2. 2
Active Adult/Baby Boomers
(BUILDERS) Atlanta Active Adult Courtyard Builder
Revs Up Options For Buyers
Windsong Properties this week revealed that it is offering homebuyers up to
$8,000 in options in two of the active adult builder's Atlanta-area communities.
The Woodstock, GA-based Windsong's Somerset community in Woodstock and
Windsong at Seven Hills in Paulding County will make good on the options
package to buyers who close on a Windsong home by late December.
Atlanta's increasing popularity as a retirement location has created a competitive
active adult market, one that demands an understanding of its consumers, says
Windsong.
"No two Active Adult buyers are the same, and we understand that. We listen to
our buyers, make structural changes, and offer a ton of options while guiding
them through the selection process," Windsong Managing Partner Steve
Romeyn tells HSR.
The list of options offered by Somerset and Seven Hills includes, but is not
limited to, sunrooms, covered porch additions, sun tunnels, skylights, courtyard
pavers, expanded bedrooms, vanity countertops, garage door windows, and
upgrades in cabinet finishes, appliances, and tile.
Somerset features 57 detached ranch courtyard homes priced from the
$290,000s. The homes offer three bedrooms and details such as private
courtyards with garden retreats, rocking chair front porches, and large master
suites that feature details such as separate vanities, garden tubs, tile showers
with seats, and ceramic tile floors.
Seven Hills, Windsong's newest Atlanta active adult community, offers four
ranch courtyard floor plans from the $180,000s. The community features a 13-
acre amenity park that includes tennis courts, walking trails, aquatic center,
playground, fitness center, clubhouse, and year-round gardens.
The courtyard neighborhood is situated atop of Seven Hills, a master-planned
community that features a neighborhood retail component alongside homes from
several Atlanta-area builders.
Both communities feature Windsong's Easy Living Standards, including no-step
access doorways, lever handles, low-profile thresholds, and upgraded standard
finishes.
The Atlanta Regional Commission estimates that by 2030, one in five residents
will be 60 or older. The city has pledged over $500 million in the past several
years to build "diverse housing types and pedestrian-friendly walkways," and
AARP the Magazine recently named Atlanta as one of "5 Great Places to Live."
So, how does a builder stay afloat in a booming Atlanta active adult market? It is
a simple formula of speed and detailing, says Windsong. "We accommodate
3. 3
special requests, and we do this all in short order," notes Romeyn. "A
personalized, single family detached ranch home can go from contract to close
in less than 120 days."
Info: Visit Windsong on the Web at: www.windsonglife.com.
Posted online 09/16/2010 1:52 PM
CCRCs
(SENIOR LIVING) Windy City CCRC Begins First Phase
Of $35 Million Expansion
The Chicago-based nonprofit Smith Senior Living will next month break ground
on the first phase of a $35 million expansion of Smith Crossing, a continuing
care retirement community (CCRC) in the city's southwestern metro area. The
project will increase the community's residences by nearly 60%.
Smith Crossing's expansion will result in a new wing with 14 units of additional
assisted living residences and 16 units for residents with memory care needs.
The CCRC will also convert its existing memory care wing into a skilled nursing
care environment with accommodations for 16 residents. This paves the way for
Smith Crossing to admit residents directly into its skilled nursing care and
rehabilitation wing as well as meet the future needs of current residents.
"Increasing the spaces that the residences can live in and enjoy is a very big
deal for us. We are very excited about it," Michael A. Flynn, CEO of Smith
Senior Living, tells HSR.
The CCRC's new construction is a result of near 100% occupancy and a
growing waiting list since it opened in 2004, says Smith Senior Living.
"As our waiting list grew and as some of our first residents began to need
additional support, we determined that it is the right time to consider expansion,"
remarks Smith.
"Our solid performance and superior ratings from organizations including CARF
give us the confidence to take on this responsibility even in a volatile economic
market."
Smith Crossing's first phase of construction will be completed by spring 2011.
The expansion's second phase will be financed separately, and includes plans
for two new wings added to the building to house common areas and 76
independent living units.
Info: Smith Senior Living established its first community, now called Smith
Village, in 1924 in Chicago's historic Beverly neighborhood. Visit Smith on the
Web at: www.smithseniorliving.org.
