Environmentally friendly condo on market

Real Estate Weekly, August 28, 2002

Here's a "first" for New York City: A six-story townhouse that has all the space and luxury details that a high profile buyer could ask for... but is also energy efficient and environmentally friendly.

That's what the architect and developers have put together at 150 Reade St., a very rare new-construction townhouse in trendy TriBeCa. The property, between Greenwich and Hudson Streets, is one of four townhouses in the neighborhood built by Wildman & Bernhardt Construction, Inc., at the same time - and the only one on the open market. Price: $6.8 million.

With 6,747 SF to heat and cool, the builders have introduced to New York City an innovative and efficient geothermal heating and cooling system that pumps water from a well 1,100 feet deep through pumps to heat water in a sealed-tube system circulating through the floors. In the summer, fan-coil units cool the water for air conditioning.

"The introduction of this high-tech HVAC system to New York City should set the standard for future residential development in a city that is increasingly concerned with air quality," says Ruth Hardinger of Insignia Douglas Elliman. "Because no fossil fuels are involved, there are zero emissions. The added bonus is that there are no smokestacks, condensers or other encumbrances cluttering the roof, which becomes an obstruction-free roof deck."

She and C. Michael Norton, both senior vice presidents of Insignia Douglas Elliman, are exclusive agents for the property.

The system is efficient, too. "Compared to oil and gas heat, our radiant-heating system will cut energy costs some 40% to 50%," says builder/developer Robert H. Bernhardt, who operates Wildman & Bernhardt Construction, Inc., with partner Neil Simmons. Architect for the townhouse is John Petrarca of Studio Petrarca.

Also helping 150 Reade St. to be "green," the townhouse is constructed of a special reinforced concrete called, in the trade, "insulated concrete form," that cuts down considerably on energy loss, exceeding New York State standards for energy conservation, Wersan added. The townhouse even exceeds standards for earthquake resistance.

Beyond the practical aspects of living at 150 Reade St., the property offers every conceivable amenity in a free-flowing structure, 25 feet wide by 53 feet deep, comprising six floors plus a full basement and 1,278 SF of outdoor space on three terraces and the rooftop deck.