Left to right: Nick Conniff, Kaas Wilson Architects; Andy Shatek, Frana Companies; Aaron Krasnow, RBC Community Investments; Lance Resner, Minnwest Bank; Petro Megits, Kaas Wilson Architects; Will Anderson, Sherman Associates; Mayor Melvin Carter, City of St. Paul; Justin Webster, Frana Companies; Chris Sherman, Sherman Associates; Tony Lemaire, WhiteStar Advisors; Council Member Rebecca Noecker, City of St. Paul; Larry Brandts, WhiteStar Advisors; Marie Franchett, City of St. Paul; Marty Olson, National Bank of Commerce; Paula Beck, Sherman Associates.
05.31.22

Sherman Associates hosts the Grand Opening of Two Apartment Buildings in St. Paul

Affordable Passive House apartment is the first of its kind in mixed-income, sustainable development

{ST. PAUL, MINN, May 31, 2022}—Sherman Associates, Mayor Melvin Carter, Council Member Rebecca Noecker, and St. Paul city officials celebrated the grand opening of Verdant and The Scenic, the two newest apartment buildings in Sherman’s mixed-income, sustainable housing development in the West Side neighborhood of St. Paul.

“Our commitment to climate is critical so to be able to put all of these things into one different space, it’s really incredible, and it’s exciting for me, and I appreciate that,” stated Mayor Melvin Carter at the grand opening event.

Verdant is an 82-unit, income-restricted, Passive House apartment building and The Scenic is a 171-unit luxury, market-rate apartment building.

Verdant is the first pre-certified, mid-rise, Passive House multifamily building of this construction type in this climate zone. This design follows principles that are geared towards maximizing energy efficiency and can make a building up to 90% more energy-efficient than a standard building.

The development advances the City of St. Paul’s vision of enhancing and improving a large portion of the riverfront with housing for generations to come while catalyzing future development in the community.

Located across the Wabasha Street Bridge from Lowertown and the Green Line at Union Station, Verdant and The Scenic offer direct driving, walking, or biking access to the numerous shopping, entertainment, retail, and dining options that Lowertown and the downtown core have to offer; while still maintaining a natural balance and sense of separation from urban living with an abundance of green space, parks, and trails.

This mixed-income, sustainable housing development speaks to the environmental sustainability and social impact components of Sherman’s ESG Commitment. Verdant and The Scenic provide high-quality, long-term, mixed-income housing to the residents of St. Paul. The proximity to Lowertown and the downtown core provides residents with access to mass transit, biking, and walking; and will revitalize the West Side neighborhood and create a more vibrant community.

Frana Companies was the general contractor and Kaas Wilson Architects was the architect for both Verdant and The Scenic.

Verdant and The Scenic are neighbors to Sherman’s West Side Flats, which opened in 2014 and was recognized as a key step in rebuilding the floodplain neighborhood behind the Mississippi River levy.


VERDANT

verdant apartments exterior

Verdant is a $29 million development delivering 82 income-restricted apartment homes and one level of underground parking with 72 rentable parking spaces; in addition to 11 surface-level parking spaces. From studios to 3-bedroom homes, seven different floor plans are available along with select ground-level apartment homes featuring a walk-up or private patio.

Verdant is the first pre-certified, mid-rise, Passive House multifamily building of this construction type in this climate zone. This design follows principles that are geared towards maximizing energy efficiency and can make a building up to 90% more energy-efficient than a standard building. Passive House standards are used to design houses and buildings that are heated and cooled through passive means like solar panels, heat recovery air exchangers, hot water recovery, insulation, and more.

To achieve Passive House certification, Verdant reaches multiple standards that incorporate the five main principles of Passive House design, which include: high performance, triple-pane fiberglass windows; continuous, super-insulated envelope; airtight construction; no thermal bridge; and mechanical heat recovery. Benefits include excellent air quality, even temperature distribution, lower utility bills, and reduced noise levels.

Units have open-concept layouts with a variety of floorplans to accommodate any household size and are equipped with large triple-pane fiberglass windows for sound control, energy efficiency, and airtightness. Building amenities include a club room, private conference room, fitness center, outdoor tot lot, and package concierge.

Verdant opened in October 2021 and is 100% leased. Learn more about Verdant here: https://lifeatverdant.com/


THE SCENIC

scenic exterior

The Scenic is a $47 million luxury market-rate development consisting of 171 residential units, one level of underground parking, and a surface parking lot. The selection of studio, 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, and 2-bedroom + den floor plans feature high-end finishes, top floor upgrades, and iconic views of the St. Paul skyline and Mississippi River. Every unit features IOTAS Smart Home Technology including smart thermostat, outlets, lights, and locks that can be controlled anytime, anywhere.

Expansive amenities include an outdoor amenity courtyard with bocce ball, firepits, grill stations, and lounge areas; large outdoor e-shaped pool with cabanas; coworking lounge and conference room; game hall with billiards, foosball, and shuffleboard; fully-equipped kitchen with large island, banquette seating and a harvest table; top-floor lounge with kitchen; rooftop deck with firepit and grill station; 24-hour fitness studio; group fitness studio; private dog run; dog wash; private resident storage; and interior bike storage.

The Scenic opened in March 2022 and is 22.2% leased. Learn more about The Scenic here: https://lifeatthescenic.com/


Backgrounder:

Sherman Associates

Sherman Associates (www.Sherman-Associates.com) is a growing commercial real estate development and management firm based in Minneapolis with properties throughout the Midwest and Colorado. Sherman develops, owns, and operates its assets with a long-term vision to build neighborhoods, enrich communities, and empower people.

Sherman Associates has developed over 11,700 multifamily units and currently owns and manages over 6,600 multifamily rental units (affordable and market-rate). Sherman also owns and manages over 640,000 square feet of commercial space, four franchise hotels, and two solar gardens; and has three Starbucks locations. Stay connected with Sherman on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.