Harlem affordable housing block to undergo massive green overhaul

A row of 10 affordable housing buildings on West 135th Street between Lenox and Seventh avenues is about to become one of the first entirely green blocks in the country, with a green retrofit scheduled for all the buildings this winter. The structures will receive rooftop solar panels and new, energy-efficient appliances, among other upgrades, as a part of the overhaul. Bill Stein, the main architect for the project, said that he’s optimistic this initiative will lead to other energy-saving projects around the country, in part because the team has been successful in maintaining the century-old buildings’ structural integrity. “It’s really a fantastic place to live and a great place to make a statement about the possibilities of sustainable design,” Stein said.