Category: Mixed-Income
Project: Ashley Auburn Pointe
Location: Atlanta
Developers: Integral Development and Urban Realty Partners
Builder: IBG Construction Services
Architect: Geheber Lewis Associates
Number of units: 154
Unit mix: One, two, and three bedrooms
Rents: $623 to $781 (affordable); $900 to $1,100 (market rate)
Located near Georgia State University, this $18.5 million project is the result of a private–public partnership between the Atlanta Housing Authority, Integral Development, and Urban Realty Partners. The project, designed by Geheber Lewis Associates, features 154 units ranging from 756 to 1,264 square feet. Sixty-one units are restricted to residents who make 60 percent or less of the area median income.
The design and development team worked within the city’s master plan to redevelop the neighborhood, which had not seen any development activity for more than 60 years. Situated adjacent to a MARTA train station, Ashley Auburn Pointe balances density, green space, and pedestrian connectivity with a new street grid. It received EarthCraft Multifamily certification for its sustainable features and offers a LEED Silver–certified clubhouse. The project was financed during the Great Recession with funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. —J.P.
Category: Low-Rise Walk-Up (1 to 4 stories)
Project: Fusion
Location: Sunnyvale, Calif.
Developer: O’Brien Homes/Sunnyvale Associates
Builder: O’Brien Homes
Architect: KTGY Group
Number of units: 228
Unit mix: Two, three, and four bedrooms
Rents: High $400,000s to low $700,000s
This townhome community in California’s Silicon Valley is based on the concept of providing “everyday things that fuse your life”—hence the name “Fusion.” Designed by KTGY Group and developed by local firm O’Brien Homes, this 228-unit condo project is built on a former industrial site and incorporates three existing Spanish-style buildings. It offers five distinct “districts” identified by landscaping and colorful paseos. Varied paint palettes add to the visual interest of the various buildings’ styles and districts. At the hub of the project is a recreation center dubbed Pulse, which features a Wi-Fi bar, lounge, fitness center, 12-seat theater, catering kitchen, flat-screen TV, outdoor fire pit, meditation garden, and putting green. Units, which are available in seven floor plans ranging from 1,198 to 1,882 square feet, feature attached two-car garages, stainless steel appliances, built-in recycling bins, and granite slab countertops. —J.P.
Category: Mid-Rise Podium or Wrap (4 to 6 stories)
Project: Montgomery Heights
Location: Newark, N.J.
Developers: Pennrose Properties, One Real Estate, and the Newark Housing Authority
Builder: Claremont Construction
Architect: Comito and Associates
Number of units: 80
Unit mix: One, two, and three bedrooms
Rents: $879 to $1,179
Montgomery Heights is part of a larger effort to bring Newark’s High District back to its former glory. The district was one of the most prestigious addresses during the 1920s, and it is still home to historic gems. This particular project, which offers 80 units, sits on an infill site formerly occupied by run-down residential structures. The site, situated near Rutgers Newark and the New Jersey Institute of Technology, suffered from brownfield challenges, including 10 underground storage tanks. Developed in partnership by Pennrose Properties, One Real Estate, and the Newark Housing Authority, the $29.7 million project was designed to incorporate historical elements in the neighborhood. The design, created by Comito and Associates, features deep Italianate overtones and European detailing and picks up design elements such as brick construction, bay windows, stone lintels, and Juliette balconies. It also features photovoltaic systems and received Energy Star certification. —J.P.
Category: Green
Project: Primera Terra
Location: Playa Vista, Calif.
