Our Lady of Loretto – Brooklyn, NY
RTKB Architects

The Community Preservation Corporation (CPC) and its development arm, CPC Resources Inc. (CPCR), will finance and co-develop this $18 million, 64-unit low-income housing development will be on the site of the former school and convent of Our Lady of Loreto Church. The project, developed in partnership with Catholic Charities, will comprise eight separate four-story building containing 64 rental units, half of which will be one-bedroom apartments and the other half will be two-bedrooms.

Architect Carmi Bee of RKTB, has designed and managed CPCR projects in the past, and has extensive experience with similar projects. Architect Bee, and SDC President Bobenhausen, served together on the City College of New York School of Architecture faculty for thirty years.

The project achieved a LEED Certified rating.

Safe Haven, Newark, NJ

A "Safe Haven" is a form of permanent supportive housing funded and administered under HUD's Supportive Housing Program (SHP), serving hard-to-reach homeless persons with severe mental illness and other debilitating behavioral conditions.

The Newark Safe Haven project is expected to house 25 chronically homeless individuals in some combination of small efficiency units and larger, spacious studio apartments with kitchenettes (containing a small refrigerator, sink, microwave and/ or stove) and private baths. It will be located in the Central Ward of Newark approximately two blocks from the clinical site of the project's service partner: University Behavioral HealthCare (on the UMDNJ campus). The building will be one or two stories in height, with the design striving to be as sustainable and energy efficient as possible - SDC's job. Estimated construction cost: $2,500,000. Completion: 2012.

Lindemon Winckelmann Deupree Martin Russell & Associates of Jersey City, NJ is the Architect, Engineer & Urban Designer.

HUD Rehabilitation Guidelines

From 1998 until 2001, Mr. Bobenhausen had complete management and technical responsibility for the development of HUD’s Rehabilitation Design Guidelines (and an accompanying computerized evaluation method of cost-effectiveness) for the United States Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD). Separate programs were established for Multi-Family and One-to-Four Family Dwellings as described below.

For Multi-Family Dwellings: This guidebook explains how property owners rehabilitating multi-family buildings can increase energy efficiency and reduce costs. It discusses the issues and factors that determine how much energy a multi-family building will consume, including heat flow, air leakage, insulation, and heating and cooling systems. The guide also includes general and location-specific recommendations for Energy conservation improvements.
The guidelines include examples of typical energy conservation measures in different climates. Each of these examples includes a Multi- Family Cost-Effectiveness Worksheet. Appendices provides a table that shows what climate zone applies to counties nationwide, a list of resources and a glossary.

For One-to-Four Family Dwellings: The One-to-Four Family Guidebook cuts through technical language to explain how owners of one-to-four family dwellings using HUD's popular Section 203(k) rehabilitation mortgage insurance, as well as other HUD programs, can increase the energy efficiency of residential properties. HUD first issued Cost-Effective Energy Conservation Standards for Rehabilitation in 1979. Since then, home construction and energy technologies have advanced--while construction costs and energy prices have increased.

The new guidelines incorporate many of the recent technological changes and performance standards and apply them to particular climate zones. The guidebook explains recommended energy measures, conservation terms, and how energy conservation can be cost effective. It also offers Cost- Effectiveness Worksheets and software that can help property owners and remodelers determine the savings from proposed building envelope and equipment measures.

Of particular interest is information Energy Efficiency Mortgages (EEM) offered by participating FHA lenders nationwide. Recognizing that energy conservation measures can significantly lower utility bills and other operating costs for building owners, EEMs enable lenders to liberalize underwriting terms so that borrowers can finance 100 percent of the cost of energy improvements that are deemed "cost-effective" under the new guidelines.

Observatory Place Housing – East Harlem
Gary Silver Architects

Observatory Place is an 11 story high new construction condo building located on First Avenue in East Harlem. This condominium building has an incredible location between the East River and Central Park. It offers comfort and style from each of its 38 residences whether a studio or three bedroom penthouse.

Observatory Place is a luxury Green LEED certified condominium. The building has a collection of amenities; lush green roof top gardens, Italian kitchen cabinets, cold storage, private terrace and/or balcony, fitness room, expansive windows and sustainable bamboo floors. Not to mention river and city view from every angle of most apartments.

This condo building is well located close to a many of upper Manhattan's attractions including Central Park, Jefferson Park and the East River. Observatory Place is the most recent and unique addition to Harlem's upscale real estate market.

YMCA Greenkill Camp Lodge, Huguenot, NY

Completed in April of 2009, the YMCA Greenkill Camp Lodge located in Huguenot, New York now serves as a new year-round residential facility for up to 44 guests, including sleeping rooms, a service kitchen and multiple indoor and outdoor lounge spaces.

The 5,700 square foot facility houses various green design measures including a green roof, radiant floor heating, and a highly efficient lake-connected geothermal heat pump system.

LEED design features include fly ash concrete, use of recycled and local materials, LED lighting, and recycled blue-jean insulation.

The Greenkill Camp Lodge not only provides a welcome, enjoyable space for accommodations and programming, but it also fosters awareness and practice of sustainable living through a series of interactive building components.

The project was awarded a LEED-NC version 2.2 Gold Rating in 2009.