Dive Brief:
- Water Street Tampa, a neighborhood master-planned by Tampa-based developer Strategic Planning Partners, has achieved the WELL Community Certification at the Gold level from the International WELL Building Institute.
- The 56-acre property was the first in the world to pilot the WELL Community Standard in 2017, and is the first North American neighborhood to reach Gold, according to a press release.
- The standard is designed to evaluate design and policy decisions based on 10 core concepts: air, water, nourishment, light, movement, thermal comfort, sound, materials, mind and community. Beyond the scope of the WELL Building Standard, it also encompasses public spaces and the whole physical environment.
Dive Insight:
Water Street Tampa’s strategies for establishing and raising its WELL certification include:
- Double-wide sidewalks and street-level experiences to encourage walkability.
- A public art program and regular free public events.
- Measuring neighborhood air quality.
- Increasing access to drinking water and healthy food options.
- New bike lanes and community fitness classes.
- Free public Wi-Fi.
- Native landscaping.
- Reducing light and noise pollution.
The neighborhood’s residential component includes The Tampa Edition, a five-star hotel with 38 condos, as well as three multifamily properties managed by Bozzuto. Cora, which opened in 2021, is a 23-story tower with 388 residential units. The property, designed by New York City-based architect Cookfox, makes use of biophilic design elements in order to create connections to nature, according to the property’s website.
Heron, also opened in 2021, is the largest of the three at 26 stories and 419 units. Located next to the entrance to the Tampa Riverwalk, architect Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates took inspiration from Florida’s coral reefs for the property design, according to the property’s website. Amenities include heated rooftop pools, a green roof and viewing garden and a 24-hour concierge.
Asher, opened in 2022 with 393 units across 22 stories, shares an architect, New York City-based Morris Adjmi Architects, with The Tampa Edition. The property, designed to evoke Tampa’s “urban spirit,” includes a dedicated amenity level at the seventh floor with a pool, fitness center, coworking lounge and indoor and outdoor lounges, according to the property’s website.
Standard features at all three properties include Energy Star appliances, Nest thermostats, WaterSense fixtures, blackout shades and electric car-charging stations.
“The WELL Community Certification illustrates our ongoing commitment to creating spaces where people want to spend their time,” said Josh Taube, CEO of Strategic Planning Partners. “We’re proud to set a new national precedent for urban design and communitywide wellness efforts at a time when the design of our environment plays a critical role in our daily lives and is a key factor in people’s decisions for where to live and work.”
The number of multifamily buildings pursuing health and wellness certifications such as the WELL Building Standard and Fitwel skyrocketed during the pandemic. The ROI for multifamily developers has yet to be quantified, but some say they’re seeing payback in terms of faster lease-up and sales, higher retention rates and positive public relations.
Veris Residential, a Jersey City, N.J.-based REIT, achieved WELL certification for its entire real estate portfolio in 2021. Other recent WELL certifications include the Hall Arts Residences, the first high-rise multifamily project in Texas to achieve WELL Gold Certification, and two multifamily buildings by Wan Bridge, a Houston-based single-family build-to-rent operator.
