Cool Condos
By Jennifer Martin

Some people rediscover their youth after the kids are grown; others never stopped being kids themselves. For that subset of vivacious adults who have a robust social life and a sense of adventure, a growing number of luxury condo developments are incorporating extra amenities that make them especially hip, fun and socially active places to live. Here, Unique Homes takes a look at some newer developments where luxury and joie de vivre come together.

ATLANTA

Piedmont Park is the hot new hangout in this increasingly white-collar city, and The Gellerstedt Group has delivered a product close to this green urban oasis. A development called 905 Juniper sits near this pocket of land known as Atlanta's answer to Central Park, and residents in this high-end condo complex have been taking advantage of the park's many amenities: summer symphonies, beautiful city skyline views and outdoor movies. Between the park, a smorgasbord of gourmet restaurants and cultural hotspots like the nearby Hyde Museum-which is hosting an art exhibition from the Louvre-this area in downtown Atlanta is drawing condo buyers by the hundreds.

"It's kind of the epicenter of the energy that Atlanta is really thriving on right now," said Realtor Geoffrey Greene of The Condo Store. "A lot of really dynamic and well-educated people are coming to the city."

At 905 Juniper, a three-bedroom condo can be purchased and customized for $1 million. With all of the top appointments-granite counters, pendant lighting, LUBE Italian cabinetry-the development appeals to the sophisticated buyer. Yet it also offers youthful touches such as a swimming pool with ambient-lit fountains and a hot tub. 905 Juniper also sits just a block away from a train station that provides easy access to the airport.

Younger buyers are flocking to a nearby complex called Aqua, a boutique residence where condos range from $300,000 to $1.7 million. Aqua's sun-filled, south-facing pools and fitness areas promise to be a hit when the residences are delivered in November 2007. "During the summer, the energy of pools in Atlanta is phenomenal," Greene said. "The deck space is full. These areas are really used." Aqua also comes with top-class amenities such as an indoor/outdoor club room and private elevators that deliver you directly to your front door.

CHICAGO

In Chicago's downtown, where environmentally focused parks and buildings are thriving, a new development will make fitness an experience in the clouds. The top floor of 600 North Fairbanks will have a fitness center, lap pool and outdoor area that winds around the entire building like a giant terrace. Floor-to-ceiling glass with lake and city vistas will heighten the sense of the outdoors. "The idea was to build the most contemporary-style building in Chicago," said Noah Schatz, CEO of Schatz Development.

The 41-story building's outer wall is made of glass that is 10 feet high and almost 7 feet thick. Exposed concrete ceilings, imported Italian cabinetry and limestone countertops all heighten the feeling of uniqueness. The architect is Murphy/Jahn, winner of the American Institute of Architects' Architecture Firm Award. Schatz said the top-tier firm deliberately was chosen for this project. "We wanted to create something totally different than anything else on the market," he said.

LAS VEGAS

When it's finished in the spring of 2009, Pinnacle Las Vegas will encompass a 3-acre pool area with a giant movie screen, private cabanas, a quarter-mile jogging path, a fully equipped fitness center, a full-service spa and salon, retail shops, lounges with dining and meeting space, gourmet markets and restaurants and a coffee bar. Oh, and did we mention the two 36-story towers with 1,104 residences? It doesn't get any bigger and splashier than this. "We have vertically integrated an entire neighborhood," Michael J. Bellon, Pinnacle's director of development, said of the $850 million project. "Short of a casino by design, everything you need is just an elevator ride away."

Pinnacle has owned the 12-acre site for 20 years, and now that it has started to develop the land, it is making the most of its opportunity. This mini metropolis also will include three sky bridges that link the two buildings, a putting green and a pet-friendly park. Buyers can opt to place their condos in a flexible rental program. With the population of Las Vegas expected to double from 1.8 million residents to 3.6 million over the next 17 years, Pinnacle is betting that its buyers will be long-term prospects. "Our demographics are very wide-people looking for a primary residence, a second or third home, or investment property," Bellon said.

Another new ultra-luxury tower not to be missed is the Trump Las Vegas. Appointed with the classic Trump trappings-gilded gold glass windows, white-gloved doormen and Italian marble floors-the tower is nonetheless young and hip with its location near resort casinos and the world-famous Fashion Show Mall on the Strip. A private spa and fitness center, plus a world-class gourmet restaurant, add to the appeal for buyers who live an active, social lifestyle. Prices for the residences range from $700,000 to $7 million.
 

