6 Notable Green San Antonio Developments

Since it was introduced in 2000, the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED^® Green Building Rating System^TM has experienced phenomenal growth. Currently, the certification system has grown to include a portfolio of nine rating system products that serve specific market sectors including: Homes, Neighborhood Development (ND), Commercial Interiors (CI), Core and Shell, New Construction (NC – and Major Renovations), Existing Building (Operations and Maintenance), Schools, Retail (CI) and Healthcare. The green building rating system was originally created for commercial projects; however, recognizing the market readiness and need for a similar certification program for residential buildings, USGBC launched the LEED for Homes program in 2008. The first LEED-certified home, a 1,644-square-foot home in Oklahoma City, Okla., was certified under the pilot program in 2006.  

Below, we’ve compiled a list with some of San Antonio’s notable green multifamily developments. The list, assembled with data provided by Yardi Matrix, includes projects that are already LEED certified, while others are proposed to receive the award.   

Cevallos Lofts – LEED-Certified & NAHB Bronze-Certified

NRP Group’s 252-unit Class A community, located at 301 East Cevallos St. in the Southtown/King William’s district, was completed in 2012. The property is an important part of the ongoing revitalization in downtown San Antonio, the link along the River Walk between the older South town arts district and the SoFlo district. The mixed-income 227,076-square-foot development has 63 units reserved for residents who earn less than 50 percent of the median income and 63 units for those earning less than 80 percent of the median income. The remaining 126 units are offered at market rate rents.

Amenities include a clubhouse, art gallery featuring local artists, fire pit and gazebo, courtyard with swimming pool, tanning shelves, fountains and cabana, conference room and two business centers and three fitness centers. The underground parking minimizes site constraint and allows the building to respond appropriately to the redeveloping urban context.

The development team brought together NRP Group, Alamo Architects and NRP Contractors.

Eilan – LEED Certification in Progress

The seven-building 539-unit luxury community is the residential component of the 119-acre Éilan – San Antonio, a mixed-use development that combines a Tuscan feel with a Texas atmosphere, completed in 2012. The property’s location at 17101 La Cantera Parkway in Beckmann places it near one of the best shopping areas in the Southwest, including The Shops at La Cantera, The Rim and Six Flags Fiesta Texas. The unit mix comprises studios and one- to three-bedroom floor plans averaging 934 square feet.

Eilan features a resort-style pool with 20 cabanas with flat screen televisions and two pavilions, picnic and grilling area, children’s playground, a great room equipped with billiards, business center and socializing space. In addition, the mixed-use development features the Gardens at Elian—The Secret Garden, The Rose Garden, The Winter Garden, The Arts Garden and The Commons, while is residential buildings and the hotel are connected through a promenade deck.

The Barcelona Lofts – Green Building

Milmo Group’s 132-unit community consists of 19 buildings on 14 acres in Leon Valley – East at 6201 Grissom Road and offers one- and two-bedroom units averaging 1,122 square feet. Ingram Mall is about three miles west of the community, while two other malls are less than a 15-minute drive away. Common area amenities include a fully-equipped business center, resident lounge with plasma television, pool table and coffee bar, swimming pool with waterfall and poolside palapa with grills, as well as lounge area and wireless internet.

The building envelope of all buildings was designed with energy efficiency in mind, taking under consideration shading, building positioning and the usage of highly reflective TPO roofing system, insulation values and the placement of glazing and overhangs. Other sustainable features include low-flow plumbing fixtures, energy star appliances, programmable digital thermostats in clubhouse, high-performance casement windows, compact fluorescent lighting with timer control and water-efficient landscape irrigation system. The indoor air quality is protected by finishes with low chemical emissions, in addition to the paints, sealers and cabinets which contain low levels of volatile organic compounds.

The Mosaic on Broadway – LEED Gold-Certified

The 120-unit Mosaic occupies almost two acres at 1915 Broadway St. in Terrell Hills, one of San Antonio’s most diverse and cultural locations. Its positioning on the historic Broadway Corridor places it within walking distance to cuisine, music, museums, parks, a golf course and shopping. Broadway Developments’ mixed-use project encompasses 125,000 square feet, including retail and restaurant space, thanks to its major street exposure on Broadway and Josephine streets.

The community has one- and two-bedroom floor plans featuring modern industrial design, video guest identification and unlocking system and keyless access in all elevators and stairwells to each floor. In addition, great importance was given to acoustical engineering to provide greater sound-proof from apartment to apartment and exterior noise, while also promoting energy efficiency. On the same note, the community has installed Energy Star rated stainless steel appliances and programmable thermostats. Community amenities include a resident’s lounge with media zone and catering kitchen, resort-style roof top pool & spa, covered veranda with outdoor grilling area, fitness center, business center, coffee bar, private climate-controlled storages and bicycle storage.

Can Plant Residences at Pearl – LEED Silver-Certified

Set in the historic Pearl neighborhood at 503 Ave. A, The Can Plant was built in 2013 and offers 293 units and 72 studio and one- and two-bedroom floor plans. Residents at Silver Ventures’ asset enjoy the benefits from its location in the heart of the historic Pearl Brewery, home to The Pearl Farmers Market, Pearl Amphitheater, Hotel Emma, The Culinary Institute of America and a variety of restaurants and boutique shops. Common area amenities at the LEED Silver certified community include a resort-style heated pool, taxi boat access on the San Antonio Riverwalk, resident lounge with vintage game room, fitness center, bicycle storage and landscaped courtyards.

1800 Broadway – LEED-Certified

Churchill Forge Properties’ 230-unit community was completed in 2013. Located at 1800 Broadway, the asset is within walking distance to The River Walk, the San Antonio Museum Art District and The Pearl’s weekly Farmer’s Market. The unit mix at 1800 Broadway consists of one- and two-bedroom floor plans featuring stainless steel appliance package, walk-in closets and additional storage.

The LEED certified property offers a resort-style swimming pool with tanning shelf, an indoor/outdoor social space equipped with 64-inch televisions, an outdoor kitchen, 24-hour gym, business center, concierge and media center equipped with Mac computers.

Images courtesy of Yardi Matrix