Green Roof Coming to 61 Local - Fresh Herbs, Anyone?

It shouldn't come as much of a surprise that is planting a green roof on their Bergen Street building and using the produce in the restaurant.

The word "local" is even in their name.

The green roof will be multi-purpose, said 61 Local owner Dave Liatti. The roof will absorb rainwater, thus decreasing the amount of run-off that enters the city sewer during heavy rains, while also producing herbs grown for use in the restaurant.

"We're excited about it," he said. "The impact is going to be great."

Last month, 61 Local was one of 15 recipients a "Green Infrastructure" grant from the city Department of Environmental Protection. The grants were given to community organizations that are building green infrastructure projects that will reduce combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and improve water quality in New York Harbor.

“The 61 Bergen Street green roof [is] a great example of an innovative and creative stormwater control [system]," said Michael Saucier, Press Secretary at the city DEP. "[It] was selected because it successfully demonstrated how to capture over 60,000 gallons of stormwater per year and reduce Combined Sewer Overflows to the Gowanus Canal."

During heavy storms, the sewer system, which some call antiquated, often reaches capacity. When this happens, a mix of stormwater and wastewater enters the city’s waterways.

This happens often in the Gowanus Canal. A particularly bad overflow last fall was caught on camera and has become something of a YouTube hit.

"We're well aware of the challenges New York City faces with rainwater," said Liatti.

61 Local is working with Eric Dalski and Highview Creations on the green roof. With a grant of just over $40,000, the team will install a garden rooftop with three inches of soil and vegetation "integrated into the rooftop system," said Dalski.

"We will plant drought resistant plants, like sedum and succulents, and the soil will capture the water," he said.

Herbs like mint, rosemary and thyme will also be grown.

The project is slated to begin this Spring.

For Dalski and Liatti, education and community outreach is an important part of the project. Tours of the roof are likely.

"The public awareness component is great," said Dalski. "We'd like to get community organizations involved."

For Liatti, building local relationships is both smart for the business but also for the healthiness of the community. 

"We see this place as a platform for creativity in an interdisciplinary way," he said. "By sourcing locally, one of the benefits is you form good strong relationshps with people."

"It's good for the community in multiple ways," he added. "I would imagine this [the green roof] will bring awareness to what we're doing."