Posted online 09/16/2010 10:47 AM
4. 4
Innovation
(AMENITIES) Anaheim Company Slated To Demo
Accessible 'Ava Bath' At AARP Event
The spotlight will be on accessibility at AARP's upcoming national event and
expo "Orlando@50+," where speakers, educational forums, and interactive
exhibits will give attendees a look at the latest resources for active aging. Among
the exhibitors will be the Anaheim, CA-based company Aquatic, who will demo
"Ava Bath," the newest addition to its accessible bath line.
The Ava Bath enables a broad range of consumers, including those with mobility
issues, to reap the benefits of bathing hydrotherapy in an accessible tub with
groundbreaking features, says Aquatic. "The Ava Bath is light years ahead of
any other accessible tub on the market today," Gilbert Allen, Aquatic senior
national specification manager, hospitality and commercial, tells HSR. "It's an
outstanding choice for people who use wheel chairs or walkers as well as those
who have full mobility now but want to plan ahead so they can age-in-place."
Breakthrough in Bathing Technology
The Ava Bath earlier this year demoed at both the International Builders Show
and the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show, highlighting features that Aquatic says
will set a new industry standard for accessible bathing:
Unprecedented ease of access: The tub's 35½", easy-transfer,
automated door lowers to open and rises to close, making entry and exit
equally as simple for people who walk up or are in wheelchairs. In
contrast, traditional accessible tub doors typically swing in and out,
requiring a higher level of mobility for maneuvering around both the door
and tub threshold.
A roomy, benchless, bathing well design: This enables consumers
with limited mobility, to get into the optimal reclining position for their
individual needs in order to facilitate a deeper, more immersive soaking
experience.
A patent-pending, quick-drain feature: The 70-gallon tub empties in
30 seconds or less. This translates to virtually no delay for the bather, who
can exit in seconds versus minutes, retaining the full benefit of the bath.
While the accessibility that Ava Bath affords consumers continues to enhance
the product's visibility at building and design shows, Aquatic expects that the
50+ demographic will be equally impressed with the tub's aesthetics. "This tub is
a sleek, modern design that beautifies any bathroom, unlike the typical
accessible bathtub available today, which look institutional," notes Allen.
Aquatic offers more than 350 products for consumers, designers, home builders,
and professionals specifying tubs and showers for apartments, condominiums,
hotels and resorts, hospitals and health care facilities, college and university
5. 5
dormitories, and other large projects.
Info: AARP's "Orlando@50+" event will be held September 30-October 2 in the
Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. For more information on the
Ava Bath, visit: www.aquaticbath.com.
Posted online 09/16/2010 10:42 AM
News in the States
(DEVELOPMENT) Historic Plantation Renovation Part
Of Planned CCRC On NC Crystal Coast
Plans for a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) under development
on the Jones Masonic Campus in Cedar Point, NC include an eight-sided house
built in 1857. Currently serving as a welcome center for the tentatively-named
Shell Pointe's pre-construction phase, the historic Octagon House will eventually
function as a community center for the CCRC's residents.
The Jones Masonic Campus is a nonprofit corporation formed to receive and
administer a gift from John and Lois Jones, who donated the 60-acre site with
the specification that it be used for a camp for children, Mason retreat center, or
retirement community. The CCRC portion garnered early support and emerged
as a core project for the campus, one that its development team says will put
much stock into maintaining the integrity of the site.
"The first thing we did was to set up a renovation for the house," Shell Pointe
Project Manager Bryan Lassiter tells HSR. "We worked really hard with an eye
toward the history and character of the house and extending it throughout the
community."
Plans for the CCRC include apartments, plantation –style villa homes and
duplex garden homes. Amenities such as a community center with dining hall,
library, exercise and game rooms, walking trails, and fishing pier are on the
drawing board, the community will offer assisted living services from the
beginning. Long term plans include the construction of an on-site facility for
nursing and dementia care.
The Shell Pointe plan's first phase includes an apartment building with 24
homes, a 10-home villa building, and several duplex garden homes. The entire
community's maximum build out will be 250 residences. The project received
preliminary approval last year, and is now in the process of signing contracts
with residents. "Our goal is to start building at the end of this year and have
homes available in early 2012," says Lassiter.
