El Jardin de Selene is a mixed-use, affordable housing development located on the corner of Melrose Avenue and East 158th Street in the Melrose Commons area of the Bronx, NY. The 12-story building, one of the tallest in the area, serves as a reminder of the rich architectural heritage of the Bronx, with art deco elements incorporated into the design. Such elements include a colorful, tropical flower mosaic wrapping from the entrance exterior through the vestibule into the residential lobby and three bas reliefs located on the tower and one seen from the 9th Floor green roof.
The tower provides 84 rental units in an array of studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments. Residents have access to over 2,000 square feet of community space, including a laundry room and an outdoor courtyard at the second level. The building also includes 6,000 square feet of commercial space and over 12,000 square feet of parking.
El Jardin de Selene recently received LEED-Gold certification, and is NYSERDA Energy Star certified and Enterprise Green Communities compliant. In order to meet these stringent requirements a variety of sustainable and environmentally friendly elements were incorporated, including daylight and occupancy sensors in common areas, energy star fixtures and appliances, low-flow plumbing fixtures, high-performance windows, thru-wall ventilation, bamboo flooring, wheatboard cabinetry, low or no VOC paints, adhesives and sealants, and Greenguard certified carpet. The building also includes green roofs at the 2nd Floor courtyard and the 9th Floor setback as well as high-albedo white cap sheets and solar panels on the building's roof.
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