Zocalo Community Development and Berkshire Property Advisors Celebrate Grand Opneing of 2020 Lawrence

NEWS RELEASE
May 1, 2013
For more information contact:
Lu Stasko, The Stasko Agency
303/477-9902 (Office)
720/404-4507 (Mobile)
 
For Immediate Release
 
-LEED Gold registered community 50 percent leased-
 
(Denver, CO)  – Zocalo Community Development and Berkshire Property Advisors will mark the grand opening of 2020 Lawrence, with a celebration on May 15, 2013. The festivities, slated to run from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., will feature cocktails, fare provided by neighborhood restaurants, music and tours of 2020 Lawrence, a premier LEED Gold registered project in Denver’s Ballpark Neighborhood. Attendees will also learn more about Groundwork Greens, the country’s first community-driven rooftop greenhouse project.

“We’re most proud of the sense of community we’ve created among our residents through our unparalleled service, unique amenities, a focus on neighborhood and our dedication to energy efficiency,” said Susan Maxwell, Zocalo’s Director of Real Estate. “Our partnership with Groundwork Denver further demonstrates our commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.”

Groundwork Denver, a non-profit that implements environmental improvement projects, will build Groundwork Greens, a 2,600-square foot greenhouse, on the top of 2020 Lawrence. The greenhouse will produce 15,000 pounds of food annually, employing a hydroponic system that uses 70 percent less water than traditional farming. Groundwork Greens will also provide job training for youth who otherwise would not have the opportunity to connect employment with nature.

Food produced at the greenhouse will be distributed weekly to residents at 2020 Lawrence using a community supported agriculture (CSA) business model. Groundwork Denver is in the process of raising funds to build the greenhouse, scheduled to open in 2014.

2020 Lawrence is a model of sustainability with such unique features as Energy Star-rated appliances, superior indoor air quality, flooring and other finishes made of recycled and locally-sourced materials, high efficiency water fixtures, which use 34 percent less water than standard. A solar array generates power for the building, reducing the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere by roughly 50 tons per year. Overall, 2020 Lawrence residents are expected to spend 50 percent less on their utility bills than they would living in a similar non-LEED certified building. The building is expected to obtain its LEED certification within three months.

The 10-story building is the first to offer recycle chutes on every floor, a comprehensive composting program and an electrical vehicle charging station, available free of charge for residents.

2020 Lawrence includes a range of upscale amenities including:
·      A rooftop health center overlooking the mountains and Coors Field and furnished with state-of-the art fitness equipment.
·      Barks & Rec ℠ a large rooftop exercise area featuring artificial grass and space for canine residents to play.
·      Work Space - A work-at-home center, offering a conference room, computers and other workplace amenities for telecommuters.
·      A lobby-level community kitchen and communal living room, featuring a gaming area equipped with Wii and Kinect.
·      A rooftop lounge area with a hot tub, outdoor kitchen and fire pit.
·      Zocalo’s signature Velo Room℠ – a fully equipped bicycle maintenance shop, which also houses a fleet of bicycles available for resident use.

The 231-unit project welcomed its first residents last December and is now 50 percent leased. The units range from 475-square-foot studios to two-bedroom, two-bath apartments offering 1,152 square feet of space. Rents vary from $1,250 to $2,600. Most apartments offer some type of outdoor space and all feature European-style kitchens with quartz countertops and washers and dryers.

Seventy-six percent of the building’s occupants work less than two miles from home and 60 percent regularly walk or bike to work.

The mixed-used development features more than 9,000-square of street-level retail space. A restaurant concept with a local operator will occupy the large corner space at 21st and Lawrence streets. Construction on the eatery, which will be announced soon, will begin later this year.

To attend 2020 Lawrence’s grand opening RSVP at www.2020rsvp.com. For more information on how to contribute to Groundwork Greens visit http://groundworkgreens.org/#contribute.
 
 
About Zocalo:
 
Zocalo Community Development is an award-winning, Denver-based development company focused on creating sustainable communities that deliver for investors and neighborhoods alike.  Locally produced and contextually sensitive are descriptors of Zocalo’s commitment to community development. Zocalo seeks to reduce the impact residential and mixed-use buildings have on the earth and the environment by substantially reducing greenhouse gases generated both by the building itself and by the means and patterns of resident commuting.  Zocalo is ceaseless in its commitment to improving the design, sustainability, construction, development and marketing of its projects. The product of this complete integration is the development of real estate projects of greater enduring quality and sustainability.
 
The word Zocalo dates back to the Aztec culture, meaning a community center or plaza common to towns and cities throughout Latin America. For more information visit www.zocalodevelopment.com.
 
About Berkshire:
 
Berkshire Property Advisors focuses on value-added and opportunistic investments in the multifamily real estate industry. Since it’s establishment in 1969, Berkshire Property Advisors has sponsored over 40 multifamily investment portfolios including seven discretionary, institutional multifamily equity funds, six multifamily mortgage funds, two publicly traded REITs, and multiple joint venture relationships with some of the most prominent real estate investors in the world.

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Contact Information

Lu Stasko

PR/ Publicity

The Stasko Agency

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