The Shops at Skyview in Flushing installed a beehive with 7,500 bees on its rooftop in June that will be harvested in the fall, packaged and offered to the community as a gift.
The initiative is part of ShopCore Properties, the real estate company that leases and manages shopping centers across the U.S., including The Shops at Skyview, which installed beehives at 30 of their other locations throughout 12 states.
The installation builds upon a pilot of the urban beekeeping program previously installed at two of Shopcore’s properties. The company is partnered with Alveole, an urban beekeeping company that helps businesses, schools and various organizations meet their engagement and sustainability goals by bringing bees to their building.
Corinne Rico, director of Sustainability for ShopCore Properties, said sustainability is their central mission, mandate and purpose.
“From our properties to our communities, prioritizing the environment is part of how we do business. Installing beehives is one more layer to our sustainability and environmental goals,” Rico said. “Bees play an exceedingly important role in a thriving ecosystem, and the honey they produce is rich in antioxidants. So, bees are advantageous for not only the environment but also your health! With the addition of beehives on The Shops at Skyview rooftop, we hope to do our part for our environment and community!”
Additionally, The Shops at Skyview has made a broad, long-term commitment to ensure the property, shoppers and employees are healthier and safer, and hence, renewed the Well Health Safety Rating.
Developed by the International WELL Building Institute, the WELL Health-Safety Rating is awarded to facilities that adopt evidence-based operational policies, maintenance protocols, emergency plans and stakeholder education to address broader health and safety-related issues into the future.
For more information on ShopCore Properties and its sustainability goals, email sustainability@shopcore.com or visit shopcore.com/sustainability.
