First Green Building on Murray Hill

Lines of bamboo decorate the lobby in 303 E 33rd, the featured plant throughout the building. Floors and furnishings are also bamboo, helping the building toward greenness. (Image courtesy of 303)

NEW YORK —The first green building on Murray Hill in Midtown Manhattan showcases bamboo, not only with a delicate grove of the plants in the lobby, but also in floors and furnishings. It’s just one of the stylish yet practical touches that distinguish 303 E 33rd, which will have 128 units on 12 floors when finished late this year or early 2010.

Why bamboo? “We chose bamboo because it is a ‘green’ material that happens to be the fastest-growing plant on Earth; therefore it can be continuously re-harvested every three years without causing damage to the surrounding environment, while preserving the natural hardwood forests and rainforests.” said Richard Cantor, principal of Cantor Pecorella, Inc., and Director of Marketing and Sales for 303 E. 33rd.

Energy Conscious

Besides bamboo, green building materials include recycled glass for countertops, bathroom tiles, refrigerators, and windows, and recycled materials wall insulation and exteriors. Floor-to-ceiling windows on the 7th through 12th floors allows ample amounts of sunlight, thus reducing energy costs for lighting. According to the developers, green materials cost 3 to 5 percent more than regular construction materials, but they put the building in step with the Big Apple’s current green campaign.

The rooftop is a place to play bocce, barbecue, and lounge by a reflecting pool. The rooftop garden is green in more ways than one—it has a variety of plants that helps to reduce heat, promote summer cooling, and insulate the building.

Fine Views and Amenities

303 is located at the corner of 33rd Street and 2nd Avenue, within a short walk to the East River Esplanade, the United Nations, and the First Avenue’s medical research corridor.

The 128 units range from studios and one-bedroom homes in a plethora of layouts to three-bedroom, two-bathroom duplexes with home offices and walk-out terraces. There are also two triplex penthouses with private terraces. Prices are $550,000 to $4.5 million dollars.

Since 303 E 33rd is totally free-standing, residents will have views on four sides. “Imagine such a great view of the city, you can actually see The Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, the United Nations, and the East River,” Cantor noted.

This building has a myriad of amenities for personal use such as a parking garage located underneath building, a storage room for bicycles, and 24-hour concierge. If the weather is cold you can enjoy the game room, fitness center, lounge area or children’s playroom. The neighborhood offers dining, shopping, entertainment, and clubs of all kinds.

Mr. Cantor said the first floor will be leased by medical offices and facilities.

More on Bamboo

Bamboo has been used for centuries in many ways in people’s daily life, especially in Asia.

In Chinese traditional culture, bamboo has been considered one of the four legendary plants, (the other three are chrysanthemums, plum tree, and pine tree), a symbolic manifestation for great virtue and strong will, perseverance and purity, beauty and grace. Bamboo has inspired poetry, been used to make cool summer sleeping pads, and been cooked—young bamboo shoots make a tender and tasty dish.

Other than its traditional use for handicrafts and novelty items, new engineered applications for bamboo include lumber, veneer, strand and particle boards, plywood and other laminates, and emergent technologies of high-strength bio-composites have been developed. 303 East 33rd Street will use approximately 100,000 square feet of bamboo for flooring and cabinetry in both the kitchen and bathrooms, said Cantor.

Partnership and Tax Abatement

David Von Spreckelsen, vice president of Toll Brothers City Living, and Charles Kibel from The Kibel Company, explained how the two developers decided to come together and create a new design for luxury condominiums. Inspired by the concept “going green,” both parties decided to create a living space that is beneficial to the earth as well as to people. Kibel said 303 E 33rd is their first project with Toll Brothers developers. They purchased the site from the Catholic Church and later sold a 50 percent share to Toll Brothers.

Spreckelsen pointed out that 303 E 33rd is lucky to obtain a 10-year tax abatement. Thus, for a 546 square foot studio, real estate tax is only $37 per month, and common charge $413. For a 1,541 square foot penthouse, real estate tax is $125 and common charge $1396.