SWBR celebrates LEED Certification of new housing projects

Rochester, NY SWBR celebrated that DePaul’s Starting Line Apartments in Utica, Providence Housing’s LaFrance Apartments in Elmira,  and Rochester’s Cornerstone Group’s Frances II Apartments in Sweden, all received LEED for Homes certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. 

DePaul’s Starting Line Apartments, awarded LEED for Homes Gold certification, is named in honor of the annual Boilermaker Road Race, which draws more than 19,000 competitors to the historic East Utica neighborhood each year. The 62,000 s/f, three-story project provides affordable housing where residents can access supportive services to help them live independent and successful lives.

Also certified LEED for Homes Gold, LaFrance Apartments offers a safe, affordable, and supportive option for those that face challenges finding appropriate housing. The new, two-story development features 37 one-bedroom income-based apartments with access to support services such as job training and life skill training.

LEED for Homes Silver certified Frances II Apartments, the second phase of the Frances Apartments project, adds 48 units of affordable housing, including inclusive options for people with disabilities. It also aligns with the town’s comprehensive plan by converting vacant land to multifamily residential, filling the need for housing with a variety of styles and prices. The first phase of the development was completed in 2017.

USGBC’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system is the benchmark metric for sustainable design, providing third-party certification for buildings designed to save energy, resources and provide improved environments for their residents.