Regency News

CHAMPAIGN, IL. Regency Apartments has won Category IV “Best in the Industry” honors for customer service excellence based on resident satisfaction ratings for the third straight year – 2009, 2008 and 2007.

The customer service excellence award is based on results from Regency-owned apartment communities on CEL & Associates’ multifamily resident satisfaction surveys. CEL & Associates compiles its “Best in the Industry” list of companies whose scores indicate the “ability to perform at a higher standard in providing quality customer service” relative to their peer groups across the country.”

“I am incredibly proud of our team for winning this award three years in a row,” said Regency Apartments President and CEO Bob Pratten. “We have nearly 4,000 residents of all ages, from students to retirees, living in our apartment communities that vary widely in age and amenities. These awards are a tribute to every person on the team who does the expected and unexpected to make each community as comfortable as possible,” he added.

Windsor West is the first “green” apartment community in Champaign and one of the largest geothermal apartment communities in the Midwest. In March 2009, it opened its doors to residents eager to save on heating and cooling bills – and help save the planet.

CHAMPAIGN, IL. Regency Apartments (Regency) opened the first “green” apartment community in Champaign and one of the largest geothermal apartment communities in the Midwest. Windsor West opened its doors to residents eager to save on heating and cooling bills – and help save the planet.

Windsor West, a 172-unit property located at 2502 Fields South Drive in Champaign, is constructed with geothermal heating and cooling, along with energy efficient windows and doors. Residents are expected to pay 50-75% less than they are used to on their heating and cooling bills. Geothermal heating and cooling costs less, uses less electricity, reduces emissions and produces less air and water pollution than conventional systems.

Keeping with the green theme, Regency also established “valet” recycling pick up to residents of Windsor West and Gentry Square (located at the corner of South Mattis and Devonshire Drive). The valet service encourages residents to recycle without the hassle of storing and transporting the materials themselves.

“Everybody wins in this. We’re proud to make a contribution to environmental improvement at the same time we’re providing cost savings, convenience and a comfortable environment for our residents,” said President and CEO Bob Pratten. “The response has been exceptional with leasing well ahead of our projections,” he added. Pratten said that Regency plans to begin construction of Windsor West – Phase II, an adjacent 150+ geothermal apartment community, in 2010.

URBANA, IL. A group of University of Illinois College of Law graduate students are working with Regency to obtain LEED certification for the Windsor West clubhouse in what is believed to be the first such project led by graduate students in the nation. The project is part of the College of Law’s reaffirmation of its leadership in the new sustainable real estate industry.

“As a rapidly growing leader in the apartment development and management industry, and a passionate supporter of education, innovation, and community service, Regency is proud that Windsor West has become the first LEED project in the nation to be managed by graduate students,” said Regency CEO Bob Pratten. See the University of Illinois College of Law news release.

(Image, from left to right) University of Illinois Law students Dave Sargent and Joshua Naggar, Law Professor Ward McDonald, and Regency Apartments' CEO Robert Pratten review construction at Regency West Apartments in Champaign, one of the first apartment complexes in America to install a geothermal system.

BLOOMINGTON, IN. Regency Apartments, owner of Adams Village, has announced the start of its second construction phase that will increase the size of the Adams Village apartment community to 184 total units.

Regency purchased the five-year-old 64-unit Adams Village in 2007. Construction of a 56-unit unit addition began shortly thereafter and was completed in July 2009. This phase of planned construction is for 64 one- and two-bedroom apartments to be completed by the summer of 2010.

EVANSVILLE, IN. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on December 1 to celebrate the renovation of the first of twelve buildings at Kimber Green Apartments. Kimber Green is located on the east side of Evansville. The renovation of Kimber Green consists of renovation of the kitchens and baths as well as exterior and mechanical improvements. Energy efficiency will be gained through adding extra insulation, the replacement of all windows with Pella low-e windows, new high efficiency furnaces, and front loading washing machines. The entire renovation project is expected to be completed in April 2011. Kimber Green consists of 112 one, two and three bedroom apartments and Townhomes.

Sustainability Coordinator Ryan Burton’s article “Green Lease Could Help Sustainable Apartment Companies’ ROI” was published in the July 2009 issue of the National Apartment Association‘s Units magazine.

Burton’s article outlines Regency’s idea of an innovative approach to resident utility billing that creates an income stream for owners while empowering residents to conserve energy and improves Regency’s return on investment. Burton outlines the experimentation with restructuring leases to include a calculated utility cap allowance per apartment home based on a documented history of peak and average utility usage from all meters on the community. Once a cap has been established, residents pay the difference between the cap on bills exceeding that figure. If the bill is below the cap, the difference is invested into an account used for various green projects.

The green lease concept helps promote green living and green investments, and shows Regency’s commitment to green practices.