Some Harlem residents are working with the MTA in the construction of a new bus depot that is slated to include a "green" and neighborhood-friendly design. NY1's Rebecca Spitz filed the following report.

Don't get used to the blank canvas on 146th and Lenox Avenue because a completely new MTA bus depot is coming soon -- one the community is helping design.

"A development like that is something that takes on a long, long precedence and it's really important to the community," said Task Force member Rita Miller.

Miller is part of a task Force conceived to interact with and stay on top of the MTA as it demolished the depot that was there -- and starts building a new one.

With a core group of 15 to 20 people who meet monthly, members say their priority has always been ensuring the new depot is a good neighbor, one that's environmentally safe.

"Our health is what was our main concern and still is," said Task Force member Estelle Daniels.

"My window faces that site and I do not want no diesel fuel coming up into my window," said Task Force member Margaret Hamilton.

The MTA says all 150 buses that will be stored in the depot will be parked inside, adding all of the fleet will be hybrid electric buses with significantly lower emissions than standard diesel buses.

Charles Callaway heads up the task force.

"We know that six out of seven bus depots in New York City are located in Northern Manhattan, in Harlem so we have to be aware of that situation and when they start rebuilding them we want to make sure they build them the cleanest and greenest bus depots as possible," said Charles Callaway of West Harlem Environmental Action.

The MTA says it's committed to a green building that lends itself to saving energy, saving water and providing good indoor air quality. It's also hoping to offer the green roof the community's asking for.

"That does a lot of things including absorbing rain water, providing more insulation for the building but most importantly, vegetation absorbs pollution," said MTA Chief Environmental Engineer Tom Abdullah.

The task force is scheduled to meet again next Thursday. Members say they will ask the MTA for an updated construction schedule as well as a list of vendors being considered for the project.