled materials, which preserves resources
while preventing waste.
•Soilallowsrainwaterreturntotheground-
water system instead of causing runoff and
overflowintothecity’salreadyoverburdened
pipes.Plantsabsorbandnaturallyfilterwater;
theyalsoemitoxygenandimproveairquality.
•Outdooractivity,asidefromrequiringnoen-
ergy consumption, promotes physical, mental
and emotional health.
About my recycling area:Eachfloorhousesa‘RefuseRoom’whereyou
can take all of your recycling and garbage
for disposal. Bagged and sealed garbage goes
down the chute with the silver door; a non-
disposables list is above on a red sign.
What can I recycle?•Officepaper,newspaper,andcleancard-board go in the container labeled ‘Paper’.
•Plasticbottleandjugs,glassbottles,cans,tin foil and other household metals go in the container with the clear blue bag.
What do I need to do to recycle?
•Allitemsshouldbecleanedpriortorecy-
cling; soup cans are recyclable, soup is not.
•Sharporbrokenobjectsshouldbewrapped
in cardboard or double-bagged and labeled.
Recycling,Playground&Garden
Gre
en A
men
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s
08
About my laundry room:Your laundry room is equipped with high ef-
ficiency(HE)washingmachinesanddryers.
HEmachinesaredesignedtosaveenergyand
money when maintained and used correctly.
Thoroughinstructionsarepostedonthebul-
letin board, but here are a few reminders:
•HEwashersuselesswaterandneedlessde-
tergent. If using regular detergent, only use
halftherecommendedamount.SpecialHE
detergents are available at large retailers.
•Cleanlinttrapssaveenergyandensureyour
clothes dry more quickly.
•Washingclothesincoldwaterprevents
color-bleeding and saves heating energy.
•Airdryingsavesenergyandhelpsmaintain
fabrics like wool or athletic material.
About my building’s lighting:All lighting in the communal areas of the
buildingiseitherlightemittingdiode(LED)or
compactfluorescent(CFL).LEDs&CFLsuse
far less energy and last much longer than or-
dinarybulbs,whileemittingpurerlight!LEDs
&CFLsevensaveoncoolingbillsbecause
they create so little heat.
•Halllightsaresettoconserveenergy.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 oper-
ate on a sensor system to eliminate energy
waste. If a sensor is defective, please inform
the super.
Laundry, Lighting
Green Am
enities
III. Green Features in My Unit
09
Gre
en F
eatu
res
in M
y U
nit
Appliances:Oven&RangeHoodAbout my oven & rangehood:•OvenMake:GeneralElectric
•OvenModel:JGBP27DEM
•HoodMake:Broan
What’s special about this oven & hood?Gas ranges like yours are far more energy ef-
ficientthanelectricones.Thismodel’ssolid
surface and simplicty of materials also makes
iteasiertoclean.Therangehoodhasbeen
certifiedbytheHomeVentilationInstitute,
HVI®,forexcellentperformance.
How do I take proper care of it?•Keeptheovendoorclosedwhileitisinuse;
opening a hot oven releases a lot of heat and
reduces the oven temperature by upwards of
20 degrees.
•Makesuregasheadsremainclean;spilled
foods could clog holes and create ignition
problems. Heads should only be cleaned when
the stove top is off and cool.
•Cleanheadsandtheovenorhoodsurfaces
with dish soap and a cloth or sponge. Foods,
especially those high in acidity, are best re-
moved promptly; they could damage the oven
surface if left on too long.
What if I have problems or questions?•Checktheowner’smanual,whichshouldbe
in your kitchen.
•Checkthemanufacturers’websitesformore
information:www.ge.com&www.nutone.com
•Contactyoursuper.
10
About my refrigerator:•Make:GeneralElectric
•Model:GTH18IBXCRWW
What’s special about this refrigerator?•Anordinaryrefrigeratorcanusemoreen-
ergy than any other appliance in your home.
Thisparticularmodelhasbeenverifiedfor
energyperformacebyCSAInternational.This
means it saves energy and money through
betterinsulation,anefficientmotorand
more precise temperature control.
