Natural Balance
Increased
governmental efforts to stem the loss of wetlands and the plants and wildlife
associated with them have given pause to developers eyeballing these bucolic
sites: Approvals can take more time and money than usual when purchasing land
through wetland mitigation banks as a means of compensating for new
construction. In the case of a 34-acre parcel in South Florida, however,
developer Joel Altman felt the extra steps were worthwhile. “We’ve gone through
this before and been totally successful,” says Altman, chairman of Altman Cos.
in Boca Raton, which focuses on rentals in multiple states.
Mixed Occupancy
Pembroke Pines,
where the parcel was located, had few remaining large, buildable acres, says
Mayor Frank Ortis, which was part of the land’s appeal to Altman. For this
particular project, named Altis at Sheridan Village, Altman anticipated that a
cohort of renters would like the growing area’s employment options and
proximity to several highways. Further, he’s witnessed interest in upscale
rental housing from a mix of tenants—some trading up from other rentals rather
than buying, some giving up homeownership to rent, and some seeking a base in
the U.S. with Florida experiencing an influx of investors and residents from
abroad.
Enhanced
Topography
With a team that
included architect Ken Boone of STB Architects and Planners in Dallas and
landscape architect Kelly Hults of Witkin Hults Design Group in nearby
Hollywood, a master plan was designed. Fourteen of Sheridan’s outlying acres
were retained as a natural habitat, with native grasses and old-fashioned–style
wood boardwalks added. The remaining 20 acres were developed with meandering
clusters of low-lying buildings and pedestrian paths. To make the typical flat
Florida topography more interesting, Hults introduced berms and mounds, grouped
boulders, planted mature palm trees for instant cachet, and sprinkled about
benches and picnic tables.
Resortlike Living
The team’s goal
was to introduce an array of high-end amenities to suggest an active resort, so
occupants could “staycation,” or vacation at home. Among the more novel outdoor
attractions: a sand beach rimmed by coconut trees and hammocks; a lake with a
fire pit; a putting green; a community garden; and a gazebo with a cooking
station for residents and chef demonstrations. Designer Julie Morgan of The
Design Club in Boca Raton continued the playful effect within a clubhouse, with
a palette of bold colors and everything from a pool and poker tables to
video-game consoles, fitness equipment, TVs, and a café. Even the traditional
leasing office underwent a metamorphosis with an interactive screen placed in
the lobby to showcase the project’s floor plans.
Homey Ambience
Despite the
single-level, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments being arranged in small,
three-story buildings, the team wanted to make the units feel like private
homes. They did so by using individual entries, attaching garages for many of
the units, and leaving off the typical Florida breezeways between buildings.
The interiors include sought-after 10-foot ceilings, open living–dining–kitchen
plans, full-sized washer–dryers, and generous storage. And rather than watch
just any TV cooking show, tenants can replay their building’s on-site cooking
demonstrations. The units range from 833 to 1,407 square feet and lease from
$1,600 to $2,824 a month. Opened last March, the Sheridan Village’s 98 percent
occupancy rate proves Altman hit a bull’s-eye.
