Student Housing Business is the voice of the student housing industry.
Issue link: https://studenthousingbusiness.epubxp.com/i/488341
SHB INTERVIE W STUDENT HOUSING BUSINESS .COM MARCH/APRIL 2015 71 SHB: What is the CA Ventures phi- losophy of creating student hous- ing properties? How do you devel- op differently? Smith: CA's mantra is large state schools with good academics, core-infll pedestrian locations, with high barriers to entry, smaller units, larger amenities, high design fair and a focus on sustainability and a sense of community. CA's development projects are all very uniquely conceived and designed. No two projects look alike. On the management side, we strive for hospitality-like service and always operate at the highest levels with respect to security and life safety. SHB: Tell us about a few of the stu- dent housing projects CA Ventures has underway? Smith: We have nine develop- ments of 3,000 units and 5,500 beds delivering fall 2015 and it's hard to pick my favorites as I like them all for different reasons. Landmark at College Park is an 829-bed, mixed- use property at the doorstep of University of Maryland campus. Conceived and entitled originally as the Book Exchange project by our joint venture partner, Josef Mittlemann and Ilya Zusin of R&J; Companies, CA has fnanced, developed, constructed and pre- leased this property to 90 percent, as of today, for next fall. The prop- erty is exceptionally well located adjacent to the Greek community, along the Baltimore Avenue retail and nightlife corridor and direct- ly across from the entry to cam- pus. Its retail space has been fully leased to Target, which intends to open the nation's second Target Express urban concept that will provide both the property and neighborhood with convenience retail. The HERE Apartments in Champaign, Illinois, is a 593- bed, urban infll high rise com- munity along the main retail artery of University of Illinois. Originally conceived and entitled by our joint venture partner, HERE Enterprises, the building is 27 sto- ries and consists entirely of duplex units with dramatic two story volume living areas and features an automatic, robotic valet park- ing system. The entire high rise is comprised of two-story apart- ments. Its robotic parking system is believed to be the frst of its kind in student housing. Uncommon Apartments in Eugene, Oregon, is a 380-bed, LEED Gold certi- fed property. Located at 11th and Patterson, Uncommon is just four blocks west of campus near the retail/nightlife corridor. This property was built upon land formerly occupied by an under- utilized four-story medical offce building. The building has been applauded for its use of regionally sourced exterior wood cladding, rainwater harvesting features to