The Gramse is a wonderful historic building built in 1915. Casa Verde, in a joint venture with King Park Area Development Corporation, will be renovating The Gramse from its current status of outdated apartments into 13 LEED-Certified High Efficiency Condominiums. 11 of the 13 units will be reserved for buyers of low-to-moderate income, proving that well-constructed Green affordable living is a real possibility here in the Midwest.

The Gramse is located at the intersection of 22nd and Broadway Streets just north of downtown Indianapolis. The surrounding neighborhood is part of the Fall Creek Place renovation that has taken place in Indianapolis over the past decade. Fall Creek Place has been nationally recognized for its use of public sector funding to kick-start private sector development. This area has undergone a tremendous renovation, and is now one of the Indianapolis' greatest success stories. Further information on Fall Creek Place click here to visit the Fall Creek Place Neighborhood Associations webpage.

Unique Characteristics of the Project
The Gramse is an exciting and unique project. The building was constructed nearly 100 years ago, and its historical integrity has not been compromised throughout the years. The Gramse has been designated as eligible for The National Register of Historic Places and the renovation will be following historic preservation guidelines and the building will be nominated and submitted for inclusion in the National and State Registers.

One of the most exciting components of The Gramse project is the opportunity to showcase green building in Indianapolis. These will be the first LEED-certified condominiums in the city. In addition to this, the project also illustrates the viability of sustainable living at an affordable price point for most consumers.

There are many requirements for obtaining LEED certification set by the United States Green Building Council. Casa Verde is incorporating these guidelines in the following ways:

• The landscaping will use species selected to have low water needs and maintenance, which will reduce the cost to the homeowners association and reduce the water delivery needs from the local utility.
• The Gramse will have foam insulation to provide much higher thermal performance, while greatly reducing air infiltration through the walls. The increased energy efficiency will also save homeowners money, reduce energy production burdens on the utility company and help control global warming.
• The building will have 13 on-demand tankless water heaters to reduce water heating costs as water is only heated when hot water is needed rather than heating water at all times. The individual systems will reward residents for energy conserving practices.
• Dual flush toilets and water efficient fixturing will reduce water consumption and lower sewage treatment demands.
• High efficiency heating and cooling systems will dramatically reduce energy consumption, resulting in lower utility bills for homeowners and improved citywide air quality. Individual systems for all units will encourage energy conserving practices by homeowners.
• The existing windows will be restored in compliance with Historic Preservation Guidelines and will incorporate high-performance Low-E glass and friction weatherstripping to cut air infiltration.
• Motion sensors at light and timers on fan switches will reduce energy consumption through efficient use of lighting and fans.
• All lamps will be compact fluorescent (CFL) which will reduce lighting energy demand by 75%.
• Energy Star appliances will be provided for greatly reduced energy and utility bills.
• All of the paint for this project will be Low or No VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds), creating healthier indoor air quality and reducing pollutants into the environment.
• The wood and adhesives used for cabinetry, doors, casings and baseboards will be formaldehyde free.

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