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GREENPOINT | WILLIAMSBURG
VOLUME 47 | NUMBER 3
JANUARY 24, 2019
(718) 422-7400
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Lentol Announces $1.5 Million Grant for 1.4 Acre Green Roof Joseph Lentol, assemblyman. Photo courtesy Joseph Lentol’s office
Flowers growing on a green roof frame this view of Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant’s digester eggs and the Manhattan skyline.
By Greenpoint Gazette Assemblyman Joe Lentol (D-North Brooklyn) announced today the award of $1.5 million in a New York State grant to Broadway Stages, Ltd. They will be funding and partnering with Alive Structures for the creation of green rooftops, totaling 1.4 acres, on three of their soundstages in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. The rooftops, owned by Broadway Stages, will provide a wide range of benefits, ranging from stormwater capture to air pollution reduction. The grant was provided by New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation’s (EFC) Green Innovation Grant Program (GIGP). Broadway Stages partnered with Alive Structures, the New York City Audubon and Newtown Creek Alliance on the Kingsland Wildflowers project, which was initially funded through the Greenpoint Community Environmental Fund. “Kingsland Wildflowers at Broadway Stages was a great success and is the perfect example that shows the potential of this project,” said Lentol. “I am very excited that this grant funded such a great project right here in Greenpoint. It will add green space, improve the environment and provide a natural habitat for countless beneficial insects and birds.” The GIGP provides $15 million in funding across New York State for unique stormwater infrastructure design and cutting-edge green technology projects. GIGP solicits grant applications
for projects that improve water quality and demonstrate green stormwater infrastructure in New York State. “The green roofs have the potential to remove the emissions equivalent of over 40,000 cars per year,” he added. “Congratulations to Broadway Stages and Alive Structures.” “Environmental Facilities Corporation’s $1.5 million grant for this green rooftop project is proof of New York’s ongoing commitment to encouraging municipalities to find innovative ways to use green infrastructure to reduce pollution caused by stormwater and safeguard our natural resources,” said Sabrina Ty, CEO and President of NYS EFC. “In addition to being a cost-effective method to collect debris, chemicals, sediment, and other pollutants that could end up in nearby waterbodies, green infrastructure projects like this green rooftop reduce air pollution and improve our quality of life.” “Broadway Stages is thrilled to have been chosen in cooperation with Alive Structures for this prestigious grant,” said Gina Argento, President and CEO of Broadway Stages. “Our commitment to community and environmental sustainability is a cornerstone of our business philosophy. Through green infrastructure and renewable energy projects such as Kingsland Wildflowers at Broadway Stages, Eagle Street Rooftop Farm, and our solar rooftop that spans 50,000 square feet, we are able to utilize our continued on p.2
Photo courtesy of Assemblymember Joe Lentol’s office
NO HEALTH INSURANCE? MAYOR SIGNS ORDER FOR AGENCIES TO HELP RESIDENTS Before Shealyn Brand of Bushwick introduced Mayor Bill de Blasio, she spoke to the crowd at Kings County Hospital about living without health insurance for 10 years. See inside back page. Brooklyn Eagle photo by Todd Maisel