Jonathan Rose Companies, L+M Development Partners, Acacia Network Celebrate Grand Opening of Sendero Verde in East Harlem, World’s Largest Fully Affordable Passive House Building

The partners were joined by New York City Officials to celebrate the official opening of Sendero Verde, the 100% affordable, 709-unit development featuring amenities such as on-site retail, charter school and community center 

Photos from Ribbon Cutting Ceremony can be found here.

NEW YORK, NY – Jonathan Rose Companies, L+M Development Partners and Acacia Network came together with New York City officials, including Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr., Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine and Executive Director for Housing Leila Bozorg, in East Harlem to celebrate the official opening of the world’s largest fully affordable Passive House building, Sendero Verde. 

Sendero Verde, which began leasing to residents in the summer of 2022, is 750,000 square feet, made up of 709 fully affordable units and features Jonathan Rose Companies’ Communities of Opportunity model: bringing a holistic approach to housing by providing a mix of social, health and educational programs designed to increase its residents’ and neighbors’ health and wellbeing. Sendero will provide 90,000 square feet of community facility space to the neighborhood. In tandem with the physical Community of Opportunity amenity spaces, the project has received a NY 15/15 DOHMH grant operated by Promesa Inc., an affiliate of Acacia Network, to serve formerly homeless residents through a robust social services program that will include a Resident Social Services director, housing specialists, mental health services, arts and culture programming, as well as 24-hour security.

“Sendero Verde is a physical embodiment of Jonathan Rose Companies’ mission to create a more environmentally thriving, socially just world through green, affordable, and mixed income housing,” said Jonathan Rose, President and Founder of Jonathan Rose Companies. “We are so proud that this years-long project is fully available to serve residents and create a Community of Opportunity, living by the values we hold so dear at Jonathan Rose Companies. I am grateful to our amazing development partners, L+ M and Acacia, and to the City for their collaboration on this state of the art development. This is an exciting time and I am looking forward to seeing what the future holds for Sendero and the East Harlem neighborhood.”

“Sendero Verde is a truly transformative project that addresses the need for affordable housing while incorporating best-in-class design principles that promote sustainability, health and wellness,” said Lisa Gomez, L+M Development Partners CEO. “This project places community front and center with thoughtfully-designed indoor and outdoor spaces and provides access to a host of amenities and services that will elevate the quality of life for residents and the neighborhood of East Harlem. Sendero Verde sets a new standard for urban development, and we are grateful for the work of our partners at Jonathan Rose, Acacia Network and the City for helping make this project a reality.”

“As a nonprofit, minority-led developer, Acacia Network is proud to be a partner in this project that will bring much-needed affordable housing and social services to El Barrio, and to infuse this state-of-the-art development with arts & culture that embody and celebrate the flavors and character of our beloved communities,” said Lymaris Albors, CEO of Acacia Network.

“Sendero Verde sets a new standard for housing and serves as a blueprint for communities nationwide. Today, as we open the doors to the largest Passive House development in the country, we celebrate not just a building, but a profound commitment to education, sustainability, and youth development,” said HPD Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr. “Sendero Verde demonstrates the transformative power of collaboration between local government, community organizations, and private partners. Over 700 families will now have a place to call home in East Harlem.”

“Sendero Verde is a stunning example of what can be achieved if we simultaneously prioritize affordability, sustainability and livability in one transformative project,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer. “Thank you to the many partners on this project for ensuring Sendero Verde serves both its residents and the larger East Harlem community.”

“Sendero Verde is bringing much needed affordable housing to hundreds of families, and it’s doing so with community, youth, and the environment in mind,” said Executive Director for Housing Leila Bozorg. “As the largest Passive House development in the US, and with Harlem Children’s Zone school, and programming for our neighbors’ existing shelter, Sendero Verde is a clear example of how housing can be an investment in New Yorkers’ futures.”

