CHICAGO, IL - RMK Management Corp., one of the Midwest’s largest market-rate apartment management firms, has announced the firm won a 2022 Multi-Housing Achievement in Design, Advertising and Community Support (MADACS) Award for Complete Building Renovation of The Durham Apartments in Edina, Minn., presented by the Minnesota Multi-Housing Association.
The Durham Apartments is a 13-story, 264-unit luxury rental community located at 7201 York Ave. S., just 15 minutes from downtown Minneapolis and 20 minutes from downtown St. Paul, Minn.
This year marked the 27th annual ceremony for the MADACS Awards, which recognize property management professionals who have made significant contributions to multifamily marketing and management through exemplary achievements.
“We are honored to receive this important recognition for the work of our management team in overseeing the complete overhaul of The Durham Apartments, from all common area spaces to a refresh of each and every apartment,” said Anthony Rossi Sr., chairman of Chicago-based RMK Management Corp. “This award is one of the most coveted in the multifamily industry in Minnesota, and we’re thrilled to be recognized by this group and look forward to working with the Minnesota Multi-Housing Association in the future.”
RMK Management has 624 rental units in its Minneapolis/St. Paul-area management portfolio, Rossi said, and is actively seeking new Class A properties in the Twin Cities area to manage.
“This award for our revamp of The Durham Apartments demonstrates just one of many reasons why building owners have put their trust in us for more than 40 years — our team can oversee a complex renovation while expertly handling leasing and management of a property,” said Rossi. “We continued to provide great customer service, coordinate creative resident events and fulfill the maintenance needs of residents throughout the renovation.”
When RMK Management began managing The Durham in 1988, the property was 10 years old. The Durham’s renovation spanned from 2014 to 2022 and included a revamp of 22,000 square feet of common areas and amenity spaces, plus exterior upgrades. All residences were updated in phases.
“Highlights of the renovation include a new remote work cyber café, entertainment room, fitness center, movie theater, conference room, pet spa and a stunning indoor pool,” said Rossi. “These are all on-trend amenity spaces with residents who work from home, at least some of the time, yet also are looking for more opportunities to socialize with friends and neighbors.”
The Durham Apartments, which comprises a north tower and south tower connected on the building's first level, offers one-, two- and three-bedroom residences with one to three baths. They feature open floor plans, all with balconies, and measure 750 to 1,520 square feet. Rents range from $1,605 to $3,235 per month.
Updates to apartments include flooring upgrades from carpet and laminate to luxury vinyl plank as well as new LED lighting. Kitchens were refreshed with new frameless slate gray cabinetry, tile backsplash with under-cabinet lighting, and Moen fixtures; laminate countertops were upgraded to quartz; water lines were added to refrigerators for filtered ice and water; and appliance packages were updated from standard white to a stainless steel Whirlpool package with backless ranges. Baths were updated with new frameless slate gray cabinetry, cultured marble tub surrounds, Moen fixtures and vanities with cultured marble tops and a wave sink.
The RMK Management team also oversaw a complete renovation of the building’s ground level. “We gutted the entire first floor and redesigned the layout in order to provide a more extensive amenity package for residents,” said Rossi. “Today, The Durham offers the most comprehensive array of amenities among our competitors in the Edina market.”
Refreshed amenities at The Durham include an indoor pool and sauna; larger fitness room with all-new Life Fitness equipment; kids’ playroom; an event room with demonstration kitchen, which residents can reserve for private events; two laundry rooms with dry cleaning service lockers; a storage room; and new mailrooms in each tower plus a package room, which features technology that allows residents to access their deliveries 24/7. Lobbies were updated with new layouts, fireplaces, furniture and art, while all corridors received new hardware, paint, baseboards, carpeting, lighting and laminate flooring at elevator landings. The parking garage was refreshed with new paint and lighting, while the community’s tennis courts were transformed with a new Versacourt system for multi-sport use. Exterior updates include a full landscape upgrade and balcony restoration.
Newly added amenities include a pet spa; outdoor dog run; outdoor patio with grills and a firepit; cyber café lounge with WFH spaces; business center; movie theater; conference room; billiards game room area; steam room; and yoga and cardio room with on-demand fitness programs.
The Durham is conveniently located near Interstates 494, 35W and Highway 62, with easy access to downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul. It’s close to public parks and shopping, dining and entertainment in the popular Edina area.
About RMK Management: Chicago-based RMK Management Corp. manages more than 7,300 apartment homes in the Chicago, Indiana, Wisconsin and Minnesota areas. The company’s portfolio spans a range of apartment types, from high-rise and mid-rise buildings to two- and three-story walk-up apartments, garden apartments and affordable housing. RMK also develops, builds and renovates communities.