The challenge for city officials in Easton, Pennsylvania, was to figure out what to do with an aging parking structure in downtown that was sitting on valuable land yet generating nothing in revenue.
They came up with the Marquis Apartments, a seven-story luxury residential building featuring 264 units, room for three ground-floor retail shops and 308 on-site parking spaces.
The project by City Center Group, a real estate investment and development firm, was recognized as multifamily development of the year in Philadelphia as part of the 2026 CoStar Impact Awards, which were judged by real estate professionals familiar with the market.
“The Marquis was an exciting project for both our team and the City of Easton. It transformed an obsolete parking garage that generated little to no tax revenue into a vibrant residential community that is already contributing to the vitality of downtown,” Zack Sienicki, chief operating officer at City Center Group, said in an email.
The project also sparked more apartment development in the neighborhood.
Construction of the project "supported more than 700 jobs and created a dozen permanent positions, while adding 258 much-needed apartments that leased in just five months, demonstrating the strong demand for quality housing in downtown Easton," Sienicki added. "Its success gave us the confidence to move forward with the Confluence just a few blocks away, which is now leasing for May move-ins.”
About the project: The Marquis is the largest apartment property in Easton’s history. Studio, one- and two-bedroom units range from about 500 square feet to 1,300 square feet. It is projected to generate more than $1 million in taxes and fees for the city, county and school district.
What the judges said: "I absolutely love the architecture and the way the project blends into the existing downtown fabric," said Eric Goldstein, president and chief executive officer of King of Prussia Business Improvement District. "The transformation of an under-performing asset into a project like this is a big win for the city of Easton and its residents/employees!"
They made it happen: Robert DiLorenzo, director of planning and construction at City Center Group; Jack Reilly, senior project manager at City Center Group; Jane Heft, design director of City Center Group; Maddy Stearns, designer at City Center Group; Kristina Cruz, marketing manager at City Center Group; Stefania Luciano, multimedia designer at City Center Group; Tara Anthony, new-to-market director at City Center Group; Zack Sienicki, chief operating officer at City Center Group; Meagan Walsh, senior community manager at City Center Residential; Andrew Miller, executive vice president at North Star Construction Management.