Tampa Attempts an Eco-Friendly Endeavor
Broadstone Citrus Village offers its residents a Class A, garden-style community that doesn’t compromise aesthetics and style with its indulgence of eco-conscious employments. By Lauren Felechner
Photography by Timothy Healy Photography & Alliance Residential Company
The pursuance of green certification for Broadstone Citrus Village in Tampa, Fla., lies within Alliance Residential Company’s assurance to superior financial performance that does not sacrifice social responsibility, explained Michael Ging, managing director of development, Alliance Residential Company. As both builder and developer for the project, Alliance Residential Company makes an effort to incorporate environmentally-conscious practices into all of their developments; reduce the energy consumption and carbon footprint within each community; and educate, assist and encourage their residents to follow their lead and participate in eco-friendly lifestyles as well.
“We believe that we have a responsibility to use our natural resources in a prudent manner,” Ging said.
With five years of a development process behind it to assemble all of the parcels and obtain the necessary expansion approvals, Broadstone Citrus Village began pre-leasing in June 2011 and the clubhouse and first units were delivered in September 2011. So far, 170 of the 296 units have been finished with full community completion set for in three months. Much like any other community, Broadstone Citrus Village experienced challenges throughout its development and construction courses – but what came of those phases was an inspiring, eco-friendly community that contains its individuality within a growing market.
“The project was designed using a ‘Traditional Neighborhood Design (TND)’ concept, which incorporated porches and stoops, hidden parking courts, build-to lines with buildings adjacent to internal streets as well as other elements that distinguish it from typical garden-style project,” explained Ging and Wayne Hay, vice president of construction, Alliance Residential Company. Pending certification from the NAHB Green program, Hays and Ging felt it was important to involve a consultant familiar with the scoring system used by the National Association of Home Builders. To implement the necessary green features, Energy Star appliances, light fixtures, plumbing fixtures, windows, doors, ceiling fans and insulation were all contrived throughout the community. “These features better utilize resources, and also result in cost savings that benefit our residents and the community as a whole,” Hays and Ging said.
Broadstone Citrus Village not only offers residents an environmentally-conscious atmosphere to live in, but one that doesn’t break the bank either. Rental rates range from $800 for the smallest floor plans to $1,500 per month for the largest three-bedroom units. Throughout the community are 18 different floor plans offering one-, two- and three-bedroom unit layouts. Every plan features granite countertops, 42-inch kitchen cabinets, 9-foot ceilings, stainless-steel appliances, decorator plumbing and lighting fixtures, walk-in closets, fully-equipped laundry rooms, fully-tiled floors on all first-floor units with carpeting in the bedrooms, balconies, Energy Star appliances and lighting, attached garages, linen closets, garden tubs, kitchen pantries and coat closets. Certain homes also offer individual front stoops/porches, full-size dining rooms, double vanities and stand-up showers. “We were able to reinvest some of our hard-cost savings back into the project by upgrading certain features. This allowed us to position the project well above our competitors in terms of unit finishes and community amenities,” Ging and Hays explained. With so much competition in the multifamily market these days with its growing popularity and demand, setting one’s community apart from the next is vital in its survival and leasing objectives. Broadstone continues to lease more than 30 units per month, exceeding expectations and goals. Ging explained why Broadstone Citrus Village continues its rise to the top, “The quality of the unit finishes and the other luxury features outlined above are markedly superior to anything in our submarket. Additionally, the NAHB Green features resonate with today’s renters on a philosophical, as well as economic, level.”
Lauren Felechner is an assistant editor at Peninsula Publishing. She can be reached at lfelechner@penpubinc.com.
