Crosland’s Residential Division Takes Top Honors in Two of Industry’s Most Prestigious Multifamily Awards

National ‘A List’ Award for Customer Service is Crosland’s Ninth Consecutive Honor; NAHB Pillars of the Industry Recognizes Oberlin Court as Finalist

Charlotte, N.C., March 25, 2009 – Crosland LLC, one of the Southeast’s leading real estate companies, has earned national recognition for its residential division’s excellence in customer service for the ninth year in a row, and Oberlin Court of Raleigh, N.C., was chosen as a finalist in the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) 2009 Pillars of the Industry Awards.

National Multifamily “A List” Award

The 2008 National Real Estate “A List” Awards For Service Excellence were recently given to companies in the multifamily industry that demonstrate customer service superiority. Apartment residents placed Crosland among the best of its industry peers through a third-party survey conducted by CEL & Associates, the nation’s largest surveyor of resident satisfaction within the multifamily real estate industry.

 “Winning this award for nine consecutive years demonstrates our ability to fulfill our promise to improve the lives of our residents,” said Dionne Nelson, Crosland’s vice president of property operations and affordable housing.

More than 1.3 million residents in 5,600 apartment communities across the nation participated in the survey, which measures management performance and commitment to the highest level of quality and service. The award is given to one recipient in each category according to the number of properties under management. Crosland is one of only five multifamily award recipients nationwide.

 With communities ranging from affordable housing to upscale mixed-use properties, Crosland’s multifamily portfolio includes 35 diverse apartment communities, varying from 40 to 568 residences, in Asheville, Cary, Chapel Hill, Charlotte, Durham, Gastonia, Greensboro, Raleigh and Wake Forest in North Carolina.

Oberlin Court Recognition

The 2009 Pillars of the Industry Awards, presented by the NAHB, named Oberlin Court as a finalist in the mixed-use category. These awards recognize trendsetters and innovators in the multifamily housing industry.

“We’re very proud of how we designed Oberlin Court to fit in a tight urban infill site, with a sleek interior and exterior design,” said David Ravin, president of Crosland’s residential division.

Oberlin Court was selected as a finalist based on the community’s integration of a pedestrian-oriented commercial district and residential neighborhood with a balanced mix of civic, commercial and residential uses. The project was designed by The Housing Studio and is owned by Northwestern Mutual Life.

“This year’s finalists represent the creativity of industry leaders who’ve combined beauty and high quality with an emphasis on what is most valuable to residents,” said Steve Patterson, chairman of NAHB’s Multifamily Leadership Board. “In the current economic environment, it is also extremely encouraging to see so many multifamily builders focusing on affordability and long-term sustainability.”

Oberlin Court features two phases that offer a variety of amenities to residents. The apartment homes offer condo-like architectural details and finishes, such as 9-foot ceilings, crown molding, island kitchens, granite countertops, maple cabinetry, tiled backsplashes, hardwood flooring, and whirlpool tubs and vessel sinks in the bathrooms. The community provides residents with a resort-style pool, concierge services and fitness center complete with sauna and shower facilities. Phase II offers an additional 105 apartment homes and 30,418 square feet of first-floor retail space; Phase II also features a second resident amenity room with additional pool tables, gourmet kitchen, sitting area and a private rooftop terrace overlooking the retail shops, complete with plush furniture and an outdoor fireplace.

About NAHB and the Pillars of the Industry Awards

The National Association of Home Builders is a Washington-based trade association representing more than 200,000 members involved in home building, remodeling, multifamily construction, property management, subcontracting, design, housing finance, building product manufacturing and other aspects of residential and light commercial construction. NAHB’s Pillars of the Industry Awards honor excellence in apartment and condominium design and development, as well as leadership in marketing and property management. Since its inception in 1990, the Pillars of the Industry Awards program has earned the reputation as the most prestigious in the multifamily industry, and both the housing industry and the media look to the Pillars Awards as a showcase of future trends and innovation.