RACINE, Wis. — Evergreen Real Estate Group has completed a $2 million renovation of Durand Plaza, a 72-unit affordable seniors housing community in Racine, approximately 25 miles south of Milwaukee.
Evergreen acquired the property in October 2017 and has managed it since then. The company also secured a 20-year extension of the property’s Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments contract in conjunction with the renovation.
Evergreen Construction Co., the firm’s full-service construction arm, managed the project, which was implemented as a phased renovation to avoid relocation and disruption of residents.
Durand Plaza comprises four two-story buildings originally constructed in 1970. In addition to the 72 residential units, the property includes a community room with television and shared kitchen, as well as an on-site laundry room.
During the remodel, all buildings received new roofs and windows as well as mechanical improvements. Corridors, stairwells and common areas were refreshed with new carpet, paint and lighting. Exterior improvements included repaved parking lots, repaired sidewalks, masonry updates, new perimeter fencing, landscaping, a new monument sign and a new patio with seating that complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Residential units received new light fixtures, smoke/carbon monoxide detectors and window blinds throughout, while baths were remodeled with new flooring, paint, refinished tubs and new fixtures. Approximately 80 percent of the apartments were retrofitted with new kitchens, including new paint, flooring, cabinetry, countertops and appliances.