Info: The Octagon House on the Jones Masonic Campus is one of only two
eight-sided homes built in NC in the 19th
century. For more information on the
tentatively-named Shell Pointe project, visit: www.shellpointe.org.
Posted online 09/16/2010 10:49 AM
6. 6
(DEVELOPMENT) WA Nonprofit Transforms Blighted
Tacoma Hilltop Site Into Senior Housing
A new, multi-story senior housing development is rising from the former site of a
public eyesore on the hillside overlooking downtown Tacoma, WA. Developed
by Mercy Housing Northwest, a branch of Denver, CO-based nonprofit Mercy
Housing, the New Tacoma Senior Housing apartments is redeveloping a
blighted parcel in Tacoma's Hilltop neighborhood to make way for 75 units of
income-based affordable housing.
Mercy Housing purchased the project site in 2008 and demolished two vacant
buildings that had long attracted criminal activity. "The New Tacoma project
reflects Mercy Housing Northwest's longstanding commitment to revitalizing the
Tacoma Hilltop neighborhood," the nonprofit's vice president of real estate
development, Joanne La Tuchie, tells HSR. "The new project fills a need for
affordable supportive senior housing while addressing a public nuisance site."
The $21 million New Tacoma project will provide affordable senior housing
based on two tiers of income-based eligibility. Fifty-eight of the apartments will
be reserved for seniors age 62 and up with rents affordable to households
earning below 50% of the area median income. Sixteen units will be available for
seniors age 55 and up who earn up to 60% of the area median income.
New Tacoma incorporates universal design elements and sustainable design,
resulting in zero step entrances, six-foot-wide corridors and handrails, lever-
operated hardware, wheelchair accessibility, and solar lighting. The building's
indoor and outdoor community spaces include a large community room with full
kitchen, computer lab, library, media room, gardening space, and an arts studio.
New Tacoma also will also offer residents a list of supportive services in areas
such as health and wellness management, education, housing stability, and
social needs.
Construction on New Tacoma began in 2009, with occupancy slated for March
2011. Mercy Housing is currently working on securing funding for a 40-unit fully-
subsidized wing onto the project's first phase.
Info: Visit Mercy Housing on the Web at: www.mercyhousing.org
Posted online 09/09/2010 3:26 PM
Assisted Living
(ACTIVE AGING) Emeritus Launches Facebook Contest
To Promote Acive Aging
Emeritus Senior Living has launched a Facebook contest aimed at encouraging
fans to nominate the most active senior they know. "The Most Active Senior I
Know" contest was this week announced by the Seattle, WA provider of assisted
7. 7
living and Alzheimer's care, in honor of National Active Aging Week, September
20-26.
Emeritus' Facebook contest asks fans to nominate their friends and loved ones
age 65 and older who exemplify an active aging lifestyle. Fans are instructed to
post comments and details about their nominees' active lifestyles on the
Emeritus Senior Living Facebook page from September 10 to September 23.
The Active Senior Facebook venture is one of a recent string of Emeritus
contests on the social media site, highlighting the benefits of active aging, as
well as a forward-thinking growth strategy that appears squarely focused on
creating a new perception of assisted living.
"This is our third Facebook contest and each one has allowed us to expand our
online community in order to reach more families," Emeritus Executive Vice
President of Sales & Marketing Jayne Sallerson tells HSR. "We hope that the
contest will encourage our Facebook community of seniors and their adult
children to start conversations with each other and with Emeritus about
important topics like active aging."
Implementing technology and brain-boosting activities in its communities is part
of a Brain Health Lifestyle component that Emeritus says will play an
increasingly visible role in its communities' collective commitment to remaining
active. "Social interaction and technology play an important role in keeping
seniors connected to society" says Sallerson. "We are working to keep our
residents connected by adding computers to facilitate email and even bringing in
Wiis in many communities to encourage seniors to stay physically active through
various games."
Emeritus, according to a June survey by Provider Magazine, was the top
provider of assisted living and Alzheimer's and related dementia-care services in
the nation. It now has 45,000 residents living in facilities in 44 states.
