Avenue, a 36-story multifamily housing project in the Fourth Ward of Charlotte, N.C., has to please the living and fit in with the dead. Developer Novare Group and general contractor R. J. Griffin & Co., both in Atlanta, partnered with Charlotte-based architects Smallwood, Reynolds, Stewart, Stewart and Associates to produce a modern-looking building that would complement an adjacent historic cemetery where many of Charlotte's famous leaders were buried. “The aesthetics of the building were important to the area because of the cemetery, which is really gorgeous,” says Kristen Kepner-Coleman, project architect.

But Novare developer Tony Skillbeck says buyers wanted a contemporary look. The result: Avenue has a modern glass top that “pierces” a 1900s brick loft building at the street level, Kepner-Coleman says.

When finished this fall, the project will feature 386 one- and two-bedroom homes with large balconies, 10-foot ceilings, and other amenities. On the street, pedestrians will be greeted with 6,000 square feet of retail space, Skillbeck says. “We wanted to put retail on the bottom floor because the whole uptown has taken on a new life,” he adds. “It has become the cultural center of the area.” The popularity is translating into sales, with units priced in the high $300,000s.

  • Sunny IslesKey International is developing 400 Sunny Isles, a mix of 230 flats, lofts, and townhomes on the waterfront in Sunny Isles Beach, Fla. The two- and three-bedroom units, which range from the $600,000s to more than $1.7 million, will feature European stainless kitchen appliances and a touch-screen computer panel where residents can access the valet and security desk as well as control a unit's temperature, lighting, and more. Amenities include dry or wet dock marina slips available for purchase, a yacht and beach club bistro, two tennis courts, a high-tech fitness center, and a Zen garden. Completion is expected in 2010.
  • The Esperanza at Asbury ParkMetro Homes is developing The Esperanza at Asbury Park, a two-tower beachfront condo development in Asbury Park, N.J. The community will feature a 16-story, 135-unit tower and a 10-story, 89-unit tower offering a range of unit sizes with prices starting at the low $400,000s. Amenities will include a rooftop pool, 23 poolside cabanas, shipwreck-themed children's play area, fitness center, and clubroom. The project is part of the redevelopment of the Oceanfront Asbury waterfront, which includes the construction of an entertainment, shopping, and retail center along the boardwalk.
  • Miller Gallman Developers is building Castleberry Point, a mixed-use community in Atlanta's Castleberry Hill neighborhood to include a 108-unit condo community and 35,000 square feet of street-level retail and restaurant space. The one-, two-, and three-bedroom units, priced from the low $200,000s to the $700,000s, will feature granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, ceramic tile floors, and balconies. Amenities will include a rooftop pool with views of downtown, clubhouse, fitness center, and a courtyard surrounded by restaurants, shops, and galleries.
  • Paramount BayRPC Holdings is developing Paramount Bay, a 346-unit high-end mixed-use waterfront condo community in Miami's Arts District. The units, priced from $850,000 to more than $6 million, will feature smart technology, floor-to-ceiling glass walls, balconies, and 10-foot ceilings. Amenities will include a 6,000-square-foot fitness center, pool and cabanas, clubroom, and theater. Completion is planned for 2009.
  • Westminster Communities is completing Cranford Crossing, a mixed-use community in the downtown historic district of Cranford, N.J., offering 50 rental units and 22,000 square feet of retail space. The one- and two-bedroom units, available in 20 unique floor plans, offer 9-foot ceilings, granite counter-tops, stainless steel appliances, and washers and dryers. The property is located next to a train station and a new 310-space municipal parking garage built by Westminster.

    —Listings compiled by Rachel Z. Azoff