How do I take proper care of it?•Keepthetempereatureinyourrefrigerator
between35and38ºF.Keepyourfreezerat
precisely0ºF.Thiswillsavethemostenergy
and best preserve your foods.
•Minimizethetimethedoorisopen,and
makesurethedoorisfirmlyclosedwhennot
in use.
•Cleansurfaceswithmild,non-abrasive
cleanersuchasClorox®GreenWorks,Simple
Green®,orMrs.Meyer’sCleanDay®.These
cleaners are readily available at most retail-
ers.
What if I have problems or questions?•Checktheowner’smanual,whichshouldbe
in your kitchen.
•Checkthemanufacturer’swebsiteformore
information: www.ge.com
•Contactyoursuper.
Appliances: Refrigerator
Green Features in M
y Unit
11
About my water fixtures:Your faucets, both in your kitchen and bath-
room,andshowerheadarealloutfittedwith
Moen‘lowflow’heads,meaningthatthey
have been engineered to use less water while
performing to the same standard as any other
faucet.Yourtoiletisalsowater-efficient,
usingonlyonegallonperflush.Usinglow
flowfixturesisanextremelyhelpful,every-
daywaytohelpconservethelessthan1%of
the world’s water that all of humanity has to
share.
How do I take proper care of them?•Careisjustlikeanyotherfaucet.Using
naturalcleanersfromClorox®GreenWorks,
SeventhGeneration®orMrs.Meyer’sClean
Day® keeps harmful chemicals out of the
watersupplyandreducesstrainonfiltration
systems.Thesecleanersarereadilyavailable
at most retailers.
How else can I save water?•Turnthewateroffwhilebrushingyour
teeth, and don’t leave running water unat-
tended.
•Whileitdoesnotsavewater,washingdishes
or showering at night helps reduce strain on
local water systems since peak demand gen-
erally occurs during the day.
•Drinktapwater.Morewatergoesintothe
production of a bottle of water than the
bottle itself contains.
What if I have problems or questions?•Contactyoursuper.
Fixtures:Faucets,Showerhead&Toilet
Gre
en F
eatu
res
in M
y U
nit
12
Green Features in M
y Unit
Fixtures: HeatingAbout my heating system:•Bydefinition,heatingsystemsuseenergy
to maintain your indoor environment at a
comfortablelevel.Typically,sixtypercentof
residential energy use is devoted to heating
andcooling,whichmeansthatefficient
systems and proper use can save a lot of
energy and money. Banded heating systems
likeyoursaremoreefficientthanmany
systems because they release heat low to the
ground and over a long area, thus supporting
an easy-to-monitor environment that is
created in large part by natural heat transfer
instead of pushing air around with motorized
fans.
How can I help my system work?•Keepthetemperaturesteadyaround
68to75ºF.Thismiddle-rangetakesless
energy to achieve and maintain while keeping
you warm and comfortable in cold weather.
•Minimizethetimetherefrigeratoror
freezer door is open; the introduction of cold
air can put undue strain on your system.
•Don’topenyourwindows.Ifyouaretoo
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.
•Keepfurnitureandotheritemsclearof
vents,astheywillhinderairflow.Keepyour
vents clean with a duster or damp rag.
What if I have problems or questions?•Contactyoursuper.
13
Fixtures:AirConditioning
Gre
en F
eatu
res
in M
y U
nit About air conditioning systems:
•Bydefinition,airconditioninguses
energy to pull in atmospheric air, lower its
temperature and disperse it through your
home in order to maintain your indoor
environmentatacomfortablelevel.While
this function is not necessarily green, it is
necessary. Proper use, especially in relation
to other features of your apartment, can
maximizeyoursystem’sefficiencyand
minimize unnecessary energy loss.
How can I help my system work?•Onlyyoursupercanproperlysizeand
install a window air conditioning unit. If you
desireawindowunit,contacthimfirst. An
inappropriately sized or installed unit will
waste energy and fail to meet your needs.
•Keepthetemperaturesteadyataround
73to79ºF.Thismiddle-rangetakesless
energy to achieve and maintain while keeping
you comfortable in warm weather.
•Minimizethetimetheovendoorisopen;
the introduction of very hot air into your
apartment can put undue strain on
your system.
