Bedford Green House I (BGHI) on Creston Avenue is the first completed phase of Project Renewal’s twin housing development in the Bedford Park area of the Bronx. The 13-story, 84,000-square-foot building is certified LEED Silver and provides a mix of 118 permanent, affordable and supportive apartments (studio, 1- and 2-bedroom units). Over half of the units are dedicated to formerly homeless individuals and families, households impacted by mental illness, and people living with HIV/AIDS. Residents are welcomed by an oversized ground floor lobby with a 24-hour security desk, seating, and good visibility to the mailbox area, entry, adjoining playground, and street. To encourage interaction, the community room, laundry room, and supportive offices are grouped together on the third floor and have views and direct egress onto the landscaped, rear courtyard. Supportive offices are discreetly positioned at the end of the hall to minimize any institutional feel. The rooftop terrace provides tables and benches for outdoor gatherings and a 1,500-square-foot aquaponic greenhouse hosts Project Renewal’s horticultural therapy and urban farming programs. Daylit apartments occupy the rest of the floors and are distributed throughout the building to prevent population siloes and strengthen community.
