The eight-story Melody rose from a lot vacant since the 1970s, when many South Bronx properties fell into disrepair and were demolished. Developer Les Bluestone says it took more than three months to remediate the site and then another three months excavating 13 feet deep through mostly solid rock. 96% of waste was diverted during construction.
The Melody offers many opportunities for physical activity including a large state-of-the-art gym that is free for residents.
The air in the corridors and lobby is pressurized via a rooftop makeup air system to avoid the thermal stack effect common in many multifamily buildings. It is also filtered to MERV-8.
Interior walls contain R-15 Knauf recycled fiberglass insulation. Outside, masonry cavity walls and precast concrete plank construction allowed for about 2¼ inches of Dow rigid XPS foam. The building achieved a HERS rating of 41.
Balconies will provide occupants with fresh air and sunshine in a part of New York City known for an exceptionally high rate of asthma, especially among children.
Energy Star appliances, Moen faucets with 1-gpm aerators, and tile flooring are some of the sustainable products in the Melody’s bright and open kitchens.
The Melody’s 125 bathrooms utilize retrofitted water-conserving faucets and showerheads that will save thousands of gallons of water a year.
In-unit washers and dryers will make life easier for families.
Play areas are designed to keep the building’s youngest residents happy and active.
The bright stairwells feature doors made of fire-rated glass instead of steel to let in light and entice occupants to forgo the elevator.
Artwork in and around the building recalls the neighborhood’s musical heyday, when cafes and clubs lined nearby streets and featured jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie.
A rooftop patio will provide tenants with a place to socialize and relax outdoors.
