As green building has become more popular and important, developers are looking for ways to renovate older buildings into modern, efficient and healthy spaces. The Garden Street Lofts, in Hoboken, NJ, are a great example of a new apartment building created from an old warehouse. The project is helping transform an area once known for its industry into a healthy environment for families looking for ways to reduce their environmental impact.
In the past new developments frequently razed old buildings to clear the way for fancy apartments and office buildings. By contrast the Garden Street Lofts are built from the remains of an early 1900′s coconut processing plant, and serve as a model of efficiency, healthy interiors and architecture for the area.
Lawrence Bijou is the man behind the urban infill apartment complex. He’s a developer who felt that green building was the only way to go and decided to make Hoboken his test ground for green development. With the help of Manhattan-based SHoP Architects, Bijou set out to design a LEED certified apartment complex complete with ground floor retail space at the corner of Garden and 14th Street. There are 30 residences inside ranging from 1,000 to 2,250 sq ft in size. An 1,140 sq ft apartment is going for $675,000, which is a steal compared to one across the river in Manhattan.
Garden Street Lofts are seeking LEED Silver certification and boast a number of green design features. Bijou included IPE Wood from Bolivia, bamboo floors, and reclaimed cobblestone for the sidewalks and street. The kitchens are custom-made with Val Cucina eco-friendly cabinets. Efficient air-filtration systems, low VOC paints, and high-efficiency HVAC systems contribute to better indoor air-quality. You can even see which LEED points the Lofts are aiming for on their website.
We like these new lofts for a number of reasons. First, we love the renovation of the old coconut plant into a new and modern apartment loft space. Second, they are close to the city, near the water and are a much better price than apartments in Manhattan. Third, and perhaps most importantly, the building is after LEED certification. And lastly, their location in oft-overlooked New Jersey is a reminder that green must happen in every city. Afterall, New Jersey is named the Garden State – it’s good that to see them showing off their greener side.
+ SHoP Architects
+ Bijou Properties
+ Garden Street Lofts
Via NY Daily News
