1. SAN FRANCISCO’S ‘VIZ VALLEY’ SCORES 166 AFFORDABLE RENTALS
Levy Design Partners (architect), Mercy Housing (owner), Related Companies of California (developer), and Nibbi Brothers General Contractors (GC) delivered Sunnydale Block 6, which replaced 75-year-old barracks-style housing in the Visitacion Valley neighborhood of southeast San Francisco. Residents of Sunnydale got first choice of 125 of the affordable family one- to four-bedroom apartments units; 41 went to low-income families in the city. The HOPE SF program contributed funding to the $90 million project.
PHOTO: BRUCE DAMONTE
2. MIAMI ARTS DISTRICT GETS A TOUCH OF GREEN
Strata Wynwood, an eight-story, mixed-use structure, added 257 studio and one- to three-bedroom rentals (509 to 1,288 sf), 2,500 sf of artist studios, and three floors of office space to Miami’s Wynwood Arts District. Stantec (architect, SE, landscape architect) helmed the project team of Unison Group (interiors), Feller Engineering (MEP/FP), and KAST Construction (GC).
The original owner, CIM Group, sold the property in March to Rockpoint. Florida Green Building Coalition certification is being pursued.
PHOTO: SEAMUS PAYNE
3. COVENANT HOUSE MEETS THE NEEDS OF NYC’S UNHOUSED YOUTH
The new Covenant House New York rises 12 stories above Hell’s Kitchen on Manhattan’s West Side. The 80,495-sf facility provides housing and social services for unsheltered youth. The lower five floors hold staff offices, classrooms, a wellness center, a café, and an art room. Each upper story has 10 bedrooms, two to four people per room. Individual bathroom and bathing facilities meet residents’ gender identity needs.
FXCollaborative (architect, interior design, programming) managed the project team for Covenant House International (owner) and The Gotham Organization (development partner): DeSimone Consulting Engineers (SE), Cosentini Associates (MEP), Langan (CE, environmental/geotech), Frank Seta & Associates (exterior envelope), VDA (vertical transport), Horton Lees Brogden Lighting Design, Longman Lindsey (acoustics), Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects and Planners, Cini-Little International (foodservice), and Monadnock Construction (GC).
PHOTO: ADAM KANE MACCHIA
4. DOWNTOWN BUFFALO ADDS 115 MARKET-RATE RENTAL APARTMENTS
Douglas Development Corp. (developer, GC) has opened Seneca One Apartments, a 115-unit market-rate community in Buffalo, N.Y. The $23 million enterprise provided studio and one- to three-bedroom apartments, a restaurant and bar, and a community lounge. Antunovich (architect) skippered the team of Trautman Associates (engineer), D.V. Brown & Associates (mechanical), Industrial Power and Lighting (electrical), and Gypsum Systems (drywall).
PHOTO: MATTHEW DIGATI | DIGATI PHOTOGRAPHY
5. DENVER COMPLEX ENHANCES SERVICES TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
The Stella, a 132-unit affordable community in Denver’s Globeville neighborhood, prioritizes individuals and families earning 30-80% of AMI. The project is an expansion of Laradon Hall, which serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Gorman & Company (developer) was assisted by Shopworks Architecture (architect), Enayat Schneider Smith Engineering (SE), Ware Malcomb (CE), ABLE Consulting Group (mechanical), MV Consulting (electrical), MEC Inc. (plumbing), Group 14 Engineering (sustainability), Flow Design Collaborative (landscape design), and Deneuve Construction (GC).
PHOTO: MATTHEW STAVER
6. CONDO TOWER JOINS ATLANTA MEGA-COMPLEX
Rule Joy Trammell + Rubio’s architects and interior designers created a 64-condominium high-rise community for developers Selig Development and Rockefeller Group. 40 West 12th (at right in photo) is one of three high-rises that anchor Midtown Atlanta’s West Peachtree mega-development. The ninth-floor Sky Terrace offers an acre-plus of outdoor space. Uzun + Case (SE), Eberly & Associates (CE), SITE Solutions (landscape architect), and Brasfield & Gorrie (GC) contributed.
