519 East 11th Street

519 East 11th Street. . , At this site, a group of Lower East Side residents created one of the first sweat equity rehabilitation projects and pioneered solar and wind energy installations in New York City. They installed the first wind turbine in New York on the roof of this once abandoned and torched building, and won a landmark case requiring Con Edison to buy back electricity generated here. The project, begun in 1973, led to federal legislation that paved the way for renewable energy across the US and became a symbol of hope for resident-owned affordable housing on the Lower East Side., The 519 East 11th Street group also opened the El Sol Brilliante community garden on East 12th Street, the first urban open-space and trust in America. Burned beams from this building were reused in the garden., This project was part of the Loisaida movement for cultural and social empowerment that included interfaith Adopt-a-Building, the Association for Neighborhood and Housing development, SHARAS, and Seven Loaves. Key support also came from the Urban Homesteading Assistance Board, the Trust for Public Land, the National Community Services Administration, and the City of New York.