The Residences of Wilmette, a five-story rental property in downtown Wilmette, Ill., developed by M&R Development, has earned LEED Gold certification. The 75-unit upmarket rental community at 617 Green Bay Road, on the North Shore of the Chicago area, opened in October.

The property features a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units that range from 657 square feet to 1,554 square feet, with rents starting at $2,100. The community also offers two three-bedroom/two-bath penthouses on the fifth floor. The Residences of Wilmette counts as transit-oriented (which helped it attain LEED Gold) because of its proximity to the commuter rail station in Wilmette.

Common amenities at the Residences of Wilmette include a steam room with Chromotherapy technology—or color therapy—as well as a sauna and hot tub. There is a club room sporting Scavolini cabinets and a business center with a private conference room, along with two work stations for work-from-home professionals. The community also features a 24-hour fitness center.

GREEN ASPECTS OF THE PROPERTY

The Residences of Wilmette scored points in several categories to earn LEED Gold, such as transforming an underutilized parcel of land in proximity to transit, using locally sourced materials, and diverting construction waste from landfills. The building’s green roof with drought-resistant vegetation helps manage storm water runoff and eliminates the need for irrigation.

The property also features energy-efficient heating/cooling systems maximize indoor air quality; increased levels of insulation and Energy Star appliances improve energy efficiency; low-flow commodes conserve water; high-performance windows insulate against temperature and noise; and environmentally kind flooring, paints and sealants minimize VOC emissions.

A temperature-controlled underground garage with assigned parking stalls includes an electric vehicle charging station with two hook-ups, thus meeting a requirement to provide alternative-fuel stations as part of LEED Gold certification.

“The Residences of Wilmette is noteworthy on many levels—not only as the first Class A rental community in downtown Wilmette in over 20 years,” said Anthony Rossi Sr., chairman of RMK Management Corp., which manages the property.

“We always wanted to exceed the basic LEED requirements, many of which have been adopted as standard building code, and achieve a certification that would serve as a benchmark for future development in Chicago’s inner-ring suburbs,” Rossi said.