Info: The winners of "The Most Active Senior I Know" will be announced on
Facebook on Sept. 28. Visit Emeritus on the Web at: www.emeritus.com.
Posted online 09/09/2010 3:23 PM
CCRCs
(INDEPENDENT LIVING) Philadelphia CCRC Offers
Vacation Stays In Concierge Suites
Vacationers experiencing the City of Brotherly Love have a new lodging option,
thanks to one local continuing care retirement community (CCRC). The Tucson,
AZ-headquartered Watermark Retirement Communities now offers vacation
stays in the Concierge Suites of its Philadelphia community, Watermark at
Logan Square.
Logan Square's Concierge Suites feature one- and two-bedroom studio
8. 8
apartments with full kitchens and free access to all the Watermark amenities and
services, including an on-site spa and salon, as well as the CCRC's continuing
education curriculum, Watermark University.
Though they offer Logan Square residents a nicely-appointed short term stay
option, the hotel-style Concierge Suites are also open to the general public and
promise to be an invaluable marketing asset, says Watermark. "We know that
choosing a retirement community is big decision and we want to help seniors
make the right choice," Watermark Director of Communications and Public
Relations Jill Hofer tells HSR. "It's a little bit like test driving a car; a vacation
stay is a test drive of a community."
Guests at Logan Square have access to a wide array of medical services and
on-site therapies. The community features a consulting dietician, pharmacy
deliveries, and nursing services. The CCRC's central Philadelphia location also
ensures close proximity to local hospitals and commerce.
"We're proud of our community and believe that most people who try a vacation
stay will want to make The Watermark home, but for those who do not, we're
happy to give them a slice of the Watermark lifestyle to help them choose the
place that's right for them," says Hofer. "That's the basic philosophy."
Studio apartments at Logan Square's Concierge Suites are $175 per night and
one-bedroom apartments are $195.
Watermark at Logan Square is comprised of Independent and Assisted Living
apartments, a Memory Care Center and a Skilled Nursing Center. The CCRC
offers a full continuum of care, and recently underwent a $15 million
environmentally-friendly renovation.
Info: The Watermark at Logan Square is located at Two Franklin Town
Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19103. For more information on Watermark
Retirement Communities, visit: www.watermarkcommunities.com
Posted online 09/09/2010 3:19 PM
Innovation
(ACTIVE ADULT) Lennar Launches Energy-Efficient
Home Line In Jersey
Green building equals smart building, says Lennar. As part of its national
"Green" homes initiative, the Miami, FL-headquartered home builder has
introduced its green-inspired line of energy-efficient PowerSmart homes in New
Jersey.
PowerSmart homes utilize the latest in green building practices, techniques
Lennar says could save home owners up to 67% on their heating and cooling
energy use. The homes feature rain-gauge irrigation, fresh air-ventilation
systems, high-efficiency SEER HVAC system with programmable thermostats,
9. 9
and special framing techniques, among other environmentally-friendly elements.
"We're taking an aggressive, responsible approach to incorporating
environmentally sensitive building practices into our residential development
activities, here in New Jersey and nationwide," says Don Bompensa, president
of Lennar's NJ Division, in a statement Lennar shared with HSR.
Lennar's active adult communities are at the forefront of its energy-efficient
initiative in NJ. The communities that will carry PowerSmart homes are
Greenbriar Oceanaire in Waretown, Greenbriar Stoneridge in Monroe Township,
and Greenbriar Fox Ridge in Rockaway Township. Cedar Point at Mary's
Landing and Creek Run in Woolrich, both non-age-restricted Lennar
communities, will also carry PowerSmart homes.
Lennar's PowerSmart line obtained third-party verification through the
Environments for Living program.
"We're taking an aggressive, responsible approach to incorporating
environmentally sensitive building practices into our residential development
activities, here in New Jersey and nationwide," says Bompensa."By obtaining
third-party verification through the certification, we're receiving credible data
confirming our PowerSmart homes are meeting the highest standard when it
comes to energy efficiency and providing considerable savings to our
homebuyers."
Info: For more information on Lennar and its PowerSmart line, visit:
www.lennar.com.
