WEST COVINA, CA—Developer Lennar Multifamily Communities and architecture firm KTGY Group have broken ground on The Lakes, a 450-unit mixed-use multifamily development in West Covina, CA. The five-story property has 20,000 square feet of ground floor retail space. While the first units will be delivered in the second half of 2015, full completion is scheduled in early 2016.

“The property was designed to appeal to multiple demographics,” David Senden, a principal at KTGY Group, the designer on the project, tells GlobeSt.com. “The large development contains 450 units in one building that wraps around and completely hides two distinct parking garages. At the heart of The Lakes is a substantial leasing and amenity building, forming the backdrop to a ceremonial entry drive. The majority of the building has been designed in a Mediterranean style with the central amenity building being the departure.”

The site was an Expo Furniture store, which closed in 2012. The property sat vacant in the interim, until Lennar purchased it in 2013 for development. The property is located on 6 acres, which will provide ample space for the unit mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments ranging in size from 675 square feet to 1,165 square feet. “The ground floor of the building fronting Glendora Avenue has retail that will cater to residents and enhance the ability to park the car and not move it,” Senden says. The property will also feature several amenities in addition to the ground floor retail space, including a clubroom, fitness center, co-working space and outdoor activities, like a unique round swimming pool with cabanas and fire pits, a bocce ball court, basketball court and turf sports field. “The on-site amenities are pretty cool,” adds Senden. “The development is large, so it allows us to expand on the typical apartment offerings.”

In addition to the onsite amenities, the property is also adjacent to the Westfield West Covina, a 1.35-square-foot mall. “The Lakes is in a great location to allow residents to walk to restaurant and entertainment venues, not something easy to find in West Covina,” says Senden. There are various "hang-out" options, both inside and out.”

This is just one of KTGY Group's ongoing projects. Last week, the architecture firm also launched a 186-unit project in Santa Clara, CA known as Villas on the Boulevard. SummerHill Housing Group is the developer.