MIAMI

It's hard to find a more swanky place than South Beach, and Morgans Hotel Group is adding a uniquely hip property to the picture. The Mondrian, a $150 million condo-hotel with a private marina on Biscayne Bay, will include a world-class restaurant like its sister hotel in Las Vegas. Amenities will range from glamorous nightlife at a cocktail bar to a quiet spa environment. "The Mondrian represents a certain hip, cool, very bon vivant lifestyle," said Tim Miller, chief branding officer for Morgans Hotel Group. "It's not really about how old you are; it's about your zest for life." Prices will range from $400,000 for bay-front studios to $4 million for private penthouses.

Another upcoming condo-hotel development, the Viceroy, lies in one of the most coveted locations in Miami: the SoFi neighborhood (south of Fifth Street), a stylish hub of boutiques and buzzing restaurants. Spanning three blocks, the Viceroy will include a graceful lobby, common areas by internationally renowned designer Kelly Wearstler, sunrise and sunset balconies, and two top-tier restaurants. Prices range from $600,000 to $2 million.

Wearstler, known for her whimsical yet elegant designs and top-class materials, is the perfect fit for this project, said John Tolbert, executive vice president of IMI Resort Holdings, the asset and sales management firm for Viceroy. "Our customer comes from Buenos Aires, Santiago, Paris, Rome or New York," he said. "They have great taste and an incredible sense of style, and they want an environment that reflects it."

NEW YORK CITY

For $1 million to $4 million, you can now own a slice of the studio where Stevie Wonder, John Lennon and Billy Joel recorded their songs. The Hit Factory, a legendary recording studio, is living on as a luxury condominium after shutting its doors in 2005. The building will include 27 loft-style residences including six penthouses. You don't find condos cooler than these. "The area (Hell's Kitchen) has lots of hip restaurants and it's growing increasingly upscale," said Michael Stribling, executive vice president of Stribling Marketing Associates. "People want to be there now."

The Hit Factory will offer an expansive 2,000-square-foot roof deck, keyed-entry elevators and a fully equipped fitness center. Stribling says there's already strong interest in the project. Where else could you find a condo where the Rolling Stones, U2 and Mariah Carey once walked the halls?

Further south, in posh Chelsea, lies a new complex called The Caledonia that's drawing younger buyers (mostly 28 to 45 years old). With a pet spa, an Equinox Fitness Club and natural stone and wood elements selected by the Irish designer Clodagh, it's not hard to see why it would attract the younger set. One intriguing feature in the graceful building is a lounge with hand-selected volumes of art, style, fashion and design books from the Assouline Archive.

Location is another part of the appeal. "The location is near the Meatpacking District, with its upcoming boutiques and restaurants," said Susan de Frana, president of Related Residential Sales. "We're at the nexus where things are happening."

 

SAN DIEGO

When Urban Housing Partners launched developments in San Diego seven years ago, its principals noticed that the condo market was 25 percent young professionals and 75 percent "move-down" buyers-suburbanites whose kids had flown the coop. "The move-down buyers wanted to simplify their lives and have fun," said President Sherm Harmer. "They wanted more time to travel and enjoy themselves and less time taking care of a family residence."

Smart Corner, a new UHP project, offers residents the ultimate convenience: mass transit. The complex is the city's first residence with an on-site trolley stop, courtesy of a rerouted track. It's easy for residents to get to work, the gym, restaurants, San Diego Bay or Balboa Park-and without the congested drive. "We thought it would be really neat to offer people an opportunity to live downtown with a trolley at their front door," Harmer said.

Smart Corner, which lies in the trendy Gaslight district, includes retail and office space, a sundeck with a spa, and a fitness center. Prices range from $190,000 to $900,000.

Another UHP development, Sapphire Tower, will feature the ultimate in materials and amenities. Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances, European cabinetry and brushed-nickel plumbing will highlight the kitchens, often the social hub for the dinner-party set. "We have a saying at Urban that you call it your kitchen, but we know it's your living room," Harmer said.

Already approaching a 50-percent sell-out, Sapphire Tower offers lofts, one- and two-bedroom, and penthouse designs ranging from $600,000 to $6 million. Extensive glass and spacious balconies, steam baths and fitness facilities, and community rooms will enhance the vibrant and elegant atmosphere.

Source:Uniquehomes.com