We’ve updated the AustinTowers downtown Austin new condo guide to include 904 West, a new $8 million low rise project on 9th and West near Whole Foods and the Nokonah.
The 33 unit project is a green conversion of solidly built commercial structure. The new condo project is being constructed in phases with the first 7 units complete. Prices start at $191,000 and rise to $326,000. We’ve already added the project to our listings page and a full profile is here.
While the project features an attractive modern design and a quiet location, the most interesting features are the flexible floor plans (some include live/work spaces) and the green features. In general, condo projects utilize significantly less energy than equivalent single family homes. This project should utilize less energy than almost any condo project. Some of the energy efficient features include:
– Dedicated solar panels for each unit
– 100% LED lighting
– Tankless water heaters
– Spray foam insulation
– Rainwater collection
– Double-paned, low-energy glass and windows
Already, the project has been recognized for these attributes with the Austin Business Journal Going Green Award [Winner: Green Building – Residential] and the Envision Central Texas Community Stewardship Awards [2010 2nd Place Finalist].
While the building is only two stories tall it does have an elevator and a swimming pool. So far, one quarter of the available units have been sold.
Here are some additional details from the Statesman:
“The city and Austin Energy are working toward a goal of having 65 percent of new single-family construction be capable of zero net energy consumption by 2015, meaning the homes potentially could generate as much electricity as they consume, with solar panels and advanced energy-efficiency features.
The 904 West project is attracting interest from professionals, empty-nesters and second-home owners who want to live downtown but in a neighborhood setting, Clouse said.
Although zoning rules would have allowed a much taller project, “we didn’t want to be a 40-story beacon in the middle of this neighborhood,” Clouse said. The surrounding neighborhood mostly has two-story houses used as apartments and offices.
“Instead of being involved with sprawl development, we focused on sustainable development,” said Clouse, who also owns Fortis Realty Services, which was involved in designing the first phase of the Bel Air condominium project on South Congress Avenue.
The solar systems cost a total of $515,592, Cordova said. The city returned $365,107, about 71 percent of the cost, to the developers as rebates, he said.
The solar installations will generate an estimated 113,839 kilowatt-hours per year, Cordova said — enough to provide electricity to about 10 average-size Austin homes for a year.
Put another way: the savings are equivalent to planting 2,583 trees in Austin’s parks, or the removal of 132,278 vehicle-miles or 17 cars from Austin roadways, Cordova said.
