Walkabout · Project architect TCA Architects turned the 11.6-acre site’s chal-lenging long, linear shape into an attribute ... “Connect Here” is the marketing slogan for the

WWW.MULTIHOUSINGPRO.COM JULY AUGUST 2012 MULTIHOUSING PROFESSIONAL 39

A significant number of the entries submit-ted by the award-seekers recognized demandfor these car-free amenities.

The 192-unit Santa Barbara in RanchoCucamonga, Calif., a finalist in the BestGarden Apartment Community of four sto-ries or less category, enhances its neighbor-hood by creating walkable connections tolocal retail. Project architect TCAArchitects turned the 11.6-acre site’s chal-lenging long, linear shape into an attributeby developing a strong main street thatstrings together the various elements of thecommunity that was completed last March.

The multifamily asset’s “State Street”provides residents of the community’s one-,two-, three- and four-bedroom apartmentsand three-story townhomes that range insize from 980 sq. ft. to 2,141 sq. ft. and rentfor an average of $2,249 with a pedestrian-friendly environment that is anchored on

PEGGY SHAW

WalkaboutWalkability is the new green in multifamilycommunity design today. Pedestrian accessto public transportation, walking trails with-in communities and connections to bikingand hiking trails outside the communitieswere dominant themes among finalists inthe 21st annual National Association ofHome Builders (NAHB) Multifamily Pillars ofthe Industry competition.

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NAHB P I L LARS O F THE I NDUSTRY

The 252-unit Cevallos Lofts is an example of thesuccessful use of federal stimulus funds. The complex,multi-layered financing structure for the San Antonio,Texas community included Tax Credit AssistanceProgram (TCAP) funds allocated through the AmericanReinvestment and Recovery Act.




dryers, maple cabinets, granite countertopsand brushed nickel finishes in baths.Community features include a clubhousewith an entertainment room, an outdoorkitchen with adjacent barbecues, a theaterand gaming room, a conference room, a fit-ness center and a multi-use pool with playareas and lanes for lap swimming.

The Pillars judges commented favorablyon the community’s unusual design andlandscaping.

Lyon Place Apartments at Clarendon CenterThe judges also praised the design of thepedestrian-friendly, 244-unit Lyon PlaceApartments at Clarendon Center inArlington, Va., a finalist in the category forBest High-Rise Apartment Community ofnine or more stories. They deemed thedesign “interesting” and well-integratedinto the surrounding neighborhood andwere impressed by the quick lease-up at theproperty that was completed by developerB.F. Saul in March, 2010 and was 93 percentleased within four months. The communitycurrently boasts occupancy of 98 percent.

The transit-oriented Lyon Place Apart-ments, which is located on a 2.2-acre siteadjacent to a Metro station, is home to arunning club that invites residents to jog


JULY AUGUST 2012 MULTIHOUSING PROFESSIONAL 43WWW.MULTIHOUSINGPRO.COM

the area’s tree-lined streets and a lively bikeculture that promotes exploration of the DCarea via a bike path that starts right outsidethe community’s front door.

Designed by architect Torti Gallas andPartners, Lyon Place apartments average979 sq. ft. and rent for an average of $2,600.Nearly 122,000 sq. ft. of retail and officespace and green public spaces create anactive, lively community.

Apartments in the LEED-certified com-munity feature natural maple hardwoodflooring and maple cabinets in kitchens andbathrooms, spa soaker tubs, stacked washersand dryers and balconies and terraces inmany of the units. Community amenitiesinclude a courtyard plaza with a fountainand a restaurant with patio seating, a 50-foot indoor lap pool with access to an out-door sundeck, an art deco-inspired lobbywith gas fireplace and alcove seating areas,original artwork by local and international-ly known artists throughout the commonarea and a rich collection of ground floorretail and restaurants.

Fusion 1560The 325-unit Fusion 1560 is located in St.Petersburg, FL, adjacent to the Pinellas BikeTrail that runs along the eastern border ofthe property and includes more than 38

one end by a park and on the other by com-munity gardens. The walk along StateStreet also ties together the various residen-tial courtyard buildings in the community.

The architecture at the property that wasdeveloped by Lewis ApartmentCommunities, a subsidiary of California-based Lewis Group of Companies, andopened last March echoes the city of SantaBarbara’s traditional mission architecturalstyle with white stucco buildings, red tileroofs and splashes of colorful accents. Woodbalconies at the upper levels, wrought irondetails and painted ceramic tiles add to thecharacter of the buildings, reinforcing theoverall design intent: the creation of luxury,resort lifestyle living.

