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Shower Curtains News Center > As more condos rise in the heart of Nashville, so do amenities
As more condos rise in the heart of Nashville, so do amenities
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 By
KAREN-LEE RYAN
Staff Writer
When developer Tony Giarratana opened The Cumberland downtown in
early 1998, the apartments were some of the only residential units
in and around Nashville's core. Whenever people moved out —
typically because they wanted to buy — he asked what they
were looking for in a building, from bathrooms and kitchens to shared
amenities.
"Based on that input," he says, "I put together
Viridian."
Given the interior features and building conveniences, they clearly
wanted much more than a basic condominium.
When residents start moving into the 305-unit high-rise on Church
Street later this summer, their downtown digs will have floor-to-ceiling
windows soaring 10 feet high. Kitchens will glint with stainless
and granite. Many master baths will sport separate showers and tubs,
while master bedrooms flow into generous closets. Every condo will
be pre-wired for in-home audio and high-speed Internet service,
while plasma TVs will be sprinkled throughout the Viridian's common
areas, from the expansive fitness center to the roof-top poolside
clubroom.
In new-construction condominiums popping up all around the heart
of Nashville, these upgraded features are becoming almost standard
fare, in both high-rise and mid-rise buildings.
Forget the upgrades
Unlike many new housing developments where upgrades are the norm,
Nashville's new close-in condos offer few options—or reasons—to
upgrade.
Greg Brown and his wife Betsy recently bought a two-bedroom condominium
at The Enclave, located at I-440 and Hillsboro Pike. The model beckons
with granite, stainless and tile that's identical in every unit.
"Everything is top-notch," says Betsy. "Usually
you have to upgrade."
"The high ceilings, stainless, granite — everything
was standard," interjects Greg. "We liked the simplicity
of it."
Beth Vincent, of Village Real Estate Services and The Enclave's
sales manager says, "Builders are seeing that people want (these
features), rather than having change orders and upgrades. They want
to make it easier on people and get them in on time."
The approach worked for the Browns: They never looked anywhere
else. "It's the persuasiveness of quality," Greg says.
"Buyers are being asked to pay premium prices for these environments,
so they're expecting more out of that" says Scott Troxel, a
real estate agent with Keller Williams and exclusive listing agent
for two new condo developments located on 18th Avenue South.
"The trend is more, more, more," says Beth Molteni, a
real estate agent with Worth Properties and the exclusive listing
agent for the Adelicia, an 18-story condominium set to rise in Midtown.
"The expectation of what people want is to move in and enjoy
life right away."
Feels like vacation
With all the resort-like amenities adorning developments, enjoying
life couldn't be easier.
The Adelicia, slated to break ground this month, will dedicate
3,000 square feet to a fitness center with an on-site personal trainer
and a yoga/Pilates studio. It will overlook a 24-hour Olympic-size
pool paired with a bar and sundeck, as well as a catering kitchen,
barbecue grills and bamboo gardens. A concierge will staff the building
around the clock, and dry cleaning services will be available in
the lobby. Five floors of covered parking and street-level retail
are also part of the mix. There's even a private dog park.
"If we didn't allow pets, we'd have a hard time selling,"
laughs Molteni. Actually, sales are brisk: More than 80 of the Adelicia's
planned 197 units have secured contracts since January.
The Viridian sold its last available unit in early February, and
Jeff Howard can't wait to move in. He chose the building because
of the location and amenities, including a much-anticipated HG Hill
Market.
"For me it was convenience for my profession and just the
active lifestyle," says 27-year-old Howard, who works in the
music industry and currently lives in Brentwood. As far as building
amenities, he later says, "The biggest thing was the grocery
store. And having its own gym was key — a real gym. And the
pool on the roof was a big deal." He thinks it will be "a
great hangout area."
At the Enclave, Vincent believes the sizable outdoor communal space
sets the development apart. "One of the most unique features
is the courtyard," she says. "It's a place where people
can get to know each other." The one-acre space melds a rock
garden, outdoor fire pits and walking trails, while two sizable
porches overlook the courtyard. There's plenty of room for communing
indoors, too. A billiards room, a reservable club room lined with
wine storage and humidors, plus an Internet cafe compete for residents'
time.
"It's its own community," says 45-year-old Greg Brown.
"You don't even have to have a car when you're home."
Given that he used to live in a five-bedroom, four-bath house in
Harpeth Trace, there's one other aspect of condo life he's excited
about: "No yardwork!"
"It leaves time for so many other things," says Betsy,
30.
New condos have wide appeal
The maintenance-free lifestyle appeals to a wide audience, it turns
out. Developers and real estate agents selling these new-construction
condos say people in every age range are buying in.
Buyers are "across the board" at the Adelicia says Molteni,
from young professionals to doctors and musicians to people looking
for a second home. Troxel says his residents cut across the spectrum
too, and both note their convenient Midtown location.
Giarratana says, "We built the Viridian for the hip and cool,
but we had the empty-nester group show up." Later, he adds,
"There's tremendous demand for the downtown lifestyle"
and points out that 60% of Nashville's cultural offerings are within
walking distance.
After living in Springfield in Robertson County for their entire
lives, Sherry and Robert Shearer are looking forward to moving into
the Viridian late this summer. "We're empty nesters, and we
were ready to make a change, says Sherry, 51. "It's so different
than anything we've ever done."
Robert says he and his high school sweetheart have nostalgic feelings
for downtown and yesteryear businesses, like Harvey's restaurant
and Cain-Sloan department store. And they're excited about downtown's
future. "Nashville has an opportunity to be a standout city
in the South with this new urban development," he says. ".
. . There's a good feeling about where Nashville's heading, and
this is our part of contributing." •
Hot market
The condominium market throughout Middle Tennessee is hot. These
statistics compare 2005 sales to 2004 sales:
• 13% increase in the number condos sold, compared to 6%
increase in home sales
• 14% price increase, which is higher than the overall Middle
Tennessee real estate market
• Days on market decreased from 68 in 2004 to 57 in 2005
• Average square footage is stable: 1,371 square feet last
year, compared to 1,380 square feet in 2004; but last year's largest
condo topped 5,650 square feet, while 2004's largest unit was 3,535
square feet.
Source: Tom Pierce, vice president and chief operating officer,
Coldwell Banker Barnes
http://www.rctimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060219/FEATURES03/602190333/1004/MTCN0303
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