Peter and Lee Larson hold a handmade quilt representing The Lee

On a beautiful fall day on the last Friday in September, we celebrated the groundbreaking of The Lee, our second new construction project and NY’s first LEED Silver supportive housing. (LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, a designation accorded by the U.S. Green Building Council.)

The Lee is named for Lee Larson, president of the Larson Family Foundation. Her husband, Peter Larson, spoke of the aptness of the nautical meaning of “Lee”: a place where vessels can take shelter from the wind and stormy seas, gain strength, and then sail back into the world.

Guests at the Groundbreaking Ceremony were welcomed by Peter Ezersky, CG’s Chairman of the Board of Directors, who pointed to The Lee as “another example of our commitment to ending homelessness – and by building green, our commitment to our larger community.”

Construction is already underway on The Lee at the corner of Pitt and Houston Streets in Manhattan

Our new state-of-the-art residence will be home to 263 people, including adults with special needs, low-income working adults, and young adults aging out of foster care. Located on Pitt and Houston Streets on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, The Lee was a winner of the NYC Department of Environmental Protection’s 2005 Green Building Design Competition.

The residence will incorporate environmentally sustainable and energy-efficient design, construction, operation, and maintenance practices. Key green design features include a high performance condensing boiler; drought-resistant landscaping; individual temperature control; water-saving fixtures; high efficiency lighting; and a green roof. The Lee is being designed by Kiss + Cathcart Architects, chosen for their leadership in environmentally sustainable design.

The following spoke at the ceremony: Rosanne Haggerty; Peter Larson, Larson Family Foundation; David Hansell, Commissioner, NYC Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance; Laura Lazarus, Deputy Commissioner, Housing Prevention & Development; Emily Youssouf, President, NYC Housing Development Corporation; Alfred A. DelliBovi, President, Federal Home Loan Bank; Vanessa Fuentes, Common Ground Resident; Susan M. Hyman, Vice President, Community Development Real Estate, JPMorgan Chase; and Thomas Maxwell, Principal, MMA Financial.

Click here for more photos from the event.