Apartment finishes at the communitythat was 43.8 percent occupied barely threemonths after it opened include washers and

(left) The 192-unit Santa Barbara reflects the Spanishcolonial heritage of Rancho Cucamonga. The city’s romanticarchitectural style is reflected in the apartment community’sgraceful archways, wrought iron details, red tile roofs and pri-vate courtyards.

(above) “Connect Here” is the marketing slogan for the275-unit Harrison Station 300 Somerset Street that is locat-ed steps from a PATH station and new parking garage andis surrounded by transportation corridors, Route 280 and amajor northeast railroad connection served by NJ Transit,Amtrak and PATH.

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44 MULTIHOUSING PROFESSIONAL JULY AUGUST 2012 WWW.MULTIHOUSINGPRO.COM

miles of biking, hiking and rollerbladingpathways from Tarpon Springs to downtownSt. Pete.

The community that was completed inMay 2011, just two years after its ground-breaking, spans nearly two city blocks andjust under 3.5 acres and reflects the eclectic,funky nature of the downtown district.

Developed by Zaremba Residential witharchitectural design by Humphreys andPartners Architects and CSJM Architects,the community that is a finalist in Pillars’Best Mid-Rise Apartment category was 92percent leased as of the end of May this year.

The Pillars judges commented favorablyon the quick lease-up as well as the use ofexterior color that, they said, is “memorable,but not overdone.” They loved the quartz

countertops in the open-concept kitchensin the apartments that average 834 sq. ft.and rent for $985 to $1,885.

The asset that is designed to appeal to anurban-oriented population of younger pro-fessionals seeking condo-quality finishesand amenities with the professional man-agement of an apartment communityincludes a two-level fitness center, winestorage room, rooftop amenity deck, full-service spa, a distinctively designed clubroom, billiards room and demonstrationkitchen.

Fusion 1560’s building finishes include amix of stucco, brick, Hardi siding, corrugat-ed metal and metal panels that create theimpression of several different buildingsalong each elevation. At the pedestrianlevel, a large “glass box” fitness center andclubhouse, walk-up porches and stoops onfirst floor units and ground-level retail wel-come those passing by on the sidewalks orthe bike trail.

Lobo VillageThe 216-unit Lobo Village in Albuquerque,

N.M., a finalist in the Best Student HousingRental Apartment Community categorywas developed by American CampusCommunities (ACC) and designed byarchitect Todd & Associates to promotebiking and hiking and to improve the qual-ity of housing at the University of NewMexico (UNM).

Completed just 14 months after itsgroundbreaking in late May 2010, the assetwas built in response to the July 2009Princeton Review that included UNM’s res-idence halls in a Dorms like Dungeons sur-vey. That unflattering inclusion prompteduniversity officials to hire ACC to spruce upthe institution’s residential component.

The result is a colorful, pueblo-style com-munity on almost 18 acres in the universi-ty’s South Campus district that adds a resi-dential component to the area that histori-cally consisted of athletic and academicfacilities.

The Pillars judges were impressed by thewood plank flooring in the apartments, thecommunity’s curvaceous pool and rectangu-


Solid wood cabinetry, quartz countertops and stainlesssteel appliances adorn the elegant kitchens at the 325-unitFusion 1560, echoing the building’s ultra-urban, modernindustrial architecture. Apartments feature brick-wallaccents, frosted glass doors, polished concrete or wood lam-inate flooring and custom cabinetry including open shelvingand metal door accents.

The Art Deco-inspired lobby welcomes residents of the244-unit Lyon Place Apartments home with a flickering gasfireplace and alcove seating areas. Historic Georgetown andThe Fashion Center at Pentagon City are just a short drivefrom the community that is located in the heart of theArlington, Va., nightlife and dining scene.


A private shuttle operated by UM pro-vides transportation to the campus for resi-dents of The Varsity, which is situated alongthe public UM shuttle route, as well. And,the College Park METRO/MARC station iswithin walking distance of the communitythat achieved an occupancy of 91.9 percentin just one academic year.

Amenities at The Varsity include a two-story fitness center, a computer center, Wi-Fi hot spots, free tanning beds and 20,100sq. ft. of on-site retail and restaurants.