“Sendero Verde brings much-needed affordable housing and social services to the community, all while being deeply environmentally friendly. This project is a shining example of creative partnership,” said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine.

“Sendero Verde delivers over 700 new affordable homes, in addition to critical social, health, and educational resources to the East Harlem community. As the largest certified Passive House development in the nation, Sendero Verde is also helping to further New York City’s climate goals,” said HDC President Eric Enderlin. “Thank you to all our partners involved who have made this ambitious project such a success.”

“HCZ is dedicated to creating spaces for our young people and community to thrive, right in the place they call home,” said Harlem Children’s Zone CEO Kwame Owusu-Kesse. “The opening of Sendero Verde reinforces our collective commitment to providing the community with beautiful places to grow and thrive, and we are proud to be part of this effort.”

“Sendero Verde is a truly dynamic community that provides affordable housing for thousands of New Yorkers while promoting the highest standards of environmentally sustainable building practices” said Jim Bendernagel, Vice President of Citi Community Capital. “We celebrate the tremendous work of our developer partners, and the vision and support of our public partners that made this project possible.”  

“Providing financing for projects like Sendero Verde aligns with our mission of meeting housing and economic development needs of the communities where we live and work. This is a tangible example of the impact we can all make to support our vibrant communities,” said Todd Gomez, North Region Market Executive for Community Development Banking at Bank of America.

“As the largest Passive House development in the United States, Sendero Verde not only aligns with the firm’s focus on carbon transition but is vital in providing affordable and sustainable housing, as well as delivering essential social, health and educational programs to the East Harlem community,” said Alan Sage, Vice President at Goldman Sachs Alternatives. “We’re excited to celebrate the official opening of Sendero and work of our partners and look forward to seeing the continued impact the project has on the City.”

Sendero Verde boasts a partnership with Union Settlement, an esteemed organization that has provided high quality youth and senior services to East Harlem since 1895. The development will provide 12,000 square feet of classroom and art space, additional family resources and a large dining and multipurpose room with direct access to the adjacent courtyard. The Harlem Children’s Zone, a renowned charter school operator in Central Harlem, will run a 52,000 square foot elementary school on the ground floor of Sendero Verde, which includes a gymnasium, full cafeteria, administration offices, and classrooms for students from kindergarten through 5th grade. The development team also worked in partnership with the New York City Parks Department, developing three community gardens as part of the Parks’ Greenthumb program. 

These partnerships are a part of Sendero Verde’s rich mix of social, health and educational programs to increase its residents’ and neighbors’ health and wellbeing and provide nearly 65,000 GSF of community facility space to the neighborhood.

In 2022, Sendero Verde was named the largest Passive House development in the United States certified by both Passive House Institute and Enterprise Green Communities. Passive House is a set of energy efficiency standards, which reduces the building’s environmental footprint and ensures the development of ultra-low energy buildings that require little energy for space heating or cooling. These standards will result in a nearly 58% reduction in building energy as compared to a typical NYC multifamily residential building. Sendero Verde is a proof of concept for the City’s vision for housing that unites affordability, liveability and sustainability. Because of this feature,Sendero Verde was named the winner of the SustaiNYC RFP in 2017, which imagined a New York with more sustainable and low-energy buildings that would reduce the city’s carbon footprint and move towards a Net Zero future. 

Designed by Handel Architects, Sendero Verde will provide amenities such a community center, fitness center, a computer and study lounge and commercial space for neighborhood-serving retail, in addition to the community programs and the sustainability features. The development’s design has also won awards such as the Construction Excellence Award in the Affordable Housing Category from the Associated Builders and Contractors – Empire State Chapter, the American Architecture Award from The Chicago Athenaeum and the Multi-Family Award of Merit from the Connecticut Chapter of the US Green Building Council. 

Sendero Verde is the latest milestone for Jonathan Rose Companies in its quest to expand their Communities of Opportunity model across the country. The development is expected to be fully leased by 2025.