Posted online 09/09/2010 3:16 PM
News in the States
(CCRC) NY Developer Focused On Creating Community
Before CCRC Opens
A thriving community will already be established by the time The Club at
Briarcliff Manor opens its doors in 2013, says its developer, the Northrbook, IL-
headquartered Integrated Development Group LLC (IDG). A $350 million
continuing care retirement community (CCRC) under construction in Briarcliff
Manor, NY, The Club has launched "Ageless at the Club," a new program to
provide future residents with an early link to the lifestyle they will encounter
when their new homes are ready for occupancy.
"Ageless at the Club" provides future Briarcliff Manor residents, or "Members,"
with the chance to begin participating in the CCRC's amenities package,
including educational and cultural programming, yoga lessons, book
discussions, computer classes, gardening, and a walking club. The Club's early
community-building program is facilitated through a series of partnerships with
Hudson Valley-area organizations, including the Jacob Burns Film Center,
10. 10
Westchester Community College, and Club Fit.
"By engaging our Members in programs and activities before they move in, we
are creating a sense of community at The Club that will continue to grow as we
near occupancy in 2013," says IDG Founder and CEO Matthew K. Phillips in a
prepared statement. "Whether it's taking classes or attending a film series, future
Members of The Club will be engaged in their community, continuing their active
and fulfilling lives."
Future residents of The Club are also linked into an active schedule of events
where they can network and meet fellow neighbors. Activities include luncheons,
barbeques, holiday parties, culinary events and wine tastings. The program is
offered to any Member who has chosen his or her future residence at The Club.
The Club is currently under construction on the former site of Briarcliff Lodge
resort hotel, which later became the King's College campus. The Club will
feature 325 independent living residences divided between two "villages," and a
60-unit Supportive Living Center, amidst amenities that include a full-service spa
and salon, fitness and aquatics centers, a Lodge Room, outdoor tennis courts,
private library, theater, and 24-hour security.
Along with The Club, IDG is also developing 850 Lake Shore Drive, a $150
million senior community in an historic building in Chicago. Both projects are the
result of an IDG partnership with the National Electrical Benefit Fund, a
Washington DC-based pension fund.
Info: Along with The Club at Briarcliff Manor, IDG is also developing 850 Lake
Shore Drive, a $150 million senior community in an historic building in Chicago.
Visit IDG on the Web at: www.idg-llc.com. For more information on The Club,
visit: www.theclubcm.com.
Posted online 09/09/2010 3:21 PM
Innovation
(TRENDS) KTGY Principal Speaks On The Next
Generation In Affordable Senior Housing
A baby boomer turns 50 every 7 seconds, says U.S Census data. That figures
out to 12,500 people a day joining America's senior ranks, a graying tidal wave
that is already challenging traditional concepts of senior lifestyle and housing.
This week, David Kent, AIA and Principal with the Irvine, CA-based architectural
and planning firm KTGY Group, Inc., talks with HSR about the changing face of
senior housing.
Kent is slated to serve as the moderator of the upcoming Building Industry
Association of Southern California 50+ Housing Council's program, "The Next
Generations in Affordable Senior Apartments: Seasons II." During that event, he
and KTGY Chairman and Principal Stan Braden, AIA, will share with attendees
information about cutting-edge technology, going green, and the benefits of
11. 11
energy-efficient senior housing.
HSR: Why is this generation in senior housing different from previous ones?
DK: It is important to realize that today's seniors are physically much more active
as well as technically connected. Their communities often offer a totally different
variety of opportunities and facilities, from business centers to classrooms.
There, users might participate in pottery, music, and personal fitness programs.
The recreational areas may include a salt water pool and their dining facility
might have a piano bar and location for their personal wine storage.
HSR: How do these differences affect senior housing?
DK: The actual physical spaces designed for today's communities are much
more fluid and flexible.
The facilities often feel more like that of a quality hotel than a senior housing
development. Typically, developments have community directors who coordinate
various activities from Wii competitions to rock climbing and kayaking
excursions. These programs encourage people to explore opportunities and
transition to a new dynamic phase of their life.
HSR: Is the difference between high-end CCRCs and affordable senior housing
becoming less obvious?
DK: Most definitely. Today's facilities strive to subtly remove any barriers or
labels of a facility by incorporating universal design concepts. Today, spaces are
designed to be simple and intuitive.
