July 12, 2004
New West River Commons apartment homes
to be smoke-free/pet-free
Reaction from apartment seekers
is positive
Minneapolis—West River Commons, the
new mixed-used development at the intersection East Lake Street
and West River Parkway, has designated its 53 new apartment homes
to be smoke-free/pet-free living spaces. While the pet-free aspect
of this designation is relatively common, the smoke-free designation
is an unusual move for a Twin Cities apartment complex, but one
that is growing in popularity on the coasts and that seems to be
getting positive reactions from Twin Cities-area renters.
According to @Home Apartments co-owner Alan
Spaulding, the decision to go smoke-free/pet-free was based on the
potential cost-saving benefits to the property owner and manager,
as well as a desire to provide apartment dwellers with a healthier
alternative. “When no one has smoked or had a pet in an apartment,
it will be cleaner living environment than if they did smoke or
house pets. After pet owners and smokers move out, there is a greater
need for painting, replacing carpet, and generally cleaning the
physical space they occupied. Even with diligent care, it is extremely
difficult to remove 100% of the residual odors. In addition, smoke
doesn’t stay confined in the apartment where it is introduced;
second hand smoke can creep throughout the building into other apartment
homes and the communal living spaces. A smoke-free environment is
a healthy living environment; one which renters deserve to have
as an option.”
Andrea Garofalo, one of the renters who will be moving into West
River Commons, indicated that one of the things she does not like
about her current apartment is the smoke that creeps in from a neighboring
unit. “When I found out that West River Commons was smoke
free, it was a definitely an item on my pro list for the building.
I really view it as an added amenity,” she said.
Spaulding pointed out there is also a risk
prevention and safety factor in the designation. "A smoke-free
building is not only healthier, it is safer. Smoking accounts for
a significant number of apartment fires each year, we hope renters
view reducing this risk as a factor when deciding where to live,
and I believe insurance companies will one day offer lower rates
for smoke-free buildings."
According to Sandra Sandell, director of
the Initiative for Smoke-Free Apartments at the Association for
Nonsmokers—Minnesota, said the demand for smoke-free apartments
is huge in Minnesota. “Over half of renters would choose a
smoke-free building, all other things being equal. Over a third
of renters would pay more to live in a smoke-free building. Yet,
we think that only a very small percentage of buildings are smoke-free.
Going smoke-free provides a healthy environment for tenants and
it’s perfectly legal,” she said. “Just as eliminating
smoking in the workplace made a lot of business sense, so does eliminating
smoking in apartments.”Sandell pointed out that smoke-free
environments are especially good for older people, people with lung
and heart disease and young children. They also help people quit
smoking.
Amy Berg, vice president of Property Management
for @ Home Apartments, said everyone she has spoken with has viewed
the smoke-free designation as a positive aspect of living in West
River Commons. “We already have 50% of our apartments spoken
for, and we expect that by the time people start moving in on August
1 we’ll be over 75% leased,” she said.
West River Commons is a joint venture of
@Home Apartments and The Lander Group. In addition to 53 apartment
homes (14 on two levels and 12 designated as affordable housing)
it features three owner-occupied townhomes and 8,000 square feet
of retail space and public plaza. Dunn Bros Coffee, Papa Murphy’s
and Clean’n’Press have all leased retail space in the
development.
Project partners include the Minneapolis
Community Development Agency (MCDA) and the City of Minneapolis
Public Arts Program. LaSalle Bank is the major lender. Shaw Lundquist
is the general contractor. Architectural and landscape architecture
services are provided by DJR and Close Landscape Architecture, respectively.
To learn more about West River Commons, visit www.westrivercommons.com
For information on apartment rentals, contact Amy Berg at 612-721-7711,
and on retail leasing contact Alan Spaulding at 651-225-8227 ext.
13. For information on townhome sales contact Mike Dean at 612-822-1545
or mike@landergroup.com
@Home Apartments is renowned in the Twin Cities
for providing utmost service to their patrons and continually improving
their buildings. Its roots are represented in restoring and upgrading
turn-of-the-century buildings along Grand Avenue (St. Paul) and
in Uptown (Minneapolis.) Experience and expertise in property management
and maintenance in historic buildings have also translated well
into other period apartment buildings. Today, @Home Apartments owns
and manages apartment buildings of all types. Visit www.athomeapartments.com
for more information.
The Lander Group is an award-winning urban
development firm based in Minneapolis. It specializes in producing
distinctive, high-quality residential and commercial buildings in
the cities on Minneapolis, St. Paul and Des Moines. Lander Group
projects are designed to reflect the unique character of the neighborhoods
in which they are located. Over the last 20 years, the firm has
built a strong reputation in new construction, adaptive reuse of
existing properties and historic preservation.
Press Contacts:
Amy Berg Deb Garvey
@ Home Apartments
651-225-8227 ext. 16
or Garvey Communications
952-949-9770
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