IRVINE, CA—The design trends of newly developed and renovated West Coast multifamily properties actually began on the East Coast, Samuel Simone, senior managing director of locally based national developer Mill Creek Residential, tells GlobeSt.com. Simone, who relocated to California from the Washington, DC, area in 2012, says trends like smaller unit sizes and enhanced common amenities got their start back East, where the recovery from the recession began earlier than out here.

“East Coast multifamily development rebounded quicker from the recession than the West Coast,” says Simone. “The new cycle started on the East Coast and moved west, so we were able to take some East Coast ideas and implement them in the new construction out here. Unit design and mix have evolved significant. The emphasis is on smaller, more-efficient units translating to more cost-effective units for residents. The other concept was to accentuate the amenities.”

One of Mill Creek's latest projects is Modera Irvine, a boutique multifamily community in the Irvine Business Complex here that broke ground in May 2013 and has gone through at least one name change during its development. Previously called EXO Irvine, the 194-unit community is preparing to begin leasing in August, and the final units will be available in the first quarter of 2015, according to Simone. Amenities include a clubroom, outdoor ping pong and pool tables, outdoor water features, an Olympic-size pool, multiple outdoor grilling stations and cabanas with TVs and iPod docking stations.

“Because of its relatively small boutique size, we didn't go overboard with the amenities,” says Simone. “They're appropriate for the size of the community. We placed the emphasis on the fit and finish level of the amenity space. That's where we're spending our dollars.”

He adds that the property is “uniquely positioned in the market to provide the highest level of finishes from both an amenities and unit-finish standpoint in the Irvine market to date.” He points out that Modera Irvine will be one of the first new deliveries in this area of Irvine, and the competitive set is an older stock of housing with older finish levels. Some of the finishes at the new community include quartz countertops, 42-in. cabinets (some of them custom) full-glass upper cabinets and movable kitchen islands in some units—a feature that is new to the region.

The unique positioning of Modera Irvine as a boutique multifamily home community, given its size relative to the competitive set in Irvine, is a major distinguishing point, according to Simone. “The intimacy of the amenity spaces, accentuated with the high quality of finish level will also allow us to distinguish this community form the competitive set.” He defines “boutique” in multifamily as smaller and more resident-friendly and says it will consist of one building wrapped around an above-grade garage structure.

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Carrie Rossenfeld

Carrie Rossenfeld is a reporter for the San Diego and Orange County markets on GlobeSt.com and a contributor to Real Estate Forum. She was a trade-magazine and newsletter editor in New York City before moving to Southern California to become a freelance writer and editor for magazines, books and websites. Rossenfeld has written extensively on topics including commercial real estate, running a medical practice, intellectual-property licensing and giftware. She has edited books about profiting from real estate and has ghostwritten a book about starting a home-based business.