•Don’topenyourwindowswhiletheair
conditionerisrunning.Thesealaroundyour
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?•Contactyoursuper.
14
Fixtures: Lighting
Green Features in M
y Unit
What’s different about my lights?Allofthelightingfixturesinyourapartment
areoutfittedwithcompactfluorescent
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’tlightanemptyroomoranempty
apartment.Turnlightsoffasyouleavea
room or your apartment.
•Whenpossible,duringdaylighthours,save
energy by leaving overhead lights off and
using natural light.
•Whenreplacingbulbs,usetherightbulbfor
thefixture;compatibilitymeansefficiency.
What if I have problems or questions?•Ifalightbulbburnsout,checkforthe
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’ttrytoreplaceburntoutbulbswitha
standardlightbulb.Yourfixturesaredesigned
forusewithspecificbulbtypesandmay
not function properly if other types are
substitued.
•Whenrecyclinganoldbulb,wrapitinpaper
or shopping bags to ensure workers’ safety.
•Ifyouhavetroublelocatingthebulb’smodel
number, contact your super.
15
Gre
en F
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Finishes:WindowsAbout my windows:•Windowsaffectenergyconsumptiondirectly
and indirectly. All windows let in outdoor
light, which reduces need for electric light-
ing.Somewindowswasteenergybytransfer-
ring heat into or out of the indoor environ-
ment, but your custom-made windows are
double-paned and insulated with Argon gas to
minimizeheatexchangeandcutenergycosts.
How can my windows save energy?•Thetightsealaroundyourwindowsensures
stability of your indoor environment, which
helps your heating and air conditioning sys-
temexpendlessenergy.
•TheArgoninsulationminimizesheatex-
change with the outdoors, making sure you
stay cool when it’s hot outside and vice versa.
•Duringtheday,yourwindowscanreplace
overhead lights. If it’s too bright, adjust the
curtains or blinds before turning on a light.
How do I care for my windows?•Cleaningyourwindowswithnaturalclean-
ers keeps chemicals out of the air and your
lungs.Clorox®GreenWorks,SeventhGen-
eration® and Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day®, are
natural cleaners available at many retailers
and large stores like Home Depot or Lowes.
•Windowcleanercanbemadefrom4table-
spoons of lemon juice to 1 gallon of water.
Coffeefiltersarecompostableandmakegood
window wipes.
What if I have problems or questions?•Contactyoursuper.
16
How can walls and floors be green; they’re just walls and floors, right?•Wallsandfloorsdonotactivelyexpend
energy, but a lot of energy and resources can
go in to their production. Additionally, some
finishescanemitharmfulchemicalsintoyour
home.
•Yourfloorshavethestrengthandlookof
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
over ten feet in one year. Bamboo also mul-
tiplies readily, regenerates rapidly, and can
thrive on few resources.
•Yourtilesarecompositesofrecycledma-
terials; they are made largely from recycled
materials and required few new resources.
•Yourwallpaintwasformulatedtoemit
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?•Finishesonbamboofloorscanbedelicate;
most large supply stores should have a clean-
ertopreserveyourfloor’sfinish.Cleantiles
withmildcleanerslikeSeventhGeneration®
orMrs.Meyer’sCleanDay®.Thesecleaners
are available at many retailers. Duane Reed
also carries a green cleaning line, Apt. 5®.
Finishes:Walls,Flooring
Green Features in M
y Unit
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.TheEastNewYorkFarmersMarketisacommunity-runmarketincluding23localgardeners,3regionalfarmers,and11localvendors.Togetherweserveover14,000.Since1998wehave been providing fresh produce, homemade and crafts and a safe public space for fami-liesinEastNewYork,Brooklyn.OurmarketistheonlyplaceinEastNewYorktofindlocaland 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,[email protected],July-October,3:30pm-6:[email protected].
Contact: http://www.eastnewyorkfarms.org/
East NYC- Community Supported Agriculture:TheEastNewYorkCommunitySupportedAgriculture,amixed-incomeCSA,providesanaf-fordable alternative to standard grocery shopping. Our member-run program works to make healthy,fresh,organicfoodaccessibletoeveryoneinthecommunity.BypurchasingaCSAshare, a family can get a bag of fresh, organic produce at only $10 a week. In the grocery store,thiswouldcostabout$20eachweek!Evendeeperdiscountsareprovidedforlower-incomefamiliesandpurchasesmadewithFoodStamps.
