SARATOGA SPRINGS — With construction of the first building known as Excelsior Park Apartment Homes nearing completion, the Albany firm that manages the property hopes to have new tenants moving in before the end of March.
Peter Rosecrans Jr., president of Burns Management, calls the project “the first ‘Smart Apartment’ community in the country.”
In partnership with Epproach Communications, a North Carolina company, new tenants will be able to download Burns Management Apps on their smartphones in order to remotely operate thermostats, lights and door locks.
Epproach connects such devices through its specialized ZigBee system, utilizing digital deadbolts, a “learning thermostat” and 60-watt LED bulbs in all of the apartments.
Property Manager Rachel McDermott explained how that technology at Excelsior Park will enable tenants who are traveling to make their apartments cozy by the time they return; or to simply extend the courtesy of letting in friends who arrive first.
There are 35 units in each Excelsior Park structure that will range in monthly rents between $1,100 and $2,500, she said.
Construction began in the autumn of 2015 at the end of Excelsior Avenue. At a later date, Burns Management is expected to add a third apartment building across the road from the first two.
According to a statement provided by McDermott, the Excelsior Park apartments will offer “modern kitchens, quartz countertops, porcelain tile, large balconies, custom closet organization, fireplaces...and a variety of unique floor plans ranging from studios to three-bedroom apartment homes.”
Burns Management partnered with another Albany company, First Light Fiber, to offer tenants “unprecedented Internet speed and quality” in the apartment buildings.
“The property’s gigabit capacity will accommodate video streaming, online gaming and Internet browsing across multiple devices,” the statement said.
During a recent showing of several Excelsior Park apartments, McDermott said that military service members often prefer studios—especially in new buildings.
Aside from the barely noticeable wall sensors of the Epproach Zigbee system, all of the apartments had high ceilings and very spacious rooms. Each building also offers large garages with spots for about 30 tenant vehicles.
Rosecrans explained how Burns Management is looking toward a future of apartment living that caters to the “great” technology needs of young professionals. It’s part of a national trend, he said, affecting several urban real-estate markets.
