Chicagoland Apartment Association: 2013 CAMME Awards Honors Excellence of The Apartment Industry
The 2013 CAMME Awards—the “Academy Awards” of Chicagoland's apartment industry—paid homage to nearly every aspect of the business—from the design of glassy Chicago high-rises to beautifully landscaped suburban rental developments.
The 21st annual Chicagoland Apartment Marketing and Management Excellence (CAMME) Awards, hosted by the Chicagoland Apartment Association (CAA), attracted more than 1,000 apartment industry professionals to the October 25th gala awards ceremony at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile.
“The CAMMEs are special because they recognize people who on a daily basis extend themselves to residents and meet the challenges of day-to-day operation of property,” said Judy Roettig, executive vice president of the 300-member CAA, which represents more than 6,000 apartment professionals owning/managing more than 735 properties and more than 143,000 apartments in greater six-county Chicago area.
“We honor all those involved in the operation of apartment buildings—on-site managers, maintenance staff, landscapers, architects, marketing staff and many more,” Roettig said. CAA members look forward to the competition each year, which is judged by industry peers.
The Property Excellence Award is the most prestigious CAMME. It recognizes top performance in several categories, including: staff training programs, exterior condition of property, apartment condition, landscaping, maintenance programs, marketing programs, achievement of occupancy goals and standards, achievement of financial goals, cleanliness, resident satisfaction, and community outreach programs.
Ten city and suburban apartment properties were cited for excellence in the awards competition. Two management companies—TLC Management Co. and AMLI Residential Properties—received multiple awards in the top Property Excellence category. Other major CAMME Award winners were: RMK Management Corp. with nine awards, Marquette Management Inc. with seven awards and Lincoln Property Company with six awards.
Award-winners in Chicago
TLC Management won three Property Excellence Awards for Garden, Vintage and Mid-Rise/High-Rise apartment buildings. TLC manages 2,750 apartments and store units in 35 buildings located on or near Chicago's lakefront in nine neighborhoods from Evanston on the north to Hyde Park/South Shore on the south. Details on its three winning properties follow:
• 2 Sisters Apartments, two back-to-back 3½-story buildings at 5123 S. Kimbark Ave. and 5130 S. Kenwood Ave. in Hyde Park, won a Property Excellence Award for “Best Garden Apartment” built before 1957.
The newly renovated buildings feature a total of 82 studio and 1-bedroom units with eat-in kitchens, maple cabinetry, ceiling fans and hardwood floors or plush carpeting.
• Times Square Apartments, 869 W. Buena St. in the Buena Park neighborhood on the North Side, won a Property Excellence Award for “Best Mid-Rise/High-Rise” built before 1957. The newly renovated 6-story building features 167 studio, 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom units and 9 stores. Improvements include new kitchens with frost-free refrigerator and dishwasher, new energy-efficient windows, hardwood floors.
• Madison Park Apartments, 1380 E. Hyde Park Blvd. in the Hyde Park neighborhood, won a Property Excellence Award for “Best Vintage Apartment” built before 1957. The 8-story elevator building features 149 contemporary 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom apartments and a new, large convenience food store. Each kitchen features a dishwasher and built-in microwave.
“I attribute the success of these buildings that won CAMME Awards to the talented TLC employees who maintain, manage and lease them,” said Stuart Handler, CEO of TLC Management, which also won CAMMEs in three other categories. “It's really the caliber of people who run a particular building that makes it succeed—and not necessarily the location, size or apartment mix.”
Here are details on the four other CAMME Property Excellence Award winners in Chicago:
• Presidential Towers, a 2,346-unit high-rise complex at 555 W. Madison in the West Loop, won a Property Excellence Award for “Best Mid-Rise/High-Rise” built between 1958 and 1991. The newly renovated development features studio, convertible, 1-bedroom, and 2-bedroom units with granite kitchens and in-unit washer/dryer.
Other amenities at the 50-story, four-tower Presidential Towers community include a 52,000-square-foot fitness club, outdoor swimming pool and sundeck, resident's lounge, a Wi-Fi cyber center, concierge and 24-hour doorman.
“It is an honor to receive this award,” said Greg Lozinak, Chief Operating Officer of Waterton Residential, LLC, the property manager. “It speaks not only to the quality of the asset, but to the exceptional team Waterton has at Presidential Towers.”
• SoNo East at 840 W. Blackhawk St. in the Old Town/Lincoln Park neighborhood won a Property Excellence Award for “Best Mid-Rise/High-Rise” built between 2008 and 2012. The contemporary-style glass and steel 22-story tower has a swimming pool and sundeck, an 8,000-square-foot internet-café and lounge and an executive business center. The 324-unit development is managed by Greystar Management.
“The Greystar team is honored to have SoNo East receive the 2013 Property Excellence Award and be recognized by the Chicagoland Apartment Association,” said Valerie Fertitta, Regional Manager for Greystar Management, which also won two CAMME Awards in other categories. Greystar manages 1,442 units in three Chicago-area communities.