Developer/builder: KB Home
Architect: KTGY Group
Number of units: 52
Unit mix: Two and three bedrooms
Sale Price: $518,715 to $599,990
Primera Terra, which loosely translates to “earth first,” is a residential project that was designed and developed with sustainability in mind. The 52-unit condo development, designed by KTGY Group and built by KB Home, was awarded LEED Platinum certification. The three-story project, which is situated atop a subterranean parking garage, features six floor plans. Homes are organized around a central courtyard that provides intimate “outdoor” rooms for residents to relax and reflect. Key green features include a cool roof; large windows that maximize daylighting; low-VOC paints and floors; electric-vehicle charging stations; an oversized and enclosed bicycle storage room; a community vegetable and flower garden; and a living green wall. Each owner has an energy-monitoring system to track his or her energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, and energy costs online or via smart phone. Primera Terra is 40 percent more energy efficient than the new home standards set by the state of California. —J.P.
Category: Adaptive Reuse
Project: 220 Water
Location: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Developer: GDC Properties
Builder: The Rinaldi Group
Architect: Perkins Eastman
Number of units: 134
Unit mix: Studio, one, and two bedrooms
Rents: $3,450 to $5,975
In a Mother Goose nursery rhyme, an old woman lived in a shoe; in the real world, fashionable Brooklynites reside in an old shoe warehouse known as 220 Water. Originally developed in the mid-1880s, the building housed the Hanan & Son shoe factory. GDC Properties tackled the redevelopment of the project, which is located in the DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) neighborhood. Working with design firm Perkins Eastman, the developer created 134 luxury lofts with an average unit size of 934 square feet. The units are especially deep, to accommodate the soaring, 30-foot-high lobby. Restored accents featured in 220 Water include exterior brick walls and concrete or wood plank ceilings with original timber beams. Modern design elements include multiple closets per unit, full washer and dryers, and movable kitchen islands. The project was funded by a combination of state brownfield credits and federal historic tax credits. —J.P.
Category: Senior
Project: Dana Strand Senior Apartments
Location: Los Angeles
Developer: ROEM Development Corp. and the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles
Builder: ROEM Builders
Architect: KTGY Group
Number of units: 100
Unit mix: One bedrooms
Rents: $776 to $932
Los Angeles is one of the most expensive cities to live in the country, and its need for affordable seniors housing is acute. ROEM Development Corp. and the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles partnered to address that need, and the 100-unit Dana Strand Senior Apartments is the result of that collaboration. The $22.3 million project, which sits on land that was formerly occupied by run-down public housing, exclusively houses residents who make 30 percent or less than the area median income. It was financed with a combination of tax-exempt bonds and low-income housing tax credits. The environmentally friendly development, which is LEED Gold certified, offers high-efficiency lighting, low-flow plumbing features, tankless water heaters, a cool roof, and drought-tolerant plants. Designed by KTGY Group, the project’s three-story massing features a Southern California Spanish design with balcony elements and a lush landscaped courtyard with a fountain and barbecue area. —J.P.
Category: Green
Project: Northwest Gardens, Phase I
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Developer: Carlisle Development Group and The Housing Authority of the City of Fort Lauderdale
Builder: BJ&K Construction
Architect: Gustavo J. Carbonell P.A.
Number of units: 143
Unit mix: One to three bedrooms
Rents: $335 to $1,117, representing 28% and 60% of median income
Designed for transit, Northwest Gardens, Phase I, is Florida’s first LEED Gold–certified multifamily project. It also is part of a community that is the first in Florida to achieve LEED for Neighborhood certification. Carlisle Development Group and The Housing Authority of the City of Fort Lauderdale partnered to develop the project, which will eventually comprise four phases and 550 units encompassing 30 acres and 14 blocks. The community is part of the Housing Authority’s plan to replace aging public housing in the northwestern portion of the city. In addition to common green elements such as solar lights and awnings, pervious pavement, drought-resistant native plants, recycled materials, and low-flow plumbing, the project also features The Little Green Library, which offers more than 1,000 resources to help families live more sustainably. An urban farm and community garden complement resident programs such as financial counseling, literacy training, and health and nutrition classes. —J.P.
Category: Affordable
Project: Ramona Apartments
Location: Portland, Ore.
Developer: Turtle Island Development
Builder: Walsh Construction Co.
