For years, we’ve seen the race to reach renters often start with a building’s amenity package and the bigger is better mentality, whether it was a pool, a fitness center or, most recently, coworking space.
But living through a pandemic has given everyone a different perspective on amenities. It’s been interesting to see that the things we took for granted, like natural light and outdoor space, have become—and will continue to be—the most important amenities of all.
While many developments made connecting people and nature within built environments and communities a hallmark in recent years, what’s new in 2021 is a heightened demand for direct access to sunlight and fresh air that blends the outdoors and indoors in refreshing ways.
Going forward, we believe design will flow from a need to create environments where renters find inspiration in their natural surroundings while also benefiting from the tangible health benefits that natural light and outdoor space offer.
Optima celebrated the grand opening of 7190 Optima Kierland, the fifth and final tower within the Optima Kierland development in North Scottsdale.
The 10-story tower comprises 216 residences including studio, one-, two-, three-bedroom and penthouse apartments, along with the development’s first Olympic-length pool and 24-hour concierge. The amenity-rich building has already been met with high demand, achieving 30% leased even before residents moved in.
The final tower features a rooftop sky deck with a 50-meter Olympic-length lap pool, as well as a quarter-mile running track, spa and cold plunge, lounge seating, fire pits, outdoor bar and kitchen with televisions, and views of the McDowell Mountains.
Additional amenities include an indoor basketball court; an outdoor pickleball court; an expansive indoor/outdoor fitness center with state-of-the-art cardio and fitness equipment, free weights, a yoga studio and a Pilates studio; an indoor golf simulator; a sports lounge; and an outdoor putting and chipping area.
The apartments, which range from $2,600 to over $11,000 per month, are complete with high-quality designer materials and fixtures, floor-to-ceiling windows, gourmet kitchens, spa-quality bathrooms and smart-home technology.
7190 Optima Kierland features fire pits and grills on the terraces of the three-bedroom and corner two-bedroom residences.
Residents will have access to a 24-hour concierge as well as Optimized Service, which offers complimentary white-glove services within each resident’s home, including in-home package delivery, grocery delivery and plant watering, available seven days a week. Additionally, residents will be able to utilize Optima Kierland’s 24/7 Virtual Personal Assistant. This virtual concierge is available by phone, email or text to provide customized assistance with reservations, travel and tickets.
Sustainable features include the efficient architectural shading system comprising louvers and curved, perforated panels, as well as the advanced building materials utilized to maximize the tower’s longevity such as a post-tension concrete structure, aluminum sunscreens and louvers, and floor-to-ceiling windows.
7190 Optima Kierland is near Scottsdale Quarter and Kierland Commons.
Earlier this year, rental housing economist and consultant Jay Parsons parsed renter data released by multifamily REITs and found income levels rivaling those of middle-class homeowners—Equity Residential reported typical renter income of $169,000; Essex Property Trust, $131,000; and Camden Property Trust, $120,000—and rent-to-income ratios ranging from 19% to 22%.
This data proves that developers and policymakers need to update their perceptions about who today’s renters are and why they rent, Parsons says. “The bottom line is that there are a lot of people who are making good incomes and want to be renters.”
The Harvard University Joint Center for Housing Studies found that the number of renter households with incomes of $75,000 or more has risen 43%, to 13.5 million, since 2010. The number of affluent renters is also growing in 35 of the 50 most populous U.S. metros, according to a Redfin analysis of the U.S. Census Bureau, MLS, and county records. In San Jose, California, and Orlando, Florida, about 11% of renters are wealthy; in New York and Seattle, approximately 10% are, the analysis found.
Jessica Perri, marketing director for residential property developer and manager Habitat, says the assumption that people see renting primarily as a transitional phase before homeownership has shifted. More residents are choosing to rent long term because it better aligns with their financial goals, lifestyle, and desire for flexibility, she says.
“This shift has challenged us to think beyond traditional property management and to create communities where renters can truly put down roots, build connections, and feel invested in where they live,” Perri says.
Optima president David Hovey says renters by choice are drawn as much by a sense of community as they are to concierge support, in-home package delivery, and private chefs. Optima is meeting those needs with things like expansive residents’ clubs, rooftop decks, and reservable guest suites.