CommunitySupportedAgricultureprogramsarefoundthroughoutNewYorkCity.ThroughCSAs,peopleareabletopurchasefreshvegetablesandfruitsdirectlyfromlocalfarms.Thismeans that all of our money goes directly to the farmers, which helps to support our local economy.TheEastNewYorkCSAworkstoencourageahealthyandaffordablefoodcom-munitythateveryonecanenjoy.ByensuringtheavailabilityofthefreshestproduceinEastNew 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,June22-November23,5pmto7:30pmat862GlenmoreAve.(@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:NewYorkCityCoalitionAgainstHunger,ph:212.825.0028ext.210 [email protected]
17
Gre
en R
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rces
Local Resources: Food
18
Local Resources: Food, Community Center
Green Resources
East New York Farms!
Urban Agriculture: Wegrowfoodforourcommunityandprovidesupporttohelpothersdothesame.Weman-age two urban farms (the UCC Youth Farm and Hands and Heart Garden) and work with an ever-growingnetworkofoverfiftygardenersrepresentingoveradozencommunityandbackyardgardensthroughoutEastNewYork.
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 sup-portforresidentsofEastNewYork,Brooklyn.Forover50years,we’vehelpedfostersocialchange, worked with neighbors to address community concerns, and provided services to helpmakeEastNewYorkabetter,healthierplacetolive.
Contact: 613 New Lots Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11207 ph: 718.649.7979 http://www.ucceny.org/
19
Gre
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LocalResources:Parks&Recreation Highland Park
Conveniently located on a high plateau that straddles Queens and Brooklyn, Highland Park of-fers 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 serveasmeetinggroundsformasscelebrations,andnumeroustenniscourts,baseballfields,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
ThisistheoldestChildren’sGardeninthecountry.Membershipisrequired,andCypressHillsVerde has a plot for growing food!
Contact: Nuala or Yakima at Cypress Hills LDC, 718.235.1013http://ridgewoodreservoir.blogspot.com/2009/06/highland-park-childrens-garden.html
YMCA- North Brooklyn Branch
TheYMCAofGreaterNewYorkisacommunityserviceorganizationwhichpromotespositivevalues 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 Responsi-bility and continue our 158-year tradition of emphasis upon youth, health and wellness, adult education,andcommunitycollaborationandproblemsolving.TheYMCAofGreaterNewYorkgives young people a place to come after school for safe, productive activities that encour-age 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,sportsleagues;instructionalclasses;eveningTeenCenters;counselingandhealthawareness; life/social skills; mentoring; leadership training and development; service learn-ing; computer training; college/career preparation; day camps and sleep-away camps.
Address: 570JamaicaAvenueBrooklyn,NY11208
Contact:phone718.277.1600or718.277.1601;fax718.277.2081 http://www.ymcanyc.org/north-brooklyn/north-brooklyn-home/
Hours:Monday-Sunday,5am-12Midnight
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Local Resources: Cypress Hills LDCCypress Hills Local Development Corporationwww.cypresshills.org
TheCypressHillsLocalDevelopmentCorporation(CHLDC)wasformedinMay1983byagroupofactivistresidentsandmerchants.CHLDCisanot-for-profitcommunityorganization,serving 8,000 residents a year through a comprehensive array of community service programs and neighborhood development projects.
Career and Educational Development ProgramsAdministrativeOffice,DivisionDirector:LowellHerschberger
Contact:625JamaicaAvenue,Brooklyn,NY11208ph:718.647.2800
College Success ProgramsCollegeSTEPShelpslocalyoungpeopleeachyeartoapplytoandentercollege.Weprovideindividualcounselingtoassistwiththeadmissionsandfinancialaidprocess,workshops,andcollegetrips.TheStudentSuccessCenter,locatedontheFranklinK.Lanecampus,offersthe same services on site to students on the campus.
