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.

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.

The renovation was planned and executed with residents in mind from start to finish, says Andre Pintauro, president of Evergreen Construction.

“We collaborated with the management team to arrange for residents to receive funds to get lunch, go see a movie or enjoy other activities for a few hours on days when the construction crew needed to be in individual apartments,” Pintauro says. “We really tried to make this project a case study on how to give units a makeover with minimal disturbance to the daily lives of those who live in the community.”

Durand Plaza is near a grocery store and other shops, restaurants and services, with an adjacent bus line providing easy access to these and other destinations. The community also is next to the County Bike Trail and near the Lake Michigan shoreline.

While this was Evergreen's first project in Racine, the firm also is developing Legacy Lofts, located on the site of the former Blommer Ice Cream Factory in the Lindsay Heights neighborhood of Milwaukee.

“Evergreen looks forward to continuing our expansion into the Wisconsin market through quality apartment renovation projects as well as new-construction and adaptive-reuse projects like Legacy Lofts,” says Rappin.