Buttonwood, the 162-unit, 146K SF office-to-residential conversion in Wayne, has drawn attention for its timing, pricing discipline, and adaptive reuse strategy. But perhaps the bigger story behind the project is a shift in how developers are thinking about Class A housing: not as a premium reserved for the top of the market, but as a lifestyle that can be delivered at attainable rents.
Enter the partnership between E. Kahn Development, Love Communities, and Triple Crown Construction into the chat.
Across suburban submarkets, one pattern has repeated for years: the strongest leasing demand consistently concentrates at the most attainable price points within new luxury communities. That demand spans age groups, professions, and life stages. It includes empty nesters, healthcare workers, public servants, young professionals, and first-time independent renters — people who want quality and experience, but who are also financially disciplined.
“They are not looking for discount housing,” says Mark Thomson, founder of Love Communities. “They are looking for value housing — high quality, fair rent.”
That observation helped shape the core development thesis behind this next wave of projects: instead of building luxury product that pushes rent ceilings, build luxury product that widens access. Deliver Class A finishes, Class A amenities, and Class A management — but hold rents meaningfully below competing new construction.
In many suburban markets, that means monthly rents under $2,000 — often $400 to $500 below comparable newly delivered properties nearby.
Executing that strategy requires discipline at the acquisition and planning level. It starts with basis — buying or repositioning properties at pricing that allows rents to remain grounded. Adaptive reuse and well-located suburban campuses can make that math work where ground-up construction often cannot. When the land and structure costs are right, the rent story can be right too.
Importantly, attainable rent does not mean a stripped-down experience. Buttonwood is being designed around lifestyle richness: strong fitness offerings, coworking space, content creator studios, wellness features, and technology integration — alongside something increasingly rare in new development: meaningful open space.
Mature trees. Gardens. Walking paths. Dog parks. Outdoor gathering areas. Fire pits and grilling zones. Room to breathe.
“That connection to nature and usable outdoor environment has become a competitive differentiator for Love Communities,” says Heather Pushinsky, president of Love Communities, “especially in suburban settings where residents expect more than just interior amenities.”
Open space is no longer a “nice to have” — it is a daily-use feature that supports mental health, community interaction, and resident retention