Are you ready for the EarthShip’s arrival on the Lower East Side? You’re looking at a rendering of what LES resident Ken Ruck hopes will be the first totally sustainable single-family home in New York City. Last night, with his wife and several designers looking on, he pitched the idea to dazed members of Community Board 3’s land use committee.
The six story structure is planned for a 25 foot lot at 61 Pitt Street, between Delancey and Rivington, which has been vacant for 90 years. The home has been designed by trailblazing New Mexico architect Michael Reynolds, who has built thousands of “EarthShips” worldwide. The two story residence would rely completely on sustainable systems, including cutting edge solar, wind, water collection and treatment technologies. It would be the first Earthship built in any urban setting.
Ruck told CB3 members he was in the process of dealing with the Department of Buildings on permits (a difficult endeavor in the most straightforward projects). Zoning on this block would allow for a 12 story building – the EarthShip will be half that size. Quoting from the 14-page handout given to community board members last night:
An essential part of the structure is a steel infrastructure raised to 6 stories. Te purpose of this structure is to hold solar and wind systems, but it is intended mainly for the passive solar heating system.
CB3 members were intrigued by the idea. The building would obviously not be “contextual” with the tenement buildings that surround it, or with the Gompers public housing development directly across the street. But Ruck said part of his motivation for building the home is to “raise awareness and show that you can build without electricity, without putting waste water on the street.”
A 16 year resident of the Lower East Side, Ruck said he loves Pitt Street and wants to give back to the community. He talked about offering monthly or bi-weekly tours of the home if/when it’s built. Ruck said the site’s co-owner is Paul Stallings, a major property owner on the LES and the developer of the Hotel on Rivington. Ruck indicated Stallings is supportive of the project.
While CB3 members reacted positively, they agreed no vote was necessary. They encouraged Ruck to stay in touch. If you’d like to learn more about Earthship homes, check out their web site or have a look at the video posted below:
ha ha, I used to live in the quasi-vacant building next door to this lot, the rats jumped around like kangaroos the night I tried to move in (gravity- and time-free new roomie was elsewhere). NINETEEN EIGHTY THREE? FOUR?
The wall facing this lot used to have windows, and my poor cat Cargo jumped to freedom soon after the big Rottie came home. Blue, maybe, a grandpupp of the Omen dog?
Anyway, circa 198- so effin long ago!
SURE, I’m not for the new fanglers anywhere….
“Ruck said the site’s co-owner is Paul Stallings…Stallings is supportive of the project.”
oh, an owner approves?
…………………………….GAH -ah-lee, Ange, aint you the shayrff?
Giving WHAT to the community?? How many people could be housed if these buildings would just be fixed???? to meet the need of multiple families!
RAE280: The lot in question is vacant and has been for a long time. There is nothing to fix up.
I used to live in the building on the right. The second bedroom in the second floor apartment would overlook this house if built. I’m not sure if it would be good or not for the apartment building.
Ken, I am so excited to see a model of an urban Earthship! I live in Philly and plan to buy property withing the next year or two in the city. We plan to retrofit toward an earthship-like dwelling, so I am most curious about your project.
We wish you all the luck and insist that you ignore the haters with no vision that comment. The vast majority of the world’s population live in cities and you are creating a wonderful opportunity for them to live clean and healthy!
Ken, I am so excited to see a model of an urban Earthship! I live in Philly and plan to buy property withing the next year or two in the city. We plan to retrofit toward an earthship-like dwelling, so I am most curious about your project.
We wish you all the luck and insist that you ignore the haters with no vision that comment. The vast majority of the world’s population live in cities and you are creating a wonderful opportunity for them to live clean and healthy!