•YouthLEAD: YouthLEADprovidesGEDinstructionandemploymentservicesforyoungpeople,ages16-24who are not in school or working. Contact:2836FultonStreet,Brooklyn,NY,11207ph:718.235.8837
•Youth Build: OffersGEDinstructionandjobtrainingandexperienceinconstructionforyoungadults.Par-ticipantsgainexperience,whileworkingonCHLDC’saffordablehousingprojects.Contact:832JamaicaAvenue,Brooklyn,NY11208ph:718.277.3600
•Cypress Hills Employment Solutions: EmploymentplacementservicesforadultsinCypressHills.Contact:2836FultonStreet,Brooklyn,NY11207ph:718.235.8837
•Adult Education: CypressHillsoffersfreeEnglishasaSecondLanguageclasses.Contact: 528 Ridgewood Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11208 ph: 718.235.1028.
Contact: CollegeSTEPS:2810FultonStreet,Brooklyn,NY,11207ph:718.484.8531StudentSuccessCenter:999JamaicaAvenue,Brooklyn,NY11208ph:647.2100ext.8705
Community DevelopmentTheCommunityDevelopmentDivisiondevelopsandmaintainsaffordablehousingandcom-munity facilities to stabilize the neighborhood through construction and renovation of dis-tressed or underutilized properties.
Current Projects:•CypressHillsCommunitySchoolPermanentFacilityproject:Substantialrenovationofa52,000squarefootformerindustrialfacilityintothe400-seatpermanenthomeofCHCS,acommunity-foundedalternativepublicschool.Thebuildingisnow completed.
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Community Development, continued
•Cypress Hills Homeownership Initiative Project (CHHIP): Acquisition,rehabilitationandsalesofformerlyvacant1-4familyhomestolowincome,firsttimehomebuyers.ClickhereforinformationbothinEnglishandSpanish.
•Renovation and maintenance of multifamily affordable rental housing: Wehavecreatedandcurrentlymaintainapproximately200affordablerentalapartmentsinCypressHillsandEastNewYorkwith300additionalunitsindevelopment.
•Vacant land development: Weareworkingtoconstructaffordablehousingonvacantlandparcelsinourneighborhood.
•Homeownership Opportunities: Thereareaffordablehomesforsale,somewithreducedprices.WearetakingapplicationsfortheGlenmoreGroveCondos,whichwillbeplacedonawaitinglist.Specialpreferenceforresidents 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!ThegoalofVerdeistomakethecommunityagreener,healthier,moresustainableplacetoliveforallofitsresidents.Weenvisionalivablecommunitywithpermanentlyaf-fordablehousing,energyefficienthomes,businesses,andchurches,safeandefficienttrans-portation, access to nutritious, affordable food, and pathways to sustainable, living wage jobs.
Contact:625JamaicaAvenue,Brooklyn,NY11208ph:718.647.2800
Community OrganizingTheCommunityOrganizingDivisionbringslocalresidentstogethertoadvocateforpositivechange 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:3214FultonStreet,Brooklyn,NY11208ph:718.647.8100
Cypress Hills Child Care CorporationA wholly-owned subsidiary of the Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation3295FultonStreet,Brooklyn,NewYork11208ph:718.235.3949Director: Maria Contreras-Collier
•Cypress Hills Family Day Care Network: Wetrainandsupportneighborhoodresidentstoopenfamilydaycarebusinessesintheirhomesandreferparentstochildcareservices.TheNetworkadministerstheChildandAdultCare Food Program, which provides family day care providers with subsidies to serve nutri-tious meals to low income children.
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Local Resources: Cypress Hills LDCCypress Hills Child Care Corporation, continued•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: FulldaycareforfamiliesandUniversalPre-Kfor4yearolds;admissionsandfeessetbytheNYC Agency for Child Development, based on income, family size and other criteria.
Contact:108PineStreet,Brooklyn,NY11208ph:718.647.5005
•Financial Literacy Classes for Women: Educationandsupportinbudgeting,savings,creditrepairandotherfinancialtopics.
Cypress Hills Collegiate PrepCypress 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.
•Theschoolincludesthreedistinctiveelements:LatinAmericanandCaribbeanstudies,com-munity service, and college preparation.
•CypressHillsCollegiatePrepoffersstudentsanintellectuallychallengingcurriculumandsmall 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.
