Altman Development Offers Unit Customization for Renters at Eco-Friendly Community

By Erika Schnitzer, Associate EditorFort Lauderdale, Fla.—Boca Raton, Fla.-based Altman Development is now offering unit customization for early leasers at its Satori, a 279-luxury mixed-use rental community in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.The option, which is free for early pre-leasing residents, marks the first time a Florida rental community is offering renters customization of their apartments, the interiors of which were designed by Steven G. Residents will have the opportunity to pick from three colors of granite, three carpet colors for the bedrooms and five accent paint colors for the living room and master bedroom. In addition, residents can choose between tile and bamboo flooring.“The Altman Company believes that more people are choosing apartment living as a lifestyle choice and want the conveniences of resort-style living. With that in mind, we focused on providing more services, amenities and customization, allowing the resident to personalize their home,” Jeff Cohen, property manager for Satori, Altman Development, tells MHN. “Letting them have any options outside of location and size of their apartment has never been done in the industry, so this also offers us a competitive edge, as well as our resident having a feeling of ownership. People are now renting for longer periods of time and we wanted our residents to feel like they are moving into a home.”Cohen points out that Satori’s eco-friendliness provides an additional incentive for residents. Green features include the use of zero-VOC carpets and paints, roof solar systems, high-efficiency air conditioning with programmable thermostats, Energy Star appliances, energy-efficient lighting, plug-in stations in the garage for electric- and battery-powered vehicles, and a community recycling program. “The green features are a direct benefit for our residents, as it relates to lower utility bills,” adds Cohen.In addition, a bus stop is located at the front door of the transit oriented development.The development offers one-, two- and three-bedroom units, ranging in size from 872 to 1,579 sq. ft., with rents from $1,615 to $2,600 per month.The four-building, 5.7-acre community offers residents a two-story, 8,000-sq.-ft. clubhouse with fitness center, yoga studio, spa treatment rooms, demonstration kitchen, game room, wine lockers and cigar humidors. A pool terrace includes an infinity-edge pool, whirlpool spa with waterfall cascade and private cabanas and a Gazebo Sports Bar with HDTVs. The community also features fountains, a meditation garden and a dog park. Additionally, the community includes 12,149 sq. ft. of retail space and five stories of parking.The leasing center also features an interactive Sales Touch System, which allows prospective residents the ability to search for an apartment on a 40-in. touch screen, using their own criteria. The project is expected to be complete in late 2009.