Beyond Bricks and Mortar; Award-Winning Housing
HSR: What makes an award-winning senior project?
DK: I believe there are many things that go into the making of an award winning
project, from the quality of the design to the level of commitment by the builder.
Items and actions incorporated into a project early on often result in benefits to
the final user although initially more expensive to the builder. For example, in
The Seasons II, an affordable senior apartment community, it was important to
the team to have the project become Silver LEED-certified. That commitment
resulted in reduced energy bills and reduced lifestyle costs for the tenants.
Attention to detail, the interiors also become extremely important. From spacious
bathrooms with zero threshold showers to barrier-free kitchens and hallways.
HSR: The exteriors of Seasons I and II were among the factors that garnered
attention for both projects. What was special about the facilities' exteriors?
DK: The great story about Seasons I and Seasons II is the development and
changes that have occurred over time in senior apartment living. Seasons I is a
patio-style apartment project, very gardenesque, very beautiful and state-of-the-
art when originally built, but not very energy efficient. Seasons II is an enclosed,
energy-efficient corridor style apartment project, complete with photovoltaic
panels.
This phase utilized a left over parcel of land that was once thought unbuildable
12. 12
to minimize any impact on the site. Walkability and strong historical exterior
detailing connect the two communities to each other as well as to the historical
City of San Juan Capistrano.
HSR: How big a role does universal design play in today's senior housing?
DK: Universal design is very important to today's senior housing, from exterior
mobility to interior mobility; the design is simple and intuitive. The goal of
universal design is to provide a quality environment without stigmatizing it. Size
and spacial requirements are presented in a way that provides a feeling of
enriched environments. Designed as functional, perceived as glamorous.
HSR: KTGY is known for its innovations in reducing construction costs. What is
the best way to reduce costs?
DK: Costs must be analyzed from two perspectives. One is the initial sticks and
bricks costs. To minimize costs from the beginning, buildings need to be stacked
efficiently and detailed accordingly. Circulation needs to be minimized. The
second important perspective regarding costs that needs to be reviewed is the
cost of the project spread over the life of a building.
By going green and going LEED, you can reduce the costs of a building by
reducing the expenditures of the building over time. Typically older facilities do
not have as great construction quality or energy efficiency. This can lead to
expensive maintenance and up keep of a community throughout the life of a
project. New buildings will often have a lot of the elements incorporated into the
design of the project that the user will never really see, but will end up over time
significantly reducing their operating costs.
HSR: What about amenities? What are the trends?
DK: Amenities are becoming extremely important. Typically most communities
offer amenities such as computer centers and exercise areas. Today flexible
spaces are being used for a multitude of programs and activities, from Wii
competitions to yoga and Pilates classes. We also see educational activities
such as gardening and cooking demonstrations becoming increasingly more
popular. Also, onsite services such as beautician salons and wood shops are
beginning to pop up.
KTGY has won awards for its residential and senior housing communities
including the Gold Nugget, Builder's Choice, Best in American Living, Pillars of
Industry, MAME, SAM, Multifamily Executive, Multi-Housing News, Elan, Homer,
Laurel and SAGE awards.
Info: "The Next Generations in Affordable Senior Apartments: Seasons II" will
be held Thursday, September 16, 2010, in Newport Beach, CA. Visit KTGY on
the Web at: www.ktgy.com.
Posted online 09/03/2010 07:44 AM
13. 13
Active Adult/Baby Boomers
(HOUSING MARKET) Sarasota Developer Transforms
Stalled Condo Project Into Rentals
Plans for the Villa Grande of Sarasota began four years ago as an affordable
housing alternative for seniors amidst a backdrop of high-dollar 65+ communities
in Southwest FL. But when the region's housing market imploded, Villa Grande's
developers, the Orlando, FL-based LeCesse Development Corp., scrapped the
idea of $300,000 condominiums and revamped the project as rental apartments.
Now under construction, Villa Grande will provide 108 units of living space for
seniors age 62 and up. The $25 million project's amenities will include a spa and
beauty salon, fitness center, and an 8,000-square-foot clubhouse with media
and craft space.
