More green roofs will be constructed in Greenpoint thanks to a state environmental fund. Today, North Brooklyn’s State Assemblyman Joe Lentol announced a $1.5 million state grant awarded to Broadway Stages in a partnership with Alive Structures to construct a total of 1.4 acres of green roofs at three of their local soundstages.
The success of Kingsland Wildflowers green roof, which opened in 2016, demonstrated a way forward for the North Brooklyn area to transform rooftops at a large scale. In a statement, Assemblyman Lentol said that the green roofs will provide many benefits for the natural environment.
“Kingsland Wildflowers at Broadway Stages was a great success and is the perfect example that shows the potential of this project. 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 Greenpoint Community Environmental Fund initially backed the Kingsland Wildflowers roof that was created through a partnership between the Newtown Creek Alliance, Broadway Stages, Alive Structures and NYC Audubon.
Funding for the new Broadway Stages green roofs came from the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation’s “Green Innovation Grant Program” which provides $15 million in funding statewide for sustainable stormwater and green infrastructure projects.
Green roofs help to collect stormwater, clean the air, and reduce the urban heat island effect during sweltering summer months, among many other benefits. “The green roofs have the potential to remove the emissions equivalent of over 40,000 cars per year,” Lentol said.
In a statement Gina Argento, President and CEO of Broadway Stages said that the green roofs are a community benefit for their positive environmental impact.
“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 soundstages in a way that brings mutual value to our operations, our environment and our community. We are excited to embark on this green roof garden project and continuing to do our part to contribute to the health of our environment.”