Mill Creek Residential's Metro 303 and West 130 awarded LEED Gold from USGBC

Mill Creek Residential, a leading multifamily developer, investor and operator specializing in premier apartment communities across the U.S., has unveiled its newest Nassau County developments, Metro 303 and West 130. Both developments received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for achievement in green home building and design. LEED for Homes is a green home certification program that rewards homes designed and built to be energy and resource efficient, and more healthy and durable for occupants. LEED-certified homes complete a technically rigorous process that often includes home energy rating (HERS) and onsite inspections to verify that the new homes are built to be energy and water efficient, environmentally sound, and a healthier place to live. Both Metro 303 and West 130 minimize their ecological footprint in five key areas of human and environmental health: site development; water savings and efficiency; energy efficiency; construction materials and resources; and indoor air quality. Examples of sustainable elements throughout both communities that contribute to their LEED Gold status include: * Strategic location, within easy walking distance to mass transit options; * EnergyStar refrigerators, dishwashers, washers and ventilation fans; * High-efficiency air filtration system for superior indoor air quality; * High-reflectivity roof material to reduce energy needs; * Landscaping using drought-resistant and indigenous plants; * Electric car charging stations; and * Smoke-free living. "Building to LEED Gold standards required careful coordination throughout the development process. It is rewarding to have completed two projects that are among the first LEED for Homes multifamily buildings on Long Island," said Jamie Stover, vice president for Mill Creek Residential. Metro 303 is located on Long Island, New York at the northern end of The Village of Hempstead, bordering the Village of Garden City and centrally located in the heart of Nassau County. The transit-oriented location is also within easy walking distance to the Country Life Press LIRR station to the north and the multi-modal Hempstead LIRR and bus terminal. Metro 303 features a total of 166 upscale rental residences that offer a mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom layouts within a four-story building with two levels of enclosed private parking for residents. It was recently honored with the 2012 Award for Housing Choices by Vision Long Island in recognition of its role in furthering the diversification of much-needed housing options on Long Island. West 130 is a transit-oriented community located in West Hempstead, within the Town of Hempstead, New York. The development is adjacent to the West Hempstead Long Island Rail Road station, allowing residents to commute into New York City's Penn Station within 50 minutes. A four-story building with private underground garage parking for residents, the community features 150 upscale residences that offer a mix of one-, two and three-bedroom layouts. The new development was awarded a Smart Growth award in 2009 by Vision Long Island for its role in revitalizing the West Hempstead neighborhood. Apartment homes at Metro 303 and West 130 feature modern upscale kitchens. The communities offer numerous on-site amenities, including inviting and luxuriously appointed resident lounges with fireplaces, game areas, Wi-Fi, and multiple flat screen televisions, outdoor pools and sun decks, top-of-the-line fitness studios with cardio theaters, and beautifully landscaped courtyards including fountains and outdoor fireside seating. Beyond the immediate neighborhood, the communities are easily accessible to the county's major centers of employment, recreational, shopping and entertainment destinations, and educational institutions including Adelphi, Hofstra and Long Island Universities. For leasing information or to learn more about Metro 303, please visit www.Metro303.com or call516-486-7700, and for West 130, please visit www.West130.com or call 516-292-8400.