MAKING PROGRESS
Vicina Modern Urban Flats scheduled to be ready June 1
TROY, N.Y. » Construction is well under way for Vicina Modern Urban Flats, the latest development project by The Rosenblum Companies.
When complete, the 80-unit luxury building, with commercial space on the ground floor, will be an earthfriendly link between three of Troy’s distinct neighborhoods - downtown, Little Italy, and the pottery district.
The building is expected to be completed in time for a June 1 opening. Vicina is currently in its pre-leasing phase, which is available through its website, www.vicinatroy.com.
The word vicina (pronounced vehCHEE-na) is Italian for “neighbor,” “neighboring,” “close,” and “near” - several words that all encompass the same core concept. It’s this concept that will be the embodiment of the completed building. With close proximity to three distinct neighborhoods and walking-distance access to a bus line and a bike share, Vicina will strive to bring people closer together.
The first-floor of the building will house a bike storage and repair center, a pet spa (the building is animalfriendly), a package room, a fitness facility, a residential lounge, a parking garage, and whatever business is granted the lease for the 2,600 ft. retail space. The space has a raised patio and is considered “restaurant ready.”
The first-floor also has four display windows that will be a key aesthetic feature of the building’s exterior.
The Rosenblum Companies is reaching out to the Rensselaer Historical Society for help with programming the windows. The hope is that the windows will help not just the building, but the neighborhood itself, to “come alive.” The windows will be programmed in a way that is eye- catching, but not clashing, just like the construction of the whole building.
“We like our buildings to be harmonious with the surrounding spaces - especially in a historic space like down
town Troy,” said Jeff Mirel, executive vice president of The Rosenblum Companies.
The second through fifth floors, all residential, will be opened in phases, starting with the fifth floor on June 1. Subsequent floors will follow each month. Each apartment will have granite countertops and top- of- the- line stainless steel appliances, including a dishwasher and garbage disposal in the kitchens and full- size washers and dryers. Tenant comfort and luxury living are at the heart of Vicina. However, it’s not the sole focus of the building’s design. The other priority is sustainability.
“We really challenge ourselves and challenge our construction crews to be as sustainable as possible,” Mirel said. “The whole building will be super efficient and earth-friendly.”
Vicina is being designed from the bottom up with sustainability in mind. The entire building will be heated and cooled using geothermics. All of the lighting will be LED, with smart sensors in common areas that will turn the lights off when a space is unoccupied. Thermostats in the apartments will also have smart sensors that will detect when no one is home and adjust the temperature to save energy.
Mirel describes the building as a model of “urban adaptive sustainability.” This model has three components that put sustainability at the forefront of the entire space.
The first component is location and project type. The Rosenblum Companies use techniques such as upcycling and infill to be as efficient and wasteless as possible with the building’s construction.
The second component is the building systems. Geothermic heating, LED lights, smart sensors, and Energy Star appliances all make Vicina as earthfriendly as possible.
The third component is sustainable lifestyles for residents. Vicina is going to be located on a blue line CDTA stop, which will use the new electric buses. It’s also going to be close to a bike share location. The building itself is situated in one of the most walkable parts of the city.
The focus on sustainability won’t mean skimping on luxurious living, though. The rooftop of Vicina will have a full outdoor kitchen including a grill, a shaded area, a fire pit, and a 360° view of downtown. In nice weather, it will be an ideal location for a party or social hour.
“It’s going to be a whole experience for residents, not just an apartment,” said Seth Rosenblum, CEO of The Rosenblum Companies.
“Think of it as an oasis in the city after you’re done enjoying the city,” added Mirel. “When you’re done shopping and working and exploring Troy, you can come home to comfort.”
The Rosenblum Companies built a similar structure with a similar sustainability model not far from Vicina. The News Apartments, built in the old Troy Record building, has the same model of apartments upstairs and retail space on the first floor, with sustainable living features incorporated throughout the building.
“Our success with sustainability in that building led us to push forward on this one,” Rosenblum said.
Vicina is leasing its apartments as “a luxury experience at a market price.” Rent starts a $1,000/month and is based on individual unit spaces - one bedroom or two, with or without a den, with or without a patio or terrace.
Applications for leases on apartments and the firstfloor retail space are now being accepted at www.vicinatroy.com.