Valley Stream, NY Alma Realty’s Sun Valley Towers was honored by Vision Long Island with a 2016 Smart Growth Award, a recognition of the mixed-use project’s proximity to mass transit and contribution to the revitalization of the downtown area.
The 72-unit complex, at Rockaway Ave. and Sunrise Hwy., is two blocks from the Valley Stream Long Island Railroad station and features a “green roof” with solar panels, which power the building’s elevators and common areas. It features a rooftop tennis court and garden. A 15,000 s/f Blink Fitness Gym is open on the ground floor.
The award, shared with the village, was presented at the 15th Annual LI Smart Growth Awards on June 10th at the Crest Hollow Country Club.
The awards featured New York state comptroller Tom DiNapoli. Honorees were cited for fulfilling a number of smart growth principles, including transit oriented development, mix of land uses, housing options, compact design revitalization, sense of place, walkability and citizen participation.
“Alma Realty is proud to be honored with a Long Island Smart Growth Award, recognizing our commitment to sustainable, transit-friendly development and long-term investment in Valley Stream,” said Chris Giovannis of Alma Realty Corp. “The Sun Valley Towers apartment complex has created new high-quality housing that is just blocks from the Long Island Railroad, encouraging residents to make greater use of mass transit. The complex’s convenient, central location helps further realize our vision of a reinvigorated downtown where residents can walk, bike, shop and help the local economy thrive. I want to thank Vision Long Island for its dedication to creating a greener future for all of our communities.”
“This year’s winners demonstrate how you can revitalize downtowns with public support and economically viable projects. The accomplishments of these honorees provide the building blocks for many successful and emerging Long Island communities,” said Eric Alexander, Director, Vision Long Island. “Instead of spending our time distracted by national, regional conflicts and entertainment we should focus our attention on the work of these local leaders. What they do means something and is worthy of our support.”
“The range of projects recognized with Smart Growth Awards over the years illustrates the efforts to revitalize our communities, including clean energy and green building development, mixed land use, open space preservation, enhanced public transportation and walkable neighborhoods, affordable housing and more” NYS Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.
Past and current Smart Growth award winners have included Scott Rechler, Chairman and CEO of RXR Realty; the Trammell Crowe company, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and the H2M Group, among others.
The apartments at Sun Valley Towers are very spacious and feature granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and hardwood floors throughout. Leasing began in May.