Is it really possible to make a house very good in passive heating and passive cooling, and can an apartment building do it as well?

I think yes but I also think it is really expensive to do it well.

I heard it's a tradeoff.

Late to the party, but I hope this is helpful.

A 2020 article about a proposed passive house apartment complex.

Surprisingly, they seem to have built it on one can rent an apartment.

Maybe someone in NYC, near East 11th, can comment on how it is actually going.