•Weuseaninquiry-basedcurriculum,whichencouragesstudentstoformulatequestionsbasedontheirowninterests,identifyresourcestoexploretheirquestions,andtotakeown-ership over their education and their future.
•WehaveapartnershipwithSarahLawrenceCollege.AprivateliberalartscollegeinWest-chesterCounty,NY,SarahLawrenceisknownforitsseminarstyleofteachingandstrongemphasis on writing
Contact:999JamaicaAvenue,Brooklyn,NY11416ph:718.647.1672*LocatedontheFKLaneCampus,notinsideFKLane
Cypress Hills Community School (PS 89)Co-Directors:IreneGreeneandMariaJaya-Vega
CypressHillsLocalDevelopmentCorporationco-foundedtheCypressHillsCommunitySchool
in1997withtheNYCBoardofEducationandagroupofactivistparents.Theschoolwas
openedthedoorstoitsnewlybuiltpermanentlocationonthecornerofWarwick&Atlantic
onSeptember10,2010,aftermanyyearsofbeinghousedinsideanintermediateschooland
portableclassrooms,andnowservesstudentsingradesK-8.
•Duallanguagecurriculum:AllstudentslearntheirsubjectsinbothEnglishandSpanish.
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Cypress Hills Community School (PS 89), continued•ParentGovernance:Parentsareactivelyinvolvedinalllevelsofdecision-makingatthe
school, and the school is led by parent and teacher co-directors.
•Ourschoolhassmallclasssize,withnomorethan18-20studentsperclassroom,sothatall
students receive individual attention from teachers.
•CHLDCsponsorsanafterschoolprogramintheschoolservingitsstudents
Contact:265WarwickStreet,Brooklyn,NY11208ph:718.964.1180
Economic Development•Access to Public Benefits:
OurstaffassistsresidentstouseEarnBenefits,acomputerizedscreeningtoolwhichhelpsde-
termineeligibilityforpublicbenefitssuchasFoodStampsandtheEarnedIncomeTaxCredit.
Wealsoprovidefreetaxprepassistancetolow-incomefamilies.
•Small Business Support:
Weprovidetechnicalassistancetolocalmerchants,andorganizeamerchantsassociation.
Contact:2832FultonStreet,Brooklyn,NY11207ph:718.647.8477
Housing CounselingDivision Director: Rene ArlainContact:3214FultonStreet,Brooklyn,NY11208ph: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:Werunafree,fourpartworkshopseriesteachingsmarthomebuyingpractices--qualifyingfor a mortgage, savings and budgeting for homeownership, legal aspects of homebuying, in-spection of the house prior to purchase and much more. Click here to register for the upcom-ing seminar.
•Foreclosure Prevention Counseling: Help for homeowners falling behind on mortgage payments to negotiate repayment agree-ments, clear up debt and avoid foreclosure.
•Home Repair Loans:
Wepackagelowinterestratehomerepairloansandgrantapplicationstoweatherizehomes.
Local Resources: Cypress Hills LDC
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Youth and Family ServicesDivision Director: Rob AbbotContact:625JamaicaAvenue,Brooklyn,NY11208ph:718.647.2800
•School Aged Child Care:Weprovidehighquality,funafterschoolprogramsto625childreninseveralpublicschools:PS7,PS65,PS89,IS171,andIS302.Wealsoprovidesummercamps.
Contact:DirectorofYouthandFamilyServices,625JamaicaAvenue,Brooklyn,NY11208ph:718.647.2800
•Beacon:
TheBeaconisaschool-basedcommunitycenterwhichprovidesadulteducation,including
GED,afterschoolandsummerprograms,andrecreation,healthandfitnessforyouthand
adults. Click here for the Fitness Room brochure information.
Contact:IS302,350LinwoodStreet,Brooklyn,NY11208ph:718.277.3522
•Beacon Family Place:
TheBeaconFamilyPlaceprovidesfamilycounseling.
Contact:IS302,350LinwoodStreet,Brooklyn,NY11208ph:718.277.9593
Youth and Family Services, continued•CypressHillsCommunityLearningCenteratIS171:
Offersadulteducation,includingESL,andafterschoolandsummerprograms.
