SOUTHEAST QUEENS
We’re thrilled to announce the latest milestone on our journey to create equity building opportunities for families, this time in Southeast Queens – recently, we officially closed on construction financing for the Habitat Net Zero project! Once hundreds of amazing volunteers and our dedicated construction staff get through with the 13 vacant, dilapidated properties that make up Net Zero, 16 safe, healthy and affordable homes will stand in their place, ready for families to move in and begin their new lives as Habitat Homeowners.
These energy efficient, modular homes will be the first new construction properties on the Interboro Community Land Trust (CLT) which we cofounded to ensure that future generations of first-time home buyers, Habitat Homeowners, and their communities benefit from the stability, long-term affordability, and equity building power of home.
Habitat Net Zero will meet Enterprise Green Communities Criteria and incorporate Passive House elements, reducing heat and cooling demand by up to 90 percent and energy demand by up to 75 percent. These features complemented with solar panels aim to keep energy use of the homes over a year close to net zero.
Before officially closing on the project, the City gave our staff and volunteers special access to the first home to begin pre-construction work – clearing the site, putting up safety fencing, light demolition and more. Thanks to folks from RTW Charitable Foundation, Credit Suisse, LibreMax, ConEdison and ASHRAE we can hit the ground running on our first site.