The latest addition in a LeCesse senior housing portfolio spanning nearly three
decades, Villa Grande aims to provide residents with continuing care retirement
community-(CCRC) style living without an entrance fee.
"Everything was designed with the 62+ plus in mind," Evelyn Holland, regional
manager for LeCesse management affiliate, the Altamonte Springs, FL-based
Cambridge Management Services, tells HSR. "We have universal design
features in our apartment homes' kitchens, under the counter cabinet lighting
and over the shower lighting."
Villa Grande's design and construction will also feature sustainable and energy
efficient elements such as Energy Star-rated appliances, low-VOC paint, attic
insulation of R-30, and water-conserving showerheads and faucets.
Apartments at Villa Grande will range from 900-to 1,600-square-feet. Rents will
start at $2195 a month, increasing to $2,695. The rent will include expanded
basic cable, water, sewer, and trash, as well as garage parking space, and a
continental breakfast every morning.
Construction on Villa Grande is expected to be completed by next summer.
Info: Visit LeCesse on the Web at: www.lecesse.com
Posted online 09/02/2010 4:54 PM
(RENTALS) Cleveland-Based Group Developing Senior
Housing In San Antonio
Construction is underway in San Antonio, TX on The Mirabella Apartments, a
new senior multifamily community developed by the Cleveland, OH-based NRP
Group LLC. The $20 million development will target seniors age 55 and older
who make 60% or less than the area's median income.
The Mirabella will include 112 one-bedroom units and 60 two-bedroom units on
a four-building campus. The buildings will feature elevators and offer gated and
14. 14
controlled access. The complex lists amenities such as ADA-accessible roll-in
swimming pools, a state of the art health facility, business center, and
community rooms.
Sustainable and energy-efficient building practices figure heavily into each of its
senior developments, but The Mirabella is a landmark property for NRP in that it
features a solar hot water system that will preheat water in the complex.
"First and foremost, it is our first solar senior development, which is a big deal
for NRP," Debra Guerrero, NRP vice president of developmental affairs, tells
HSR. "Seniors, in general have the lowest income, so reducing their utilities is
very helpful to their quality of life. We are especially excited about installing the
solar panels so we can reduce utility expenses for our senior population."
Construction is expected to be completed on The Mirabella by December.
Info: The NRP Group was named the NAHB's 2009 Multifamily Development
Firm of the Year. Visit NRP on the Web at: www.nrpgroup.com.
Posted online 09/02/2010 4:56 PM
CCRCs
(DEVELOPMENTS) NH Seacoast Region Tapped For
CCRC/Multi-Generational Community
A continuing care retirement community (CCRC) and mixed-use development to
include a charter school, family health and wellness center, and retail space is
planned for the former site of Great Bay Community College in Stratham, NH.
The green lighted Webster at Great Bay marks the beginning of a new chapter
for Stratham-based Webster Continuing Care (WCC), who recently ended an
unsuccessful two-year attempt to bring a CCRC to neighboring town, Rye.
Webster at Great Bay will feature approximately 160 independent living units
and 60 health care units on an intergenerational campus to be named "Great
Bay Commons." Entities already on board for the development include, the K-8
Seacoast Charter School, Exeter Health Resources, the Kennet Square, PA-
headquartered senior services provider Kendal, and Dartmouth Hitchcock
Health, based in Lebanon, NH.
"Great Bay will be family-oriented, for all ages," Chairman of WCC's Board of
Directors Janet Brown tells HSR. "The office space will go from pediatrics to
geriatrics, and everything in between. It's setting up a truly intergenerational
environment."
Webster at Great Bay's first phase began with testing the area's need for a
CCRC via extensive market studies, the latest of which was conducted by the
Philadelphia-based firm Brecht Associates. "They felt very strongly that what
would make the project sell is the mixed-use piece of it," says Brown.
Preliminary site work was done to determine if the proposed development's site
15. 15
was appropriate, and from there planners began to piece together the plan that
WCC envisions will be a landmark development for NH's tourism-heavy coastal
region.
The Webster plan is now in its final phase, one focused on securing finances
and fine-tuning details. WCC says it may subdivide the lad to a for-profit entity,
but is also considering the possibility of setting up a new nonprofit that would
own the entire site.