Contact:IS171,528RidgewoodAve,Brooklyn,NY11208ph:718.715.8602.
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Local Resources: Transit,Government&HealthServicesMap
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Green Resources
Fire Department
•New York City Fire Department, Engine 252 EmergencyPhone:911 Address: 617 Central Avenue Non-emergency ph: 718.965.8252
Police
1. New York City Police Department, Brooklyn 75th Precinct EmergencyPhone:911 Address:1000SutterAvenue Non-emergencyph:718.827.3511
2. New York City Police Department, Police Service Area #2 PoliceServiceArea:718.922.8001 Community Affairs: 718.922.8003 Domestic Violence: 718.922.8019 or 718.922.8020 AuxiliaryCoordinator:718.922.3912 Website:http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/housing_bureau/psa2.shtml Address:560SutterAvenue
Post Office
1. United States Post Office, Cypress Hills Address:222CrescentStreet ph:718.277.6057
2. United States Post Office, Ozone Park Annex Address:7802LibertyAvenue,Suite1 ph:718.843.6776
3. United States Post Office, New Lots Address:1223SutterAvenue 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
Local Resources: Transit,Government&HealthServicesMap
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Local Resources: PublicSchoolsMap
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*TheschoolsshownonthismaparethosewithinNewYorkCityPublicSchoolDistrict19thatarelocated closest to Liberty Green Apartments. For further information and a complete list of District 19Schools,pleasevisitwww.schools.nyc.gov
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Green Resources
Elementary Schools
•P.S. 065 Grades:K,1-5,SE Address: 696JamaicaAve. ph:718.235.2223
•P.S. 108: Sal Abbracciamento Grades: K, 1-5, SE Address: 200LinwoodSt. ph:718.277.7010
•P.S. 158: Warkwick Grades: PK, K, 1-5, SE Address: 200LinwoodSt. 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: 111BerrimanSt. ph:718.647.8387
Intermediate & Middle Schools
•P.S. 089: Cypress Hills Grades:PK,K,1-8,SE Address: 265WarwickSt. ph:718.277.5044
•J.H.S. 166: George Gershwin Grades:6-8,SE Address: 800VanSiclenAve. 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: 350LinwoodSt. ph:718.647.9500
High Schools
•P.S.420:Franklin K. Lane High School Grades:9-12,SE Address:999JamaicaAve. ph:718.647.2100
•P.S.510:World Academy for Total Community Health High School Grades:9-12,SE Address:400PennsylvaniaAve. ph:718.922.0650
•P.S.615:Transit Tech Career and Technical Education High School Grades:9-12,SE Address:1WellsSt. ph:718.647.5204
•P.S.618:Academy of Innovative Technology Grades:9-11,SE Address:999JamaicaAve. ph:718.827.2469
•P.S.639:Brooklyn Lab School Grades:9-11,SE Address:999JamaicaAve. ph:718.235.3592
•P.S.659:Cypress Hills Collegiate Preparatory School Grades:9-12,SE Address:999JamaicaAve. ph:718.647.1672
Local Resources: PublicSchoolsMap
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Local Resources: SeniorCenter,Libraries&GreenRetailersMap
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Senior Center•Cypress Hills Senior Center Address:3208FultonSt. ph:718.827.2487
LibrariesWebsite:www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org
•Arlington Library Address: 203 Arlington Ave. ph: 718.277.6105•Cypress Hills Library Address:1197SutterAve. ph:718.277.6004•New Lots Library Address: 665 New Lots Ave. ph: 718.649.0311
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 — extraordi-
nary cleaning power without harsh chemical fumes or residue.”
Products are avaialable at these nearby stores: - 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 - Rite Aid Pharmacy Address: 1242 Liberty Ave. ph: 718.235.7041 - Rite Aid Pharmacy Address: 7814 Linden Blvd. ph: 718.296.2581
* Check for these products and other natural cleaners at smaller retailers too!
Local Resources: SeniorCenter,Libraries&GreenRetailersMap
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Online&PhoneResources
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•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“HOMEOWNER’S MANUAL:The What and Why of How We Build and How to Take Care of
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.
“New York City Department of Education School Search” www.schools.nyc.gov/school-
search. 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.
Bibliography