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Loft-Style Living, Inspired by the Desert
Vegas Magazine April 2007
by: Rob Wiser
VEGAS PROPERTY REPORT
Trends in Southern Nevada real estate
If you're contemplating purchasing a condominium in Las Vegas but the notion of living in a soaring high-rise doesn't appeal to you, The Mercer now offers an award winning alternative. Located on Tropicana Avenue and Grand Canyon Drive, between Spring Valley and Summerlin (about a 15-minute drive from the loft-style residences. Meticulously designed to give residents an abundance of living space and light, the open living areas flooded with natural light.
Marking the first venture between Chicago developer JDL Development and Las Vegas-based Modern Living Holdings, The Mercer also showcases the talents of one of the Southwest's most highly recognized architectural firms, Las Vegas based assemblageStudio. Its vision for The Mercer won the firm a Merit Award from AIA (American Institute of Architects) Nevada.
Vegas spoke with two key players behind the project: developer Jim Letchinger and architect Eric Strain. Letchinger, prior to becoming a developer, was the owner of Superior Lighting, which created sophisticated lighting systems and brought him into contact with some of the country's most highly respected architects. He also created Pro-ARC Electrical Construction Company, serving commercial and high-end residential clients.
Letchinger founded JDL Development in 1993 with the goal of redefining the homeowner's experience in purchasing a new residence. The company's early projects in Chicago were custom homes, which JDL customized with unique materials, lighting systems and spacious layouts. As JDL's reputation grew, the company progressed to larger projects such as town homes, high-rises, condo-conversions and commercial properties. Now Letchinger has brought an original concept to the Las Vegas residential market, partnering with local development team Modern Living Holdings to create The Mercer.
Strain. Meanwhile, drew upon a variety of sources to inform and inspire his architectural plans for The Mercer — from its luxuriously appointed units to its modern exterior, the highlight of which is a courtyard designated to bring residents together. The complex will also feature 12,000 square feet of on-site retail.
The Mercer was scheduled to break ground by the time this issue reaches print. Units range from 800-square-foot, one-bedroom models to three-bedroom duplexes (with private rooftop decks) spanning 2,370 square feet. Prices begin at a reasonable $229,000.
Jim Letchinger
President, JDL Development
Give us your quick pitch for The Mercer.
The Mercer is a five-acre, 13-unit residential mid-rise development on Tropicana, just west of the newly constructed 215 exit. The Mercer provides high-quality, well-designed modern residences, creating another living option in Las Vegas that has an urban feel similar to that found in other major cities, it has a common area located within the center of the buildings, creating a friendly environment for people to gather and meet.
What are some of the specific amenities that buyers are responding to?
The semiprivate elevators (there are six residences to each elevator) are a distinguishing feature, as well as its secure underground parking. A gated courtyard will offer safety and comfort, while residents will still be able to enjoy the surrounding area. A beautiful pool, a fully outfitted 24-hour fitness center and a pavilion/lounge are some of the other shared amenities that unit owners will be able to indulge in.
What kind of options do buyers have for floor plans and customizing their residences?
Buyers can choose from one-, two- or three-bedroom loft residences. They're designed with flair, with upscale materials and features that maximized space and light. Unit amenities include 10-foot ceilings, hardwood flooring throughout and centralized phone, Internet and cable-television controls. The kitchens have stainless-steel appliances, custom wood and glass cabinetry with a choice of finishes, and a selection of one-and-a-quarter-inch granite countertops. The bathrooms offer custom vanities, detailed stone countertops and frameless shower enclosures, as well as a selection of stone flooring. The Mercer's standard features would be considered upgrades in other projects.
In your opinion, what are the most impressive units within the complex?
The design on the three-bedroom residence is spectacular. The open layout makes it an ideal setting for entertaining. The master bedroom is truly well appointed, with an extravagant master bath. The pièce de résistance is the 19-by-15-foot balcony overlooking the courtyard.
What kinds of buyers have been attracted to this project?
Our buyers have ranged from a small number of investors to young professionals, couples and empty-nesters.
How far along are you with sales, and when will the project be completed?
More than half of the project is sold. We anticipate the first move-ins to take place in the summer of 2008, and the project should be 100-percent complete by the end of the year.
Looking at the current status of the Vegas real estate market, are you confident that this is the right time for The Mercer?
The real-estate market is always changing, but one thing remains the same: When you build a quality product that creates a community, you will sell the homes. With 113 units, we're confident that there is more than enough demand to absorb all of these units as well as many more.
Eric Strain
Founder of AssemblageStudio and architect for The Mercer
Tell us about your experience as an architect prior to becoming involved in The Mercer.
I moved back to Las Vegas after spending time in Los Angeles. After few firms here, I opened assemblageStudio in 1996. The idea is to have a limited number of projects where everyone in the firm gets involved in every phase of every project. Over the years, assemblageStudio has received 24 design awards from AIA Nevada and AIA WMR (Western Mountain Region), more than any other firm in the state.
How collaborative was the design process? How much creative leeway did the developers give you?
Our clients all have strong visions for what they want. The Mercer was no different. The owners were very hands-on in every stage of the project's development, from initial design to unit layout to the conception of the courtyard. We've found that by involving the clients in each phase of a project's design and development, they gain a complete understanding of the ideas behind the design.
Did other projects or architects inspire The Mercer's design?
Inspiration comes from many sources — our own environment in Las Vegas, the desert life, restaurants on the Strip. It was also the desire to create a place where people will actually be able to get to know their neighbors and meet them on a daily basis. Architecturally, we are inspired by the work of Albert Frey, R.M. Schindler, Frank Lloyd Wright, Craig Ellwood, Luis Barragá — both past and present — as well as artists such as Keith Haring, Richard Serrra, Michael Heizer, James Turrel, Donald Judd and Dan Flavin.
How would you describe the design style?
It's a modern aesthetic. The courtyard and circulation patterns create an opportunity to develop a close-knit community within the complex where all neighbors cross paths. We wanted to create a space where you would live outside of your unit on a daily basis — a place where the environment could be celebrated and enjoyed.
What does The Mercer bring to Las Vegas market that is different?
Each space within each unit's design-bedrooms, kitchens, living rooms and dens--has access to an operable window. No spaces enclose you without providing direct daylight. Daylight is an important element in terms of one's well-being, as we observed and documented through research. This feature also allows cross-ventilation to naturally cool the units. And the overall design of the complex eliminates the long, narrow, artificially lit corridors found throughout other projects in Las Vegas — which add to the cost of the development, as well as the long term utility costs that will be absorbed by the unit owners.
As an architect, what element of this project are you most proud of?
The interweaving of the courtyard into the life of the complex's community. It's not just another amenity but a primary element in the life of the complex. The courtyard becomes the central gathering point for the community, with both private and public spaces.
Do you find Las Vegas to be a particularly stimulating environment in which to work and create?
Las Vegas is moving from a community that has borrowed from everywhere else, in order to create the Strip, to one that is beginning to embrace its own sense of this place and our own history. We have the natural beauty of the Red Rock Mountains, the Valley of Fire, Lake Mead and the Mojave Desert. Las Vegas is maturing by accepting this environment and using the rich, natural benefits of the desert.