Architect: Ankrom Moisan Associated Architects
Number of units: 138
Unit mix: Studio, one, two, and three bedrooms
Rents: $396 to $1,021
Located in the trendy and expensive Pearl District, Ramona Apartments provide affordable housing to Portland families. Developed by Turtle Island Development, the 138-unit community, which is occupied by families earning up to 60 percent of the area median income, was financed with a mix of low-income housing tax credits, tax-exempt bonds, and green building incentives. With a price tag of $51.2 million, Ramona blends with the scale and materials of the area’s old brick warehouses. Designed by Ankrom Moisan Associated Architects, it features a raised, “loading dock” style sidewalk along with carefully detailed brick, large windows, precast masonry elements, exposed wood ceilings, and custom-designed light fixtures. Floor plans, which range from 355 to 1,241 square feet, were designed to maximize the usable area in a compact space. Each floor features a unique gathering area in the form of a common laundry, which features a play area for children, a furnished lounge for adults, lots of folding surfaces, bulletin boards, and large windows overlooking the courtyard. —J.P.
Category: Student
Project: Centennial Hall and Falcon Heights
Location: Bowling Green, Ohio
Developer: Capstone Development Corp.
Builder: The Lathrop Co.
Architects: DesignGroup and Design Collective
Number of units: 512
Unit mix: Singles to four-bed suites
Rents: $622 to $733
Demand for high-quality student housing on the Bowling Green State University’s main campus is obvious : Its two newest offerings, Centennial Hall and Falcon Heights, are 100 percent leased and have a waiting list. Capstone Development Corp. developed the two projects for a total cost of $81.5 million. The residences, which house roughly 1,300 students, were delivered on time and $2 million under budget. With façades of light buff and red brick, both buildings have welcoming courtyards that face the campus as well as private courtyards, allowing indoor public spaces to become extensions of outdoor spaces and vice versa.
DesignGroup and Design Collective served as architects for the new residences, which offer roughly 8,000 square feet of amenity space. The buildings are designed with multiple “communities” per floor that share lounge and amenity spaces. Interior materials are colorful yet durable, with glazing, accent walls, polished concrete, wood, and carpeting. —J.P.
Category: Low-Rise Walk-Up (1 to 4 stories)
Project: Austin Ranch Phase V
Location: The Colony, Texas
Developer: Billingsley Co.
Builder: Westwood Residential
Architect: JHP Architecture/Urban Design
Number of units: 535
Unit mix: One, two, and three bedrooms
Rents: $600 to $2,500
The fifth phase of this luxury, mixed-use apartment community adds 535 multifamily units and 22,600 square feet of community retail to Austin Ranch, a 1,900-acre, master planned community in suburban Dallas. The project offers loft apartments and townhomes, as well as 10 live/work units. With units ranging from 987 to 1,890 square feet, this phase of Austin Ranch multifamily leased more quickly than the preceding ones. Designed by JHP Architecture/Urban Design, the project has been described as “romantically industrial.” It features a contemporary design aesthetic abundant in rich textures of brick and stucco accented with elegant metal balconies and awnings. Project amenities include a sculptural sitting pool and a courtyard. Meandering paths of elegantly landscaped areas create small pockets for residents to enjoy sculpture, seating, and fountains. —J.P.
Category: Best Reuse of Land
Project: FloCo Fusion
Location: Minneapolis
Developer: FloCo Fusion, LLC
Builder: Frana Cos.
Architect: BKV Group
Number of units: 84 new plus 37 renovated
Unit mix: One, two, three, and four bedrooms
Rents: $895 to $3,000
As one of the oldest apartment buildings in Minnesota, Florence Court is a local historic landmark. But the 1880s-era community, which is situated at the doorstep of the University of Minnesota, was showing its age and suffering from stress fractures and a deteriorating foundation. With BKV Group spearheading the design and renovation, developer FloCo Fusion, LLC, worked with the local historic preservation commission and state historic preservation office to implement the new design.
