Leave it to AvalonBay Communities to step in as a designated hitter. After a planned condo project by D.R. Horton stalled in Anaheim, Calif.’s up-and-coming Platinum Triangle neighborhood adjacent to the Anaheim Angels Stadium, the Alexandria, Va.-based REIT picked up the project at the podium-level and converted the community to a high-end, urban lifestyle mid-rise rental.
“I was really impressed with the execution,” says Dan Withee, principal of Torrance, Calif.-based Withee Malcolm Architects and architect for the resulting 251-unit Avalon Anaheim Stadium. “We really wanted to stand out from the neighborhood, with some extremely precise lines and edges from an exterior design standpoint. There was little room for error, and, given anything less than a perfectionist’s job (particularly with the plastering), this building would not look anywhere near as spectacular.”
FAST FACTS
Location: Anaheim, Calif.
Builder/Developer: AvalonBay Communities
Architect: Withee Malcolm Architects
Opened: August 2008
No. of Units: 251
Unit Mix: One- , two-, and three-bedroom apartments
Prices: $1,565 to $2,625 per month
The development team used larger windows and recessed and cantilevered balconies to give the project a sense of identity, while the design palette sought to encompass Angels Stadium, distant views of the mountains, and an emerging downtown vitality.
Securing Catch Restaurant as a two-story anchor tenant to the ground-floor retail helped in that regard, as did incorporating an interior courtyard with must-have amenities such as a fitness room, game rooms, and an outdoor pool and bar area. Taking advantage of the project’s location, the developer installed a roof deck from which residents can overlook game-day action and fireworks while next to a fire pit and lounge area.
“There are such large, open spaces surrounding the property, we really focused on activating the community from both a design and amenities standpoint,” Withee says. “We’re trying to get some pretty healthy rental rates here, and so far it has been a great success.” As of press time, occupancy levels were at 83 percent.