“For many, what begins as a practical and often temporary decision to rent evolves into a long-term lifestyle preference,” Hovey says.
The newest luxury condominium 12-story tower at Optima Kierland Center in Scottsdale is 7180 Optima Kierland. It offers 202 one-, two-, and three-bedroom homes and expansive penthouses, with close to half of the remaining residences still available for purchase.
“Homeowners are drawn tot he maintenance-free lock-and-leave lifestyle offered at the community,” said David Hovey Jr., president and principal architect for Optima. “The development is managed by a full-time on-site property management company that oversees all aspects of managing the property including package services, a virtual concierge and security services during select off-business hours.” The building, Hovey said, “remains safe and secure when residents are traveling or away, featuring secured entry to all buildings with video entry cameras and key-fob entry access required for all doors and elevators.”
The community features a park-like setting with extensive landscaping, a rooftop Skydeck and a heated lap pool. Prices start in the $500s.
High-rise, sustainable living in Arizona has reached a whole new level this week with the opening of 7180 Optima Kierland, the 12-story residential tower that boasts meticulously designed condominiums, along with the most impressive and expansive luxury amenity offering in the state, all within North Scottsdale’s most desirable address.
With the opening of the building also comes the official debut of the next evolution of Optima’s award-winning, green-building design created by David Hovey, Jr., AIA, president and principal architect of Optima. Optima is known for cutting-edge, residential buildings that have been nationally and internationally recognized with over 50 prestigious awards for the company’s commitment to design, innovation and sustainability.
As the building surpasses 70 percent sold and first homeowners begin moving in this month, one of the biggest draws for buyers has been the array of lavish amenities, both on the rooftop and the ground level. Set atop the 12th floor is the spectacular Sky Deck, which was designed to feel as if it has a negative-edge view, with the railings lowered just beyond the sightline, so the eye goes straight to the vistas beyond and gives the sensation of floating above the city. The Sky Deck offers residents Arizona’s first residential rooftop running track, a heated lap pool with built-in seating areas, spa and a cold-plunge pool; a steam room, sauna and hydrotherapy areas; an outdoor theater, fire pit seating areas, an indoor/outdoor yoga studio and a full kitchen and entertaining spaces with barbecues, covered bar and counter seating with large flat-screen TVs.
Right on time to meet the recent increase in demand for elevated apartment living in the greater Phoenix-metro area, real estate development firm Optima announced today the opening of the luxury apartment tower 7140 Optima Kierland in North Scottsdale, with immediate move-ins available and the leasing gallery and model residences accessible for private tours.
As the second apartment tower located within Optima Kierland Apartments, 7140 Optima Kierland has already achieved 40 percent leased which outpaces the rental market by nearly double. Comprised of 213 thoughtfully designed, one-, two-, three-bedroom and penthouse residences ranging in size from 737 to 2,225 square feet, monthly rents start from $2,220. The first apartment tower, 7160 Optima Kierland, achieved the fastest leasing rate ever in the Valley in its debut in 2017 and has maintained 95 percent occupancy ever since.
“There is a major trend at play with renters looking to downsize from their single-family homes in favor of the luxury and convenience of the Optima lifestyle, many of whom have relocated from out of state or are considering doing so,” said David Hovey Jr., AIA, president and principal architect of Optima. “With the debut of 7140 Optima Kierland, we’re excited to be able to offer prospective residents a chance to enjoy the community’s unmatched location, services and amenities, and to be able to meet the demand for large, well-appointed apartment homes in the Valley.”
Whether using a third-party designer or acting as the architect for your own projects, it’s important to have a vision for your community and what elements you want to utilize. This includes materials, structures, floor plans and multipurpose furniture or elements.
Optima Inc. has been incorporating biophilic design within its communities for more than four decades, starting with the use of green roofs, courtyards and gardens back in the ’80s. It eventually launched its own vertical landscaping system 15 years ago at Optima Camelview Village, a property located in Scottsdale, Ariz.
“This system helps enhance the natural beauty of our projects by allowing a palette of vibrantly colored plants to grow up and over the edge of each private terrace on every floor of the building,” explained David Hovey Jr., president & COO.
