In the deal we are investing in, the difference to most other deals is the ability to benefit from the difference in the building costs and the actual value at the point of completion.If you think of the traditional turnkey model, you will see that the TK provider will find the "ugly duckling in a nice B class neighborhood", let's say for $40K, put $60K into it to renovate it to a really nice standard and then sell it to you and me for $135K.

Nathan,If you are serious about this, I think you should look into the business model of companies already doing it and consider doing it from the sponsor/GP side and retaining an ownership stake instead of being an LP in a deal. 

Hopefully, the recession will reduce labor and materials costs but the business model is not dependent on it...it's dependent on the first sentence. 

If you are trying to add it as an amenity, then there are plenty of companies out there that will work with you to install them on their dime, but it has to make sense with their business model.

She also says it makes no sense, and is adamant they want us to stay (we are model renters, rent always on time, etc).

May I ask which brand/model you went with and do you supply them with a physical key as a backup?  

Whats left is renting sec 8 a rental model that does not depend on tenants keeping good jobs...

I agree that the 9th & Colorado development could use a little more local flavor, but I'll take the mixed use of any kind in the middle of a residential area. 

Some of these posters seem to think a one size fits all is the only solution and not following their “yellow pages” model of hiring contractors is inherently wrong.

@Tony DiDomenico I made it a point to try a few different models in Baltimore and I took some licks along the way.