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Habitat for Humanity Breaks New Ground with First-Ever Green Roof

[Source: NY Daily News | September 17, 2009]

Habitat for Humanity is breaking new ground - unveiling its first-ever "green roof" in the South Bronx on Wednesday.

The 2,400-square-foot carpet of flowering sedum plants atop the Fox-Leggett Co-op Apartments will insulate the building from the summer sun and absorb an inch of rainfall.

"Green roofs save money and are healthier," said Josh Lockwood, executive director of Habitat for Humanity/New York City.

"These are such critical elements for low-income families, especially in the Bronx, which has the highest incidence of childhood asthma in the five boroughs."

Barbara Vargas, who is buying a three-bedroom Habitat apartment for herself and her two kids, spent the morning placing sedums in 4 inches of shale on top of asphalt and a root barrier made of rigid board.

"You can hang out with friends up here," said Vargas, 41, who now lives in the West Farms section of the Bronx. "It will give them something to talk about."

Eleven volunteers from Delta Air Lines helped on the green roof installation, and the airline is kicking in $120,000 to sponsor one Habitat apartment.

"Three hours ago it was just a roof - now look," said Joe Jackson, 43, a Delta flight attendant manager at Kennedy Airport. "It's wall-to-wall green."

When it's finished, a patio next to the green roof will have outdoor seating and a pergola with potted roses, wisteria and honeysuckle.

The green roof cost $50,000, and an extra-thick, 12-inch concrete roof plank to support the garden's weight was another $50,000, developer Les Bluestone said.

Habitat is selling 12 apartments in the 50-unit Fox St. building, with buyers expected to move in around December or January.

The buyers are doing work on the interiors while affordable homebuilder Blue Sea Development is constructing the rest of the property.

Although it's Habitat's first green roof, the Bronx borough president's office has funded the construction of eco-conscious roofs in 22 other buildings.

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