At FloCo Fusion, a new, elongated courtyard is ringed by a driveway that has been the centerpiece of Florence Court since its construction. New apartments anchor the north end of the courtyard, and the final result is a full residential block development that melds a unique, historic townhouse-style apartment building with vintage-style single-family homes and a new, modern mid-rise. The majority of trimwork, hardware, doors, and wood floors was maintained, as well as other historic features, such as fireplaces and exterior stained glass windows. —J.P.
Category: Marketing and Advertising
Campaign: Corporate Housing: Less Corporate, More Housing
Company: Prometheus Real Estate Group
Location: San Mateo, Calif.
With the goal of making the experience of leasing a corporate apartment effortless and fun, Prometheus Real Estate Group launched its “Less Corporate, More Housing” campaign. The San Mateo, Calif.–based company, which is the largest private owner of apartments in the Bay Area with a portfolio of roughly 18,000 apartments in the West, first centralized its corporate housing function to provide a global view of pricing and availability across properties.
Armed with the knowledge that professionals employed by nearby technology companies Apple, Facebook, and Google are often its ultimate customer, Prometheus crafted its online and print campaign elements. Specifically, the campaign’s design and messaging align with Prometheus’ brand while appealing to technology employees. The campaign also includes a tool kit to allow corporate employees to transition from corporate to traditional apartments.
The campaign helped Prometheus achieve an average 15 percent rental premium for corporate units on a portfolio-wide basis, and Synergy, a worldwide corporate housing provider for Google, chose one of the company’s properties for the first G-suite, a centralized concierge lounge for Google employees. —J.P.
Category: Best Reuse of Land
Project: Trinity Commons
Location: Durham, N.C.
Developer: Northwood Ravin
Builder: CAP Construction
Architect: Housing Studio
Number of units: 342
Unit mix: One and two bedrooms
Average rent: $1,476
Located across from Duke University Medical Center, Trinity Commons is an urban infill project. It sits on roughly 3.9 acres that were previously occupied by underutilized retail and a run-down, crime-ridden apartment complex. The new low-rise project, developed by Northwood Ravin, is the largest wood-frame building in North Carolina to receive LEED Silver certification.
Designed by Housing Studio, the community offers 52 floor plans that range from 515 to 1,554 square feet. Units feature soaring, 10- to 20-foot ceilings, along with a number of sustainable and luxury elements, including designer Venetian-tile backsplashes, granite counters, and bamboo flooring. The 13,000-square-foot clubhouse offers a gourmet demonstration kitchen, meeting and game rooms, and a media center. Health-related amenities include an indoor resistance lap pool; a private, outdoor saltwater pool with sun deck; and a 3,000-square-foot fitness center with yoga space, sauna, and steam rooms. —J.P.
Category: Community Service
Program: Post HOPE Foundation
Company: Post Properties
Location: Atlanta
With more than 20,000 apartment units and an interest in about 58 communities, Post Properties has long created a name for itself in developing upscale multifamily properties. The 40-year-old, Atlanta-based company is known for both resort-style garden and high-density urban apartments. But its mission has always been the same—being a good neighbor.
Through Post’s philanthropic operation, Post HOPE Foundation, the firm raised nearly $350,000 in 2011, donating $340,000 of it to more than 55 charities. Post has also actively given back to local communities through benefits such as golf tournaments and food drives, to bowling tournaments that benefitted Bags of Hope and Make-A-Wish Foundation, two organizations dedicated to helping the homeless.
Even more endearing, Post, home to about 660 employees, shut every office location for a companywide day of service on Oct. 13, 2011. Staff members worked 14 events in nine markets, rebuilding playgrounds in Atlanta and refurbishing homes for struggling single mothers in Orlando, Fla. Their social activities extended to seniors in Houston, and they built a “cottage of hope” for orphaned children in Tampa, Fla. By partnering with community leaders and residents, Post has promoted positivity in its neighborhoods. —L.I.