High-rise apartments are getting more in touch with nature. Living on the 40th or 45th floor, for example, can make tenants feel far away from it—and since the pandemic, apartment dwellers are craving closer ties to greenery. In response, more plants are coming to rooftops, lobbies, and balconies.
Optima Inc. has been adding biophilic design principles to its communities for more than 40 years. It has been offering green roofs, courtyards, and gardens. A vertical landscaping system is on display at its Optima Camelview Village in Scottsdale, Ariz. Several colorful plants grow up and over the ledge of private terraces on each floor of the building.
“This system helps enhance the natural beauty of our projects by allowing a palette of vibrantly colored plants to grow up and over the edge of each private terrace on every floor of the building,” David Hovey Jr., president and COO of Optima Inc., told Multi-Housing News earlier this year.
Award-winning real estate development firm Optima announced the grand opening of 7190 Optima Kierland, the fifth and final tower within the Optima Kierland development in North Scottsdale.
The 10-story tower is comprised of 216 residences including studio, one-, two-, three-bedroom and penthouse apartments, along with the development’s first Olympic-length pool and 24-hour concierge. The amenity-rich building has already been met with high demand, achieving 30% leased even before residents moved in.
“We are excited about opening the final building for Optima Kierland. We appreciate all of the support from the neighborhood, Councilman Jim Waring, the Phoenix City Council, the Planning Commission, and the City’s Planning and Building departments. We hope the community is proud of our project and what it brings to the local economy,” said David Hovey Jr., AIA, Optima’s president and COO. “The location will always be highly coveted, but what sets our developments apart has been our dedication to unique architecture, high-quality construction and providing the next evolution of amenities.”
As a further expansion to its already impressive lineup of unique amenity offerings, the final tower features a rooftop Sky Deck with a 50-meter Olympic-length lap pool, as well as a ¼ mile running track, spa and cold plunge, lounge seating, fire pits, outdoor bar and kitchen with TVs, and breathtaking views of the McDowell Mountains. Additional amenities include an indoor basketball court; an outdoor pickleball court; an expansive indoor/outdoor fitness center with state-of-the-art cardio and fitness equipment, free weights, yoga studio and Pilates studio; indoor golf simulator; sports lounge; and an outdoor putting and chipping area.
The apartments, which range from $2,600 to over $11,000 per month, are complete with high-quality designer materials and fixtures, soaring ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, gourmet kitchens, spa-quality bathrooms and the latest in smart home technology. Lush hanging gardens and expansive private exterior spaces bring the outdoors into perfect harmony with indoor living. 7190 Optima Kierland features exclusive offerings such as fire pits and grills on the terraces of the three-bedroom and corner two-bedroom residences.
Residents will have access to a 24-hour concierge as well as Optimized Service®, which offers complimentary white glove services within each resident’s home including in-home package delivery, grocery delivery and plant watering, available seven days a week. Additionally, residents will be able to utilize Optima Kierland’s 24/7 Virtual Personal Assistant. This virtual concierge is available by phone, email or text to provide customized assistance with reservations, travel, tickets, coordination and more.
Optima’s dedication to sustainability and innovation is reflected in Optima Kierland’s design with 9.5 acres of lushly landscaped courtyards that feature native, drought-resistant plants that help mitigate the heat island effect. Each residence features a private terrace with Optima’s signature vertical landscaping system that enables a palette of vibrantly colored plants to grow up and over the edge of the building, providing additional privacy while simultaneously filtering the air and lowering ambient temperature. Additional sustainable features include the efficient architectural shading system comprised of louvers and curved, perforated panels, as well as the advanced building materials utilized to maximize the tower’s longevity such as a post-tension concrete structure, aluminum sunscreens and louvers, and floor to ceiling windows.
7190 Optima Kierland is just steps away from two high-end shopping centers, Scottsdale Quarter and Kierland Commons, which offer dining, shopping and entertainment. Located within North Scottsdale’s most desirable address, residents will have ease of access to the best the city has to offer including premier golf, nightlife and outdoor leisure activities such as horseback riding, hiking and biking trails.
For more than four decades, Optima has shaped some of Arizona’s most architecturally distinctive residential communities. From its award-winning properties in Old Town Scottsdale and the Biltmore Phoenix area to Optima Kierland in North Scottsdale, the design-driven development firm has built a reputation for modernist architecture wrapped in lush vertical landscaping and resort-level amenities. Its communities are recognizable not only for their aesthetic, but for the lifestyle they create.
