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Green is not going anywhere, and local developers know it. Condos are a natural choice for those looking to reduce their carbon footprints – their compact nature requires less energy and building material than houses do, and they are often centrally located, streamlining access to restaurants, shopping, and public transportation. Some condo developers are going a step further, making sustainable flooring, low-emittance windows, and no-VOC paints standard. Integrating conveniences such as Zipcar service and on-site shopping helps residents too by reducing reliance on cars. As oil prices rise and condo prices fall, moving to such a community is win-win.
A Niche in Falls Church
Some communities set the bar higher still. Spectrum, for example, a new mixed-use community in Falls Church, VA, by Waterford Development LLC, incorporates a great deal of green space, including a green roof that improves air quality and filters storm water. As Jan Zachariasse, president and CEO of Waterford Development, puts it, many condominiums these days are “vanilla boxes,” meaning calm dwellings indistinguishable from each other. Location, cost, and overall design are the primary criteria for condo-shoppers, he says, but when eco-friendly choices are made during development, it changes the relationship between owner and community, transforming the shopping process from a flat comparison of square footage to a quality-of-life question.
Spectrum hasn’t cut any corners. Its residents enjoy club and fitness rooms, a private movie theater, catering kitchen, dining/conference room, and an exclusive patio and sanctuary garden. Nearby retail, dining, and a park at the front of the building add value. Green features in addition to the roof include sustainable flooring and surface options and proximity to both East and West Falls Church Metro stations.
Building Smart in Ballston
Nestled into the thriving Rosslyn/Ballston corridor of Arlington, VA, The Hawthorn by Monument Realty incorporates Energy Star appliances, high-efficiency water fixtures, low-VOC materials, ample natural light, bicycle storage, Zipcars on standby for residents, and indoor air quality controls. Locally sourced materials were used when possible. “The average consumer is now very knowledgable regarding green building practices and energy conservation,” says Amy Phillips, vice president of Monument Realty LLC. Builders and developers are responding by aspiring to LEED green building standards when making choices.
“This was a great infill project in a growing neighborhood made up of primarily young professionals,” Phillips says. She adds that a high-density urban core is necessary to reduce sprawl, and young families and empty nesters alike have warmed to the concept.
What Lies Ahead
Known for head-turning structures in Las Vegas and the Bahamas, high-end developer Turnberry Ltd. was, at press time, close to completing the building phase of Turnberry Tower Arlington. It will be one of the tallest structures along the metropolitan skyline. Sparing no expense, offerings include Miele and Sub-Zero appliances; floor-to-ceiling windows; exaggerated, smoothly finished ceilings; an indoor, year round pool with whirlpool spa, and 24-hour valet and concierge service accessible through smart-home technology. Monument and landmark views add panache.
The building is LEED-certified, which among condos is an elusive distinction. Window coatings, water-saving fixtures, and energy-efficient heating and cooling pumps are some of the eco-sensitive features of this design. As Jim Cohen, the project’s developer and vice president of sales says, “There’s a tremendous amount of anticipation.”
