Talk Bronx New York

Bronx Residents Are Joining WHEDCo and The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene In Stepping Up and “Taking the Stairs!”

Kick-Off Event at Urban Horizons Focuses on the Health and Environmental Benefits of Stair UsageThe Women’s Housing and Economic Development Corporation (WHEDCo), a community based non-profit organization dedicated to building a more beautiful and prosperous Bronx, is partnering with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to host a kick-off event at Urban Horizons today as part of a campaign to promote stair usage in buildings across the City. The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene selected WHEDCo’s flagship building containing 132 affordable apartments, Urban Horizons, to implement and evaluate a program to encourage residents of multi-family apartments to “Take the Stairs!” in an effort to improve fitness levels and conserve energy.

“Taking the stairs is great example of how staying fit can be a simple part of your everyday life,” said Dr. Karen Lee, the Health Department’s Deputy Director for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control. “Based on their commitment to community health initiatives and environmentally-friendly housing development, WHEDCo emerged as an ideal partner for us to explore ways to encourage stair usage and promote physical activity among residents in multi-family buildings.”

Calling on residents to “Burn Calories, Not Electricity”, the campaign addresses the current obesity epidemic in NYC and promotes environmental conservation simultaneously. As part of the program, stair prompt signs have been posted throughout Urban Horizons encouraging tenants to utilize the stairs instead of energy-wasting elevators. At today’s kick-off event residents will receive information on the health benefits of stair usage and other health and fitness resources. Fun fitness giveaways, including pedometers, coupons for free food at local farmers markets, and children’s bike helmets courtesy of the New York City Department of Transportation, will be available.

“WHEDCo believes that all families deserve a healthy and prosperous future and that all New Yorkers should support cutting back consumption of both calories and electricity.” said Nancy Biberman, WHEDCo’s president and founder. “We are thrilled to collaborate with The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to promote health and fitness initiatives throughout Urban Horizons.”

WHEDCo staffers are joining Urban Horizon tenants in taking the stairs.

The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene will provide stair promotion signage, free-of-charge, to any NYC building willing to mount the signs. Signs can be ordered by calling 311.

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Montefiore Medical Center Adds North Division

Former Our Lady of Mercy Medical Center Assets Acquired

Move Enhances Delivery of High Quality, Compassionate Healthcare to Community As Care and Services Continue

Montefiore Medical Center, one of New York City’s largest healthcare systems, today announced it has completed its acquisition of most of the assets of Our Lady of Mercy Medical Center (OLM). As a result of this acquisition, the former OLM becomes the North Division of Montefiore Medical Center.

The acquisition makes Montefiore a 1,491-bed academic medical center employing more than 16,000 associates serving the two million residents of the Bronx and Westchester County. There are no immediate plans for service changes and patient care will continue uninterrupted.

“We are enhancing the availability of high-quality, innovative healthcare and vital services in the Bronx and providing resources for our patients and the communities we serve,” said Steven M. Safyer, MD, President and CEO, Montefiore Medical Center.

“This preserves a location for healthcare delivery that the surrounding community has relied on for many years,” said Dr. Safyer.

Local residents now will have access to an even greater number of healthcare services in many more Montefiore locations throughout the Bronx and nearby Westchester.

“This is great news for the community,” said Congressman Charles B. Rangel, Chairman, House Ways and Means Committee. “At a time when people are increasingly worried about their healthcare options, local residents can rest assured that they are not just keeping services close to home, but are also getting the additional resources and management team of Montefiore Medical Center, one of our nation’s finest medical institutions.”

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Home Buyers Increasingly Thinking and Buying Green

Improved air quality and energy savings cited as key housing factors for all families, new study finds. Green homes are seen as a bright spot for all income levels.

New York, NY (Vocus) July 23, 2008 — Lower energy costs, healthier living and improved indoor and outdoor environments are increasingly demanded by and available to home buyers at all income levels, according to preliminary findings from a survey released by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and McGraw-Hill Construction.

Families and individual homeowners with the lowest incomes are overwhelmingly satisfied with their green home, more likely to recommend a green home to family and friends, and strongly prefer green homes as a purchasing option. The survey found that 78 percent of homeowners earning less than $50,000 per year say they would be more inclined to purchase a green home. The first findings from the study were released at the site of affordable multi-family homes under construction in the Bronx, N.Y. The development, Melrose Commons 5, is being built with LEED certification as a goal.

“The benefits of green homebuilding must be accessible, and affordable, for every American family,” said Michelle Moore, senior vice president, U.S. Green Building Council, which develops and administers the LEED Green Building Rating System for homes, offices, schools, hospitals and other buildings nationwide.

“Being able to afford your utility bill is as important as being able to pay your mortgage,” Moore added. “Green homes are shining through as the bright spot in an otherwise gloomy housing market.”

The survey estimates that within the last three years more than 330,000 market rate homes with green features have been built in the United States, representing a $36 billion per year industry. An estimated 60,000 of those homes were third-party certified through LEED or a local green building program.

“Fully committed to sustainability for the long-term, green home buyers and remodelers cut across all demographic lines, regardless of income, zip code or anything else. Builders are seeing great interest in green across all income levels,” said Robert Ivy, vice president and editorial director of McGraw-Hill Construction.

“We’re crossing the tipping point for green home building,” added Harvey M. Bernstein, McGraw-Hill Construction vice president of Industry Analytics, Alliances and Strategic Initiatives. “Concerns about energy costs, health and even resale value are adding up green for builders, buyers and renters. Green homes are here to stay.”

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