STATE COLLEGE, PA—Work has started on the Retreat at State College, a 587-bed cottage project that will serve students at Pennsylvania State University here. A development of Landmark Properties and owned by a joint venture of Landmark and Harrison Street Real Estate Capital, the project is located about a mile from, and on the bus transit route for the PSU campus and offers 138 one- to five-bedroom craftsman-style cottages on 24 acres.

According to Landmark president and CEO Wes Rogers, the firm’s been working on obtaining entitlements for the site for two years. “It will be impossible to replicate what we’re building here,” he says.

The Retreat will feature custom-built cottages with 18 different open-floor plans featuring gourmet kitchens with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances, large bedrooms with walk-in closets, private bathrooms, built-in bookshelves, outdoor decks and high-speed Internet/cable. The community has what’s touted as “the most extensive amenity package” in State College, including what’s believed to be largest pool of any student community here, a raised hot tub, bocce ball and sand volleyball courts, an outdoor fireplace with a grilling area.