Twin Cities Adaptive Reuse Development Features Green Elements

By Erika Schnitzer, Associate EditorMinneapolis–Eitel Building City Apartments, a 213-unit adaptive reuse luxury apartment community developed by Village Green Cos., combines modern green building with a piece of the city’s history by incorporating a part of Eitel Hospital into the project.The development’s interior design is more streamlined and Asian-inspired. “We kept the historic elements of the hospital and added to it a more contemporary feel,” says Andrea Roebker, director of public relations for Village Green, based in Farmington Hills, Mich.As an environmentally conscious project, Eitel has an underground tank to filter sediments and control water quality before it leaves the property, contributing to a cleaner environment, Roebker explains. Additionally, native plants and trees are being used for landscaping and storm water will be utilized for irrigation. Village Green is using recycled glass, in combination with cement, as a paving alternative.The project offers studios, convertible one- and two-bedroom units, and penthouse residences. Units range from 550 to 1,300 sq. ft. and 40 different floor plans are available. Monthly rents range from $1,020 to $2,355.Each unit includes Whirlpool appliances, nine to 18-ft. ceilings, hardwood floors, washers and dryers, marbled bathrooms, granite-island kitchens with built-in wine racks and energy-efficient heating, and air and sound insulation. Patios, terraces, balconies and fireplaces are available in some units. Amenities include a restaurant/lounge, an outdoor rooftop Sky Park with a hot tub, gourmet kitchen, fireplace and movie theater, and indoor Sky Club with entertainment rooms and a subterranean heated garage. Additionally, the development includes an open walkway with public access to the park and a private garden for residents.Located in the heart of the city’s central business district and adjacent to Loring Park, the project is within blocks of downtown Minneapolis. “It’s an evolving city and Eitel is a ‘walk-to-everything’ type of community,” says Roebker. Eitel is currently 50 percent occupied, and construction is expected to be complete this summer.