WASHINGTON – (RealEstateRama) — A-Mill Artist Lofts in Minneapolis was named Community of the Year and Bozzuto Development, based in Greenbelt, Md., was named Multifamily Development Firm of the Year by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) as part of the association’s Multifamily Pillars of the Industry Awards.
Rising above a century-old downtown cobblestone street, the historic Pillsbury A-Mill was once the largest flour mill in the world but sat vacant for years after closing in 2003. Developer Dominium, working with architects BKV Group, reimagined it into 251 affordable artist apartments. That environmentally friendly project with its own hydroelectric system was 100 percent occupied within a month of opening, bringing new life to Minneapolis’ St. Anthony Falls Historic District.
“The A-Mill Artist Lofts’ adaptive reuse of the vacant mill has changed the viability of the neighborhood, with shops, restaurants and cafés flourishing nearby,” said John “Ed” Easley, president of LMC Development, a Lennar Co., and chairman of NAHB’s Multifamily Leadership Board. “A-Mill has helped engender a vibrant residential and commercial community for walking, biking and enjoying the riverfront.”
Dedication to enhancing the surrounding community is also a goal of NAHB’s Multifamily Development Firm of the Year, Bozzuto Development. The firm has developed expertise in maximizing density, creating a high-end rental product compatible with a town center, employing low-impact green approaches and reusing land that no longer serves the needs of the community.
Bozzuto’s diverse portfolio includes distinctive high-rises, garden-style apartments, mixed-use communities and affordable housing, with an eye toward neighborhoods that are walkable and transit-oriented.
“Bozzuto Development considers every project a joint venture, whether with land sellers, private investors, not-for-profit groups or institutional partners,” said Easely. “Its successful public and private partnerships have earned it the trust of development partners and community leaders alike.”
A panel of multifamily development and design experts also selected winners in categories from excellence in building and marketing to individual and corporate achievement. Winners from all categories were recognized in a ceremony held Jan. 10 at the NAHB International Builders’ Show in Orlando, Fla. To learn more about the Pillars Awards, visit nahb.org/pillarsawards.
CONTACTS
Stephanie Pagan
202-266-8254