Interior finishes in The Varsity’s fully fur-nished apartments include hardwood-stylefloors, flat screen TVs and full-sized refriger-ators, dish washers and microwaves in thekitchens.

The judges praised The Varsity for its“great curb appeal,” its attractive signageand the vibrant colors that enhance thecommon spaces. They liked fact that theapartments that average 1,253 sq. ft. includea private bath for each resident.

“The project has most of the featuresyou’d expect, but each one is done so wellthat the end result is a terrific community,”

the creation of Lobo Village, which is situ-ated amidst an extensive mass transit route.Lobo Village residents use public transporta-tion or the UNM shuttle or bike or hike tothe nearby university campus.

The Varsity at College ParkAlso among the student housing finalists

is The Varsity at College Park, which fea-tures a pedestrian bridge that links theapartment community to the University ofMaryland (UM) campus. The six-story pri-vatized mixed use that was developed byPotomac Holdings, designed by architectGrimm + Parker and built by Clark BuildersGroup includes 258 units with 901 bedswith an average rent of $970 and is just ashort walk to public transportation.

The community that is located on fouracres just north of the entrance to UM notonly helps to reduce the housing shortage atthe university, but also improves the walka-bility and overall streetscape appearance ofthe Route One corridor, which serves asMain Street for both the university and thecity of College Park.

lar buildings and the “cool mix of modernand urban and more traditional regionalstyle.”

The four-bedroom, four-bath apartmentsthat were 99.5 percent occupied as of Sept.30, 2011, average 1,193 sq. ft., with each ofthe four residents paying an average rent of$519 a month for a private bedroom andbath. The furnished units feature Internetconnectivity, fully equipped kitchens, wash-ers and dryers.

Community amenities include a numberthat specifically target a youthful popula-tion, like arcade games, a video game con-sole, a poker table, air hockey and pingpong.

Development of a pedestrian-orientedsite plan was one of the guiding principles in


Her presentation is well-received, with thatfigure emerging as a linchpin in the subse-quent discussion. She’s so happy that shemakes an on-the-spot award to her assistantand sends him home early, advising him toenjoy a night on the town with his new girl-friend! On his way out, she observes, “Youknow, we should be sure to check numbersfrom the Widgets Department every time. Icould have gotten killed in there.” Heagrees to do so.

A possible is disaster averted—andturned into big win!

But is it so simple? Note that neither theexecutive nor her assistant explained theirdiscovery to the Widgets Department. At aminimum, others using the erred data maynot spot the error. There is no telling where

Break the bad data habitA district property manager, while going over the budgetnumbers for tomorrow’s big presentation, notices some-thing odd. She asks her assistant to check it out. He digsin, finds the error (in data supplied by the WidgetsDepartment), corrects her presentation, and sends her anemail advising what he’s done.

aged to create data correctly, so everythinggoes well at the moment of use.

It sounds simple, and when it works, it is.But too often, vignettes such as the aboveare the norm. I could just as well have basedthe story on a military commander’s single-minded focus to “complete the mission.” Orthe delivery man’s desire to get the packageto the customer, no matter what.

I also could have based the story ondepartments, not individuals. The billingdepartment spends time and money to cor-rect data from operations, and customerservice spends much of its time dealing withcustomer claims of billing errors. Finance“checks everyone’s numbers.” And so forth.

To be clear, I don’t blame the individualsor departments cited above. Quite the con-trary. I admire their dedication to deliverthe right facts to management, to completethe mission, or to satisfy the customer.

But soon the failure to provide feedbackbecomes a habit, ensuring that suchvignettes repeat themselves over and over.A dangerous habit at that!

And failure to provide feedback is but theproximate cause. The deeper root issue ismisplaced accountability—or failure to rec-ognize that accountability for data is neededat all. Missing or misplaced accountabilityon an organization-wide scale betray a man-agement problem! And one that only seniormanagement can address.

Organizations must address data qualityhead-on, implementing policies, creatingorganizational structures, and advancingcultures such that:

Data creators create data correctly, thefirst time, with full understanding of whatthat means to customers, those who use datathey create.

Data customers must communicate theirdata requirements to sources of data, and theymust provide feedback when data are wrong.

Virtually everyone recognizes they are atonce data creators and data customers.

There is, of course, a lot more to dataquality management. But let’s not make thisany more complicated than it needs to be.