Now, Optima McDowell Mountain marks the firm’s next chapter in North Scottsdale. Rising at the southeast corner of Scottsdale Road and Loop 101, the 22-acre mixed-use community expands on everything residents have come to expect from the brand: open space, biophilic design, and elevated shared amenities, all framed by sweeping views of the McDowell Mountains. With apartment tower 7220 now leasing and condominium tower 7230 in pre-sale ahead of its anticipated 2027 completion, the momentum signals a strong appetite for a more connected, amenity-driven way of living in this part of the Valley.
“This is a significant milestone for Optima,” said David Hovey Jr., AIA, president of Optima. “It’s the first time in four years we’ve introduced for-sale residences in Arizona, and we’re bringing everything we’ve learned over the past four decades into this new community. Optima McDowell Mountain reflects our ongoing commitment to thoughtful design and quality living, and it represents the next chapter in our legacy.”
Life at Optima McDowell Mountain is designed to extend far beyond the walls of a single residence. Each building in the community will be centered on roughly 1.5 acres of resort-style amenities, creating an environment where wellness, recreation, and social connection are woven into everyday life. At the rooftop level of tower 7230, a dramatic Sky Deck will overlook the McDowell Mountains, anchored by a 50-meter Olympic-length heated lap pool and a running track that wraps around the perimeter. Residents will also find an outdoor spa and cold plunge, a sauna, fire pits, shaded lounge areas, outdoor kitchens, yoga studios, and gathering spaces designed for everything from quiet mornings to sunset entertaining.
At ground level, the amenity offering continues with a depth rarely seen in traditional condominium developments. Plans call for a fully equipped fitness center with indoor and outdoor training areas, Pilates and group fitness studios, locker rooms, and spa-inspired spaces, including a sauna and massage room. Recreation expands to include indoor pickleball and basketball, two outdoor pickleball courts, bocce, a golf simulator with chipping and putting areas, and even a sports lounge. A business center with conference and huddle rooms supports remote work, while a private movie theater and chef’s kitchen-equipped party room offer space to host. Families and pet owners are equally considered, with indoor and outdoor play areas, a pet park, and a pet spa integrated into the design.
The scale of open space is equally compelling. Nearly 75 percent of the 22-acre site is dedicated to landscaped grounds, anchored by a 10-acre central park that forms the heart of the community. Pedestrian paths and bike trails weave throughout the property and connect to Scottsdale’s broader trail systems, reinforcing a lifestyle that encourages movement and outdoor time. The setting feels intentionally layered, with architecture softened by vertical landscaping and desert plantings that frame views of the surrounding mountains.
Location plays a central role in the appeal. Positioned at Scottsdale Road and Loop 101, the community offers immediate freeway access, making it easy to reach the Scottsdale Airpark, Kierland Commons, Scottsdale Quarter, TPC Scottsdale, and other North Scottsdale destinations within minutes. Residents can walk or bike to nearby restaurants and retail while still enjoying the sense of retreat afforded by open space and mountain vistas. It is a rare balance of connectivity and calm, particularly in this highly sought-after pocket of the Valley.
Sustainability is not treated as an afterthought but as a defining element of the project. Optima McDowell Mountain will incorporate what is expected to be the largest private rainwater harvesting system in the United States, capable of storing up to 210,000 gallons for on-site irrigation. The development is also the first in Scottsdale to be built under the city’s newly adopted International Energy Conservation Code and International Green Construction Code, signaling a commitment to long-term environmental performance.
Additional features reinforce that focus, including solar panels, self-irrigating vertical landscaping that provides natural insulation and air purification, fully underground parking to reduce surface heat retention, high-efficiency VRF heating and cooling systems, induction cooktops, and EV charging for residents and guests. Together, these elements position Optima McDowell Mountain as both forward-thinking and rooted in the realities of desert living.
With residences in the first condominium tower now selling and completion anticipated in Summer 2027, Optima McDowell Mountain represents a significant evolution in North Scottsdale’s residential landscape. The Sales Gallery is now open by appointment.
