It became evident to the city staff in spring 2006 that the effectiveness of the emergency services in Alexandria may be compromised by the desired layout and size of the proposed development. The resolution came in the form of the Station at Potomac Yard, a multi-use structure complete with a fire station on the first floor and upper levels consisting of retail space and four stories of residential housing. PYD and the city of Alexandria worked with architect Andy Caldwell and contractor Frank Curtis to create a building that was referenced in the Washington Business Journal as an “outstanding model of sustainable design.” The Station at Potomac Yard boasts 44 long-term affordable rental units and 20 apartments, built to the Atlanta area’s stringent EarthCraft standards for Green Building, while the ground floor was granted LEED certification.

The city’s goal to incorporate sustainable building principles in all facets of the project aligned perfectly with Integrity’s dedication to innovative, energy efficient products and practices. PYD selected 434 Integrity Wood-Ultrex Double Hung windows for their Energy Star performance, further reinforcing the building’s green design. Integrity’s 10 day delivery schedule and commitment to timely information exchange facilitated all communication and the resolution of any difficulties. Unparalleled service, matched with strong relationships in the industry gave this commercial project the opportunity to change and revitalize the Potomac yard community.

Although the fire station was only completed it 2009, its appearance is much more traditional and its architecture transforms the previous regional rail center. The Evergreen finish on the double hung windows flawlessly complements the station’s brick exterior and frames an even greener landscape outside. The fire station looks out to an open recreational area, ideal for socialization and fostering a sense of community. By improving public safety and infrastructure, exhibiting Smart Growth principles and meeting crucial requests for affordable housing, the Station at Potomac Yard stands as an excellent example for future collaborative housing authority projects.

Photos courtesy of Integrity Windows and Doors, Hayman Studio Inc.

Green Homes Sell Faster, But Harder to Appraise
HGTV Pro – NAHB (Nation’s Building News)
“While official statistics may be lacking, many builders attending the NAHB National Green Building Conference in Raleigh, N.C., on May 16-18 said that they have been able to sell sustainably built homes considerably faster than the traditionally built new homes that have been languishing in today’s tough market.

Green builders, however, have little immunity from the tight financial conditions that have been plaguing the housing market and imposing difficulties for both home buyers and sellers. And the widespread problem of low appraisals — driven largely by a glut of foreclosed properties and a slow market — has been doubly frustrating for green builders because the vast majority of appraisers are unable to recognize the value that green features add to the home.”

New Lead Paint Laws Updated
Charles & Hudson
“The new lead paint rule instituted by the EPA that requires special handling when remodeling all pre-1978 homes has now been slightly altered.”

Home-Efficiency Program Takes Hit
WSJ – Developments Blog
“White House-backed effort to encourage home-energy improvements was dealt a blow Tuesday after a federal regulator said the program posed significant risks to mortgage lenders and investors. The Federal Housing Finance Agency, which regulates Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, suggested the mortgage finance titans should avoid participating in the program or should tighten their lending standards where the initiative moves forward.”

To support this growth, many sites such as USA Today and the Wall Street Journal are now offering well-trafficked “Second Home Destination” pages. Furthermore, a recent article in the Wall Street Journal highlights the slow rejuvenation of the luxury second home market and lists the top 10 places to buy a second home, going into detail on the specific locations and even celebrity neighbors.

Now you may wonder: How can anyone other than celebrities afford to buy a second home in times like these? The majority of buyers were most likely minimally affected by the sub-prime mortgage crisis and are now taking advantage of low prices — up to 40 percent off the peak. Ideally, what drove the vacation home market in the earlier part of the decade will continue to do so for the years to come: baby boomers.

A BusinessWeek article cited that, in 2009, 39.2 million people in the U.S. were between the ages of 50-59 and an additional 44.8 million people were between 40-49. A very large percentage of vacation homes are purchased by people in these age brackets, which align closely with the baby boomer generation.  These boomers are now within their peak earning years or are even moving towards retirement, providing either extra cash or extra time to devote to a second home. While these purchases did drop in 2008 and 2009, there was slight growth in recent months and the long term demand looks favorable.

As aforementioned, the reasons behind purchasing a second home vary. Some people just need a place to get away, relax and spend time with their family. Others use it as an investment, a potential future primary residence or simply to diversify their portfolio. However, investors beware. Although we’ve stopped our downhill slide, it may take quite some time for your new abode to appreciate in value.

So whether you are actually considering purchasing a vacation home (take a look at these tips!) or if it is just wishful thinking, take some time to check out these sites and enjoy the fact that while prices are down, this market is looking up.

Photo courtesy of Alex. E Proimos on Flickr

Part of this perfect setting involves the effortless lifestyle that its residents enjoy.  The developer went to great lengths in selecting materials, including Integrity Windows and Doors, for the Two Rivers project. Due to the exquisite waterfront setting and associated wind, noise, heat and sun, the project management team decided to seek a more robust and reliable window solution than the plan’s originally specified vinyl products. Integrity was selected because of its durable Ultrex® exteriors and superior NFRC and WDMA ratings that made them ideally suited for the waterfront location.

Integrity was also able to provide a superior delivery plan thanks to its consistent 10 calendar day delivery. The speed and dependability of Integrity’s delivery allowed the windows and doors to be delivered in batches, so that exposure to project timelines and jobsite damage were limited.

The result was a smooth completion of the early construction phases and the timely completion of the overall Two Rivers’ project.

The biggest difficulty facing the project from the beginning was the site’s tight footprint. The beautiful location offered an ideal setting for the luxurious European-styled condominium residence, but it also provided some logistical challenges during the construction phase of the project.

Integrity was able to ease this burden with its ability to consistently deliver complete and defect-free orders within 10 calendar days. This allowed windows to be efficiently batch-ordered for installation two floors at a time, so deliveries and installation could seamlessly be coordinated into the project timeline with limited interruption and confusion to other elements of the construction process.

The bronze windows and doors were chosen for their rich dark brown color that elegantly complements the building’s brick exterior. It was the desire to achieve this robust look that first brought the Highland project to Integrity. The
superior durability, heat and UV resistance of Ultrex eliminated lingering concerns the project leadership had surrounding the longevity of the originally specified vinyl product in the heat and humidity of Alabama. It also allowed for the windows and doors to feature the preferred bronze exterior finish. The end result is a stunning building that offers some of the best living in Birmingham.

See more Integrity commercial-use case studies here.