People and departments must continue toseek out and correct errors. They must alsoprovide feedback and communicate require-ments to their data sources, and be mindfulof and create data to meet the “next per-son’s” requirements. For a time, these add toworkloads. But steps like these quickly payenormous dividends, in the form of data wecan trust. .

Excerpt Thomas C. Redman, Ph.D., advises organizationson their data and data quality programs. He is the author ofData Driven: Profiting from Your Most Important BusinessAsset, published by Harvard Business Press in 2008 and list-ed as one of Library Journal’s best business books that year.

it might turn up or who might be victimized.In the longer term, they have denied theWidgets Department a potentially impor-tant insight and the chance to get to thebottom of the problem. More subtly per-haps, they’ve taken responsibility for quali-ty—a job they have neither the time norskill to do well.

There are two interesting moments in thelifetime of a piece of data: the moment it iscreated and the moment it is used. Quality,the degree to which the data is fit-for-use, isjudged at the moment of use. If it meets theneeds at that moment, it is judged of “high-quality.” And conversely. The whole pointof data quality management is to connectthose moments in time—to ensure that themoment of creation is designed and man-



BUS INESS S TRATEGERY


Pillars judges praised the curb appeal of The Varsityat College Park, a 258-unit privatized, mixed-usedevelopment that provides housing for students atthe University of Maryland. The six-story projectconsists of 901 one- to four-bedroom apartments, aparking deck and more than 19,000 sq. ft. of groundfloor retail.

The 280-unit Alta Aspen Grove in Littleton,Colo., is a non-smoking apartment communitythat is just steps from the Santa Fe/Mineral LightRail Station, a nature preserve and a park withmore than 30 miles of biking and hiking trails.





A saltwater pool sparkles beside an outdoor fireplaceand a grilling patio adjacent to the community’s clubhousewhere residents at The Venue at Cool Springs in Franklin,Tenn., enjoy hanging out in the resident lounge, socializingin the cyber café and sharpening their skills at shuffle boardand pool tables.


they said.

Venue at Cool SpringsA walking trail winds through the 428-unitVenue at Cool Springs in Franklin, Tenn., afinalist in the Best Rental ApartmentCommunity of four stories or less category.The pedestrian path connects the commu-nity’s playground, dog park, car care center,saltwater pool, fire pit, grilling station andspa to a central lawn with grilling patios.

The clubhouse opened last December andthe community is 43 percent occupied as oflast May. Venue at Cool Springs is locatedon 10.7 acres just 17 minutes from down-town Nashville and minutes from the CoolSprings Galleria.

Developed by Crescent Resources andowned and operated by MAA, the commu-nity’s one-, two- and three-bedroom flatsthat average 1,369 sq. ft. and rent for anaverage of $1,405 were designed by TheHousing Studio with open floor plans, usingclassic elements of American Craftsmanstyle architecture. Native building materialsblend with the surrounding environment.

Decorative brackets, low-pitched gable-and-hip roofs, deep eaves, extensive porcheswith tapered columns, natural veneer, lap-and-shake siding were used to create the 14three-story, garden-style wood-frame build-ings that house the apartments.

Community amenities include a cybercafé with iMac stations, a saltwater pool,shuffleboard tables, a gourmet demonstra-tion kitchen with video camera, a fitnessfacility that features a separate yoga andcycle area, a covered terrace with an out-door kitchen and a fireplace, a pool side firepit, a whirlpool spa, a playground area and adog park.

Interior unit features include washers anddryers and stainless steel appliances, design-er countertops, side-by-side refrigerators andwood cabinets in the kitchens.

Alta Aspen GroveDirect access to the 660-acre Carson NaturePreserve that connects with 120 miles ofrecreational trails is one of the most attrac-tive aspects of Alta Aspen Grove, a finalistin the Best Garden Apartment of four sto-ries or less category.

Completed in June 2011, the 280-unitgarden style TOD that encompasses 17.5acres in Littleton, Colo., is nestled amongthe nature preserve, a bicycle greenway pathand a light rail station and just steps awayfrom Aspen Grove Shopping Center.

The community’s 17 two- and three-storybuildings house one-, two- and three-bed-room apartments, which currently are 93

percent leased. Units range from 695 sq. ft.to 1,491 sq. ft. and rent for an average of$1,552.

