Developer to Break Ground on Texas Donut

Aside from residential projects, the Village will include retail, office, and entrainment spaces.

Some interesting ideas are floating around Realen Properties, and you’ll see what I mean when you hear about this: The developer’s latest project at the Village in Valley Forge is a four-story residential building with 363 units and a parking lot, according to the Business Journal’s Natalie Kostelni.

Sounds normal enough, right? Well, I’ll let Kostelni tell you the other part:

“The design of the apartment building is different than what has traditionally been constructed in the Philadelphia area, Maloomian said. Called a “wrap” or “Texas donut,” the apartment building is wrapped around a parking structure, which is basically hidden from plain view.”

If you’re scratching your head over this offbeat design, don’t dwell on it. Apparently it’s “not uncommon” in other parts of the country, and is actually preferred for its easy accessibility (depending on other design features, of course) and cost effectiveness.

Plus, passersby don’t have to look at an ugly parking lot.

• Developer to break ground on apartment complex in King of Prussia [Philadelphia Business Journal]