President and owner of Manhattan-based Plant Fantasies, Teresa Carleo has built her full-service landscaping, maintenance, and floral decor business on 22 years of hard work and dedication. With an impressive clientele of New York City developers and companies, Carleo’s green thumb has been sought after by real estate heavyweights like Macklowe Properties, The Trump Organization, World-Wide Holdings Corporation, and Jack Resnick & Sons, just to name a few. In recent years, Carleo has seen an increasing demand for green roofs, which have become one of Plant Fantasies’ specialties. These environmentally-friendly solutions provide building tenants with a beautiful outdoor space and help create new ecosystems in an urban environment. Carleo shared insight on green roofs with MGB, and discussed how she found her calling as a successful entrepreneur.
What types of clients do you work for, and which of your services is highest in demand?
My clients are primarily major real estate developers. I’ve been fortunate to serve very high-end, prestigious clients responsible for A-list properties such as Manhattan House, 250 Hudson Street, Miraval Living, and now 505 W. 37th St., a new building managed and owned by Rockrose Development Corporation.
The services Plant Fantasies specializes in are all in demand. Our expertise is in landscaping, designing and maintaining courtyard or rooftop gardens—all have been proven to add ‘curb appeal’ which helps attract and retain tenants, a very important plus in today’s competitive marketplace. Green roofs are a growing Plant Fantasies specialty because they too add value to properties: roofs that are both green and tenant accessible offer many aesthetic, social, and environmental advantages. Floral arrangements and centerpieces, for lobbies and special events, are another specialty.
Now, as the holidays approach, our elaborate holiday decorations are already scheduled to go up throughout Manhattan. For example, the tree at Trump Tower and all the surrounding decorations for the exquisite atrium is one of our regular assignments and we’ll be busy setting up the display on Thanksgiving eve.
How did you begin your career and eventually become president of Plant Fantasies?
It was a career change. I had worked in the garment industry and in photography when I was offered a minimum wage job watering plants. The business actually grew from that—whatever task I was asked to do involving plants, I always did—and then some. In other words, I exceeded the clients’ expectations. One of my first contracts was with Bernard Spitzer and the Corinthian, a 55-story luxury apartment building. I began to take my portfolio to other major real estate developers and owners and, in time, I got more and more contracts until my one-woman freelance work turned into a business. In 1987, I incorporated Plant Fantasies and soon after I became certified as a woman-owned business enterprise or WBE. As more and more work came my way, I began hiring people to help me. I now employ between 30 and 50 people, depending on the season.
Being in business for yourself, the need to market never ends. I’m constantly promoting Plant Fantasies and networking. I belong to various associations, including Professional Women in Construction (PWC) which works to further the advancement of women in nontraditional occupations. Getting your name out there is crucial.
So green roofs are a large part of your portfolio. What are the environmental benefits of a green roof and just how popular are they becoming?
Some of the major benefits are lower maintenance requirements for the roof; recycling of storm water runoff; improvement of air quality; reduced heat island effect, particularly in large urban areas, due to cooling; adding a longer life span than standard roof systems due to better roof membrane and protection from UV radiation and temperature fluctuations. There are also aesthetic and psychological restorative and healing effects.
In today’s market, LEED accreditation is greatly valued—and clients are increasingly aware of the economic benefits. There are numerous tax incentives. One of the biggest pluses, is that green roofs help draw tenants. Take comparable properties—one with a green roof, one without: the one with the green roof will win out, and if the roof is one that can be used by tenants—like 250 Hudson Street which has a patio and dining areas—it’s even better.
We’re both installing green roofs in new buildings—another is Millennium Tower Residences at Battery Park City—and retrofitting existing buildings. The popularity of both is increasing.
What are some of the difficulties that come with creating and designing a green roof?
Logistics can be one of the greatest difficulties in creating a green roof. Often we need to bring tons of soil onto the roof along with edging, ballast, drainage mat, plants, etc. Coordinating the best way to get the materials to the roof can be extremely challenging.
In terms of design, one needs to consider such aspects as the desired visual outcome, weight capacity, and whether the owner wants to allow access to tenants—if the space will permit it. Building codes, structural capacity, what type of plants are being used and personal preferences are some of the determining factors.
One needs to decide how to strike a balance between creating the greenest roof possible and, when possible, to allow access. The dual goals are to have the roof fully used and enjoyed by tenants or residents and to make every inch ‘green’ in the sense of eco-friendly. In order to qualify for LEED status a few of the many questions to consider are how many feet will support extensive planting and how many feet can be devoted to hard surface; how many eco-friendly materials can be located and how many/which local suppliers can we use.
As a business, are there any ways that Plant Fantasies tries to maintain a sustainable and green existence?
Absolutely! Plant Fantasies uses only organic fertilizers and compost—no chemicals—and local floral growers to save on fuel. We recycle everything including pots, vases, and trays for plants. We even try to reuse plants. In some instances a plant may be used for a temporary installation, so when the event is over we try to find a home for it where it can be planted, live, and thrive.
We support organizations that help protect the environment and conserve resources. For example, we donate funds—and flowers—to the Horticultural Society for their annual luncheon. Finally, in the office we work online as much as possible, using virtually no paper.
You’ve mentioned that equal opportunity employment is an important cause to you. What type of initiatives have you taken to further this cause?
I am a member of various associations, like WBE, that advocate for the advancement of women and minorities in all fields including nontraditional areas. In my own hiring practices, I make every possible effort to hire qualified women and minorities and once they’re on board I encourage them to further their careers through study and experience. Our staff now is 87 percent minority.
What are some of your upcoming projects?
We just completed Miraval Living, a large spa-themed new building at 515 E. 72nd Street. We’ve created a courtyard garden of about a quarter of an acre made up of Carpinus and Honey Locust trees, trees that are more than 20 feet tall that weigh literally a ton (2000 lbs). We are in the beginning stages of 505 West 37th Street, a magnificent new rental building overlooking the Hudson River. We also have a full slate of holiday decorations lined up with our major clients—Trump, Macklowe, Resnick, many more. The holidays are one of our busiest times.
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