“This is a prestigious award and we are humbled to be listed along with the best in the market,” Fertitta said. “Greystar prides itself on implementing practices and developing team members to standards that demonstrate our values and continued commitment to redefining excellence in apartment living.”
Apartments at SoNo East feature floor-to-ceiling windows, balcony or terrace, nine-foot ceilings, gourmet kitchens with granite countertops and Whirlpool appliances, Poggenpohl cabinets, Italian marble tile, and in-unit washer/dryer.
• Burnham Pointe at Printers Row, 730 S. Clark St. in the South Loop, won a Property Excellence Award for “Best Mid-Rise/High-Rise” built between 2008 and 2012. The 298-unit building is managed by Behringer Harvard Residential.
The 28-story Burnham Pointe showcases a designer lobby, a roof-top observation deck with fireplace, a resistance pool, spa and sauna, fitness center, lounge, click café, and a dog walk. One-bedroom and 2-bedroom apartments feature floor-to ceiling windows, kitchens with stainless-steel appliances, hardwood floors and balconies.
“The entire team at Burnham Pointe is truly honored to have received the award for Property Excellence. We are absolutely humbled to be recognized by our peers and the Chicagoland Apartment Association,” said Matt Eck, Community Director of Behringer Harvard Residential. “Service is the first and foremost foundation of Behringer Harvard Residential. Receiving this award reinforces my team's commitment to our resident's satisfaction.”
• Wrightwood Senior Apartments, 2815 W. 79th St., in the Wrightwood neighborhood on the South Side, won for “Best Affordable Apartment” built between 2008 and 2012.
The 6-story building has a library, computer room, wellness center, fitness room, outdoor patio, community room, and beauty parlor. The 85-unit building features studio, 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom apartments. It is managed by Ludwig And Company.
Suburban award-winners
The three CAMME Property Excellence Award winners in the suburbs follow:
• AMLI at Danada Farms, at Two Sterling Circle in west suburban Wheaton, won the Property Excellence Award for “Best Garden Apartment” built between 1958 and 1991. The development, owned and managed by AMLI Residential, features 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom and 2-bedroom-plus-den apartments.
The 600-unit building has vaulted ceilings and wood-burning fireplaces, high-speed Internet, a fully-equipped fitness center, a business and conference center, and full-size washers and dryers. The community also has sand volleyball and tennis courts and two swimming pools.
• AMLI at Museum Gardens, 1155 N. Museum Blvd. in northwest suburban Vernon Hills, for “Best Mid-Rise/High-Rise” built between 1992 and 2007. The 6-story elevator building features arch-covered private balconies and 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom units. The 294-unit building is owned and managed by AMLI Residential.
“AMLI is honored to receive these awards as recognition for the hard work and commitment of our community management teams to providing an outstanding living environment for our residents,” said Dan Gladden, Senior Vice President of AMLI Residential, which won three other CAMME Awards in other categories.
AMLI owns and manages 2,337 apartments in the Chicago-area. AMLI is leasing up the 409-unit AMLI River North at 71 W. Hubbard St., and the 214-unit AMLI Evanston, 737 Chicago Ave. in Evanston. The 398-unit AMLI Lofts are under construction in two mid-rise buildings at 800 S. Clark in Chicago's South Loop.
• Railway Plaza Apartments at 507 Railway Drive in west suburban Naperville, won a Property Excellence Award for “Best Garden Apartment” built between 1992 and 2007. The development offers 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom units within a short walk to the train station. Railway Plaza is managed by Gables Residential.
Apartment Professionals Cited
The following apartment-industry professionals were cited for excellence at the 2013 CAMME Awards:
• Judy Roettig, executive director of the CAA, was named “Friend of the Industry.”
• Sherry King of Barrington Lakes Apartments and Group Fox Property Management was named “Garden Apartment Leasing Professional” of the year.
• Ashley Accettura of the Residences at the Grove and RMK Management was named “Mid-Rise/High-Rise Apartment Leasing Professional” of 2013.
• Valerie Fertitta of Greystar Management was named “Regional Apartment Manager” of the year.
• Catherine McCarty of the Oaks Apartments and Draper and Kramer, was named “Affordable Apartment On-Site Manager” of the year.
• Mandy LauLetta of Green Trails Apartments and Marquette Management, was named “Garden Apartment On-Site Manager” of 2013.
• Amanda Kopko of SoNo East and Greystar Management was named “Mid-Rise/High-Rise Apartment On-Site Manager” of the year.
• Pachen Stirgus of Madison Park Apartments and TLC Management was named “Vintage Apartment On-Site Manager” of 2013.
For a complete list of 2013 CAMME winners please visit the Chicagoland Apartment Association website at www.caapts.org or call 312-207-1890. Founded in 1990, the CAA represents the interests and professional development needs of property management owners and managers in the Chicago area and suburbs.