PHOTO: ENGEL & VÖLKERS ATLANTA
7. ARIZONA LUXURY RENTALS USE SMART TECHNOLOGY APP
In suburban North Phoenix, Ariz., the $49 million Kalon Luxury Apartments offers 215 studio one- and two-bedroom rentals (554 to 1,123 sf). The smart door locks, thermostats, and lights are controlled by the Cox MyAPT app. The project team for developer P.B. Bell: Todd & Associates (architect, landscape architect), Lawrence Lake Interiors (interior design), Landa & Associates (SE), Hunter Engineering (CE), NP Engineering (MEP), and general contractor MT Builders.
PHOTO: MICHAEL BAXTER
8. ST. LOUIS PAINT FACTORY TURNED INTO LOFTS IN STEELCOTE SQUARE
The former Steelcote paints and coatings plant in St. Louis’s historic Midtown is now the $8.5 million, 33-unit Steelcote Lofts, part of Pier Property Group’s Steelcote Square, which includes Steelcote Crossing (15 studio rentals) and Steelcote Flats (105 apartments)—all designed by Trivers (architect, interior design). Contributing to the Lofts: KPFF (SE), CDI Engineering Solutions (CE), and Pinnacle Contracting (GC).
PHOTO: SAM FENTRESS
9. RESORT-STYLE LIVING IN SAN ANTONIO
Residents of Presidium Chase Hill, a 370-unit luxury residential community in San Antonio, can enjoy the nearby La Cantera Resort, two world-class golf courses, and a 150-shop mall. Presidium (developer) selected REES Architects (designer), Pape-Dawson (CE) and Hitchcock Design Group (landscape architect) for the 17-acre enterprise.
PHOTO: METROPLEX 360
10. PET-FRIENDLY BOUTIQUE RESIDENCES NEAR BOSTON HARBOR
The Somerset is a 22,000-sf rental community in Winthrop, Mass., close to Boston Harbor and Logan International Airport. Its 29 studios and one- and two-bedroom apartments (500-1,300 sf) come with in-home laundry, quartz countertops, bike storage, and garage parking. The Procopio Companies (GC, developer) and Khalsa Design (AOR) provided 1,119 sf of retail space.
PHOTO: MATT SURETTE | SURETTE MEDIA GROUP
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Feb 12, 2015
New Appraisal Institute form aids in analysis of green commercial building features
The Institute’s Commercial Green and Energy Efficient Addendum offers a communication tool that lenders can use as part of the scope of work.
Multifamily Housing | Feb 9, 2015
GSEs and their lenders were active on the multifamily front in 2014
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac securitized more than $57 billion for 850,000-plus units.
Multifamily Housing | Feb 6, 2015
Fannie Mae to offer lower interest rates to LEED-certified multifamily properties
For certified properties, Fannie Mae is now granting a 10 basis point reduction in the interest rate of a multifamily refinance, acquisition, or supplemental mortgage loan.
Cultural Facilities | Feb 5, 2015
5 developments selected as 'best in urban placemaking'
Falls Park on the Reedy in Greenville, S.C., and the Grand Rapids (Mich.) Downtown Market are among the finalists for the 2015 Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence.
Multifamily Housing | Feb 2, 2015
D.C. developer sees apartment project as catalyst for modeling neighborhood after N.Y.'s popular High Line district
It’s no accident that the word “Highline” is in this project’s name. The goal is for the building to be a kind of gateway into the larger redevelopment of the surrounding neighborhood to resemble New York’s City’s trendy downtown Meatpacking District, through which runs a portion the High Line elevated park.
Multifamily Housing | Jan 31, 2015
5 intriguing trends to track in the multifamily housing game
Demand for rental apartments and condos hasn’t been this strong in years, and our experts think the multifamily sector still has legs. But you have to know what developers, tenants, and buyers are looking for to have any hope of succeeding in this fast-changing market sector.
Multifamily Housing | Jan 31, 2015
20% down?!! Survey exposes how thin renters’ wallets are
A survey of more than 25,000 adults found the renters to be more burdened by debt than homeowners and severely short of emergency savings.
Multifamily Housing | Jan 31, 2015
Production builders are still shying away from rental housing
Toll Brothers, Lennar, and Trumark are among a small group of production builders to engage in construction for rental customers.
Multifamily Housing | Jan 29, 2015
5 predictions for the multifamily sector in 2015
Brian Carlock of PwC expects more younger adults to get into the game, despite continuing affordability issues.
Multifamily Housing | Jan 27, 2015
Multifamily construction, focused on rentals, expected to slow in the coming years
New-home purchases, which recovered strongly in 2014, indicate that homeownership might finally be making a comeback.