Developed by Wood Partners anddesigned by Womack Hampton, Alta AspenGrove is the first stick-built, LEED forHomes certified, market rate apartmentcommunity in Colorado.

Also striving for a luxurious appeal,Wood Partners included some special perksfor Alta Aspen Grove’s residents, includingcomplimentary in-home consultations withPottery Barn and Williams-Sonoma designspecialists and a room-service delivery pro-gram with local restaurants.

In-unit finishes at the community includegranite countertops, double-sided gas fire-places and washers and dryers. Communityamenities include an onsite dog wash anddog park, a pool with waterfall and Jacuzziand a television sitting area with Wi-Fi anda large outdoor fireplace.

Abundant natural lighting and a specialventilation system enhance the property’seco-friendly design.

Harrison Station 300 Somerset StreetThe 275-unit Harrison Station 300Somerset Street is a modern, pedestrian-friendly development that transformed adown-on-its-luck, former industrial site intoa vibrant, walkable, transit-oriented com-munity. A finalist in the category for BestNon-Garden Rental ApartmentCommunity of five stories or less, the Pillarsjudges praised the asset’s urban aesthetic.

Developed by Ironstate Development andthe Pegasus Group, the property that occu-pies just over two-and-a-half acres of a 10.5-acre parcel slated for redevelopment into anew town center in Harrison, N.J., has along industrial history that includes themanufacture of roller bearings for use inautomobiles.

The first phase of the multi-phase revital-ization and brownfield remediation effort,Harrison Station is a four-story, mixed-useproperty with two building componentsconnected by a two-story lobby and exteriorcourtyard.

The buildings, designed by Minno &Wasko Architects and Planners, provide anod to the brick skeletons of the area’s indus-trial past, while showcasing contemporaryarchitecture. They house studios, one- andtwo-bedroom apartments that average 783sq. ft., rent for an average of $1,765 and were95 percent occupied as of mid-May 2012.

The allure for many of Harrison Station’sresidents is the ability to get up in the morn-ing and walk to the Harrison PATH station

for a two- to three-minute ride to Newark, a10-minute trip to Jersey City, a 15-minutetrip to Hoboken or 20 minutes toManhattan. It is also a short walk from thenew Red Bulls soccer stadium.

The apartments feature open layouts withhigh ceilings and oversized windows, abun-dant closets and red birch cabinetry andstone countertops in the kitchens.Community amenities include 15,000 sq. ft.of ground floor retail, an outdoor pool, abeach volleyball court, a 3,000 sq. ft. fitnesscenter and free Wi-Fi.

Cevallos LoftsCCevallos Lofts includes the community’sproximity to hike-bike connections to rivertrails among the luxury amenities that makethe project exceptional. A finalist in thecategory for Best Garden ApartmentCommunity of four stories or less, CevallosLofts won the judges’ praise as a “great urbanproduct.”

The 252-unit apartment community thatis located on just over 10 acres inSouthtown—San Antonio’s premier artsand cultural district—was designed byAlamo Architects and developed by TheNRP Group. Completed at the end of 2011,the community is expected to encourageother developers to join the resilientretail/arts renaissance that has been trans-forming the neighborhood for several years.

The pedestrian-friendly community thatwas 95 percent leased by mid-May includesone- and two-bedroom loft-style apartmentsand two-story townhomes that average 902sq. ft. and rent for an average of $968.98.Community amenities include a courtyardwith a swimming pool, tanning shelves,fountains and a cabana surrounded by trop-ical landscaping, three fitness centers, afirst-floor lounge with a pool table, gamingarea, televisions, free Wi-Fi access and afull-sized kitchen.

Other amenities include a third-floorlounge with a wet bar and entertainmentarea and a fenced-in dog park.

Apartment features include stunningviews of San Antonio’s skyline, privatestreet-level entrances for the community’stownhomes and washer and dryer hook-upsin every unit.

The units have three levels of designoptions from which residents may choose,making them affordable to the young urbanprofessionals, artists and musicians that arethe community’s target tenants.

Pillars’ virtual awards presentation willtake place on Oct. 4 at 2 p.m. Eastern timeon the NAHB website at www.nahb.org/pil-larsawards. .

LAY O F THE LAND

Walkabout · Project architect TCA Architects turned the 11.6-acre site’s chal-lenging long, linear shape into an attribute ... “Connect Here” is the marketing slogan for the

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