April 19, 2022
$670,000 Venture Funded By City’s Inexperienced Infrastructure Grant Plan
32,000-Square-Foot Inexperienced Roof Captures Roughly 3.5 Million Gallons of Stormwater in Standard Calendar year
Rooftop Farm Improves Air Quality, Encourages Biodiversity, Minimizes Carbon Footprint of Making
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NEW YORK – New York Town Mayor Eric Adams and New York Town Office of Environmental Defense (DEP) Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala today opened a new rooftop farm on Staten Island that grows healthy organic and natural meals and absorbs stormwater, in an effort to assist cut down community flooding and defend the well being of New York Harbor. The approximately 32,000-square-foot roof is planted with perennial wildflowers and organic veggies to take up the roughly 3.5 million gallons of rain that falls on it in a usual year, as a substitute of on to an impermeable roof. By trying to keep rainfall out of the local drainage procedure, this rooftop farm — positioned on leading of the Nicotra Group’s Company Commons A few developing — allows control stormwater and minimize community flooding. The job was built possible by a $670,000 grant furnished via DEP’s Environmentally friendly Infrastructure Grant Program.
“Too usually, we overlook the part that food stuff performs in the destruction of our natural environment. But shifting to more sustainable, plant-based eating plans and developing fresh greens that are available to each individual local community is vital to making a town that supports both human and planetary wellness,” explained Mayor Adams. “Our investment in this rooftop farm embodies the long run of sustainable agriculture and resiliency by serving individuals in the neighborhood, and by absorbing stormwater and protecting New York Harbor, and it will provide a healthier and far more resilient long term for generations to arrive.”
“Living and performing in the city lovingly nicknamed the ‘Concrete Jungle,’ I am delighted to see fascinating environmentally friendly infrastructure that can adjust the landscape of New York,” claimed Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “Rooftop farms like this new a single on Staten Island is only just the beginning, as we appear to deliver a lot more revolutionary, resilient strategies to fruition in our city’s infrastructure.”
“DEP’s Environmentally friendly Infrastructure Grant program encourages home house owners to do their element to control stormwater, lessen neighborhood flooding, and increase the wellbeing of our waterways,” explained DEP Commissioner Aggarwala. “This challenge is a excellent illustration of a partnership amongst federal government and a potent local community leader to make green infrastructure that boosts the sustainability of the property while also aiding to shield our shared setting.”
“Green rooftops are a go-to tool to enhance resiliency in flood-inclined neighborhoods, and they are heading to be significant aspect of the upcoming of our crafted surroundings,” mentioned New York Metropolis Department of Structures Acting Commissioner Constadino ‘Gus’ Sirakis, P.E. “Thanks to DEP’s ahead-wondering Inexperienced Infrastructure Grant software, as nicely as the sustainable roof necessities in our codes and increased Environmentally friendly Roof Property Tax Abatements, New York Metropolis is building a living, respiration, sustainable skyline, a single rooftop at a time.”
“The make and herbs from the Nicotra Grown Natural and organic Rooftop Farm will be highlighted on our tables to provide New Yorkers, together with at our two social business eateries, COMMONS café and Pienza Brick Oven Pizza Café, in which we donate 100 p.c of our income to charities and scholarships,” stated Lois Nicotra, philanthropist and co-founder, The Nicotra Group. “When you take in a salad at the cafés, your meal is on a mission to assistance our neighborhood in so lots of approaches, and the salad’s greens and tomatoes are new picked that early morning.”
“The Nicotra Grown Natural Rooftop Farm is another way we display our determination to sustainability and our adore for Staten Island,” stated Richard Nicotra, philanthropist and co-founder, The Nicotra Group. “This inexperienced rooftop farm is a product for employing space that is often forgotten, feeding communities contemporary and neighborhood food items, and building a extra resilient New York Metropolis.”
The Company Commons A few farm incorporates 23,375 square feet of green roof and 9,500 square toes of vegetated walkway and was designed by the Brooklyn Grange. DEP’s grant award of $669,584 paid out for the rooftop farm.
In overall, DEP has dedicated around $14 million via its grant software to around 34 companions — such as the Nicotra Group — that have contributed an extra $7.5 million in matching funds. Not-for-revenue organizations, private residence owners, and organizations are suitable for funding for retrofitting rooftops with inexperienced roofs to control stormwater on non-public assets. DEP accepts purposes on a rolling, yr-round foundation, and thing to consider is given to projects that are charge efficient, replicable, and present matching resources or other contributions. To discover far more and apply, New Yorkers can stop by DEP’s Eco-friendly Infrastructure Grant site .
“I applaud the DEP and Mayor Adams for supporting this task,” mentioned New York Town Councilmember David Carr. “This is a great use of urban agriculture and an correct solution to support lessen location flooding.”
“I would like to congratulate Mayor Adams and DEP on the opening of the Company Commons 3 farm,” mentioned New York Metropolis Councilmember Amanda Farías. “This rooftop farm will be an asset to the neighborhood local community on Staten Island by giving fresh foodstuff, inexperienced infrastructure, and storm mitigation. I am very inspired by this undertaking and glimpse ahead to observing equivalent investments in all 5 boroughs, in particular the Bronx. Waterfront communities, like the ones I symbolize, will need innovative options to offer with resiliency concerns that have only gotten worse as we grapple with the impacts of climate alter. I commend DEP for investing in nonprofits, organizations, and business owners who are rising to the obstacle in get to reward our communities and go our metropolis ahead.”
“This is an remarkable possibility to carry natural, regionally developed meals into the Staten Island group, all when assisting our borough with flood prevention, which is a consistent battle for our inhabitants and company homeowners,” mentioned New York Town Councilmember Kamillah Hanks. “It is my hope for even additional regional not-for-earnings companies, property proprietors, and enterprises to acquire edge of this grant method, for the sake of each our quick and long term resiliency and sustainability initiatives.”
“As the former chair of Manhattan Group Board 1, we had been instrumental in advocating for making New York City’s very first inexperienced school: P.S. 276,” stated New York City Councilmember Julie Menin. “I absolutely support growing inexperienced infrastructure grant applications, which have tested to lessen our carbon footprint. Developing this rooftop farm reminds us that we need to have to keep on these initiatives for the long run of New York Town and its residents.”
“We’re completely thrilled to have partnered with the Nicotra Group and DEP on this impressive venture,” claimed Anastasia Cole Plakias, co-founder and main influence officer, Brooklyn Grange. “Every new constructing in New York City must have a environmentally friendly roof as beautiful and productive as this one. Not only is this roof furnishing substantially-necessary environmental rewards and local weather resiliency to our town, but it is also a exceptional destination that supports economic prospect and occupation creation on Staten Island.”
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