Architects eager to turn eyesore into environmental haven.

Some architects might find designing a housing project on a steeply sloped, brownfield site bordered by a single-track railroad and a retaining wall in the South Bronx a nightmarish prospect.

But for the five architectural teams selected as finalists September 13 in the New Housing New York Legacy Project, the 40,000 s/f trapezoidal space on 156th street provides them with an exhilarating vantage point.

"I think the competition's theme of marrying high design with affordable housing is going to challenge designers to help raise the bar and produce some buildable dreams for affordable housing in New York," said Jonathan Jova Marvel, partner in the firm Rogers Marvel Architects, and one of the finalists in the competition. The types of dreams realized through the development are as limitless as the imaginations of the architects. The projects organizers--which include the American Institute of Architects, New York Chapter, The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority--have set basic guidelines that only push traditional ways of thinking about affordable housing. The mixed use-building ultimately awarded to the winning team should include multiple apartments for different income levels, and retail and community space on the ground floor. Submissions tailored to mixed income residents that integrate high-end designs into their blueprints receive higher ratings from the competitions judges.

"Everyone would like a beautiful place to live in. We think it should be a viable possibility for residents of affordable housing as well as luxury housing and we hope our designers will be encouraged to take up the challenge of making beautiful designs economically obtainable," said Holly Leicht, director of operations of the NYHPD.

Designs--which may include 20,000 s/f of air rights--must be LEED certifiable and those that incorporate more green elements, such as bamboo floors, rainwater tubs and green roofs, will be more highly regarded by judges.

The site--which is currently valued at $4 million--was a former rail yard condemned by the city in 1972, and is one of the last large vacant spaces left in the South Bronx. The competition gives residents plenty of leverage to voice their opinions. Green elements they want included in the property include a store that provides healthy food not easily attainable in the neighborhood, and materials that support better air quality to fight high rates of asthma and other health problems residents face.

"The idea behind green building is to tread lightly on the earth and have as limited an impact on the environment as possible," said Mark Ginsburg, former president of the AIANY and partner at Curtis and Ginsberg Architects, LLP. "Most of us try to do that on every project we design, but it's nice to have a project where we can really push the envelope with green building and learn what works and what doesn't."

The winner should be announced around January 12, 2007, while construction is not expected to begin until Spring 2008. But seeds planted by the contest are expected to come to fruition through the process of the contest itself.

"My overall hope for this project is that the affordable housing industry is motivated by the ideas that are going to be contributed by the talented architects and developers that are going to be pouring their energies into this project over the next couple of months," said Jonathan Jova Marvel, partner in the firm Rogers Marvels Architects and another of the finalists in the competition.

Ginsberg hopes that the project--which is included among the AIANY's "Blueprint For America, A Gift to The Nation," celebration across the country for 2007 which will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the AIA--will help pave the way for other in neighborhoods beyond 156th street..

"This is called the Legacy Project and, from the city's perspective, the legacy element is as important as what comes from this individual building," Leicht said. "In the process of this competition, the design teams will have learned how to do this and will carry that knowledge to future projects. At the same time, we will have a model to use to gain leverage in encouraging architects and developers how to incorporate high design and sustainability into their projects."