"The whole goal on doing the continuing care retirement community was
discovering what people want and how can we continue and expand upon
Webster's mission in the Seacoast area," notes Brown. "With this ground-
breaking project we can set up a very synergistic environment allowing for the
vibrancy, involvement and sense of community we were aspiring to provide."
WCC expects the charter school at Great Bay to open by September 2011.
Webster at Great Bay will be a Kendal affiliate once operational. The CCRC will
be up and running by 2015, after an anticipated 18 to 20 month construction,
says Brown.
Info: NH's Seacoast region is America's smallest seacoast. For more
information about Kendal communities, visit: www.kendal.org.
Posted online 09/02/2010 4:52 PM
News in the States
(DEVELOPMENT) Missouri Senior Living Provider Set
For $200 Million Expansion
A $50 million upgrade is in the works for Lutheran Senior Services' (LSS) St.
Louis, MO senior living campus, Laclede Groves. Slated to break ground early
next year, the Laclede Grove upgrade is part of a $200 million plan for
expansions throughout the St.Louis-headquartered LSS' communities in MO and
IL.
Laclede Groves' expansion will result in a new four-story, 200,000-square-foot
independent-living facility. The new building will add 80 independent living
apartments to the campus's existing senior living apartments and patio homes.
LSS plans to add two 20,000-square-foot wings to the campus's Convalescent
Home, increasing its number of private rooms by roughly 30%.
The Laclede Groves project also aims to create a campus-wide "towncenter,"
40,000-square-feet of space to include dining venues, a wellness and fitness
center, an arts studio, and education centers. LSS is also nearing completion on
a $6 million expansion on its Glen Carbon, IL retirement community, Meridian
Village. A 16-bed rehab unit is also slated for Meridian Village.
Affordable Housing
While LSS is in the midst of growth at its retirement communities, the
16. 16
organization is also expanding its affordable senior housing portfolio. An October
groundbreaking is set for the Village at Mackenzie Place, a low-to moderate-
income project to provide housing for more than 100 residents. The $14 million
development will make use of a renovated school building, which opened the
door for LSS to take advantage of historic tax credits, along with low-income tax
credits and a grant from the U.S Department of Housing and Urban
Development.
"The Village will be strictly independent living," LSS Vice President of
Construction and Information Technology Mark Schoedel tells HSR. The
project's use of an old high school not only helped secure funding, but it also led
to a unique plan for community space, says LSS.
"This project has a nice multi-purpose room in the old gymnasium that will allow
us to bring in some services," notes Schoedel. LSS will partner with the Mid-East
Area Agency on Aging to coordinate on-site services and programs for residents
of the Village.
Wise Growth a Priority
LSS has invested around $40 million in capital projects a year for the last
decade, totaling nearly $400 million in projects. The organization was recently
ranked as the nation's 10th-largest nonprofit multi-site senior-living organization
by the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, drawing
some attention to LSS's steady growth in an otherwise turbulent senior living
market.
A $200 million drawing board is a manifestation of shrewd decision-making, says
LSS. The organization finances its capital projects almost exclusively through
tax-exempt bonds, a market that has grown increasingly choosy in the wake of
economic uncertainty. "The economy has been affecting us just like anyone
else," says Schoedel. "We have been fortunate in that we have always been
very good stewards of our money, and we have never taken risks with that."
Info: For more LSS news, visit: www.lssliving.org.
Posted online 09/02/2010 4:49 PM
(INVESTMENTS) Michigan Company Picks Up Five
Sunwest Communities For Bloomfield
Kandu Capital, LLC of Birmingham, MI, has acquired two more communities out
of the Oregon-based Sunwest Management's bankruptcy.
Autumn Glen Assisted Living Community and Autumn Park Assisted Living
Community, both located in Indianapolis, IN, bring Kandu and parent company
Bloomfield Senior Living's total Sunwest acquisition to five properties.
Kandu spent over a year and a half negotiating its five acquisitions from the
Sunwest bankruptcy.
"The whole Sunwest story is fascinating. To be able to acquire assets out of that
17. 17
took a lot of patience," Kandu Director of Acquisitions Bradley Dubin tells HSR.
The five facilities that Kandu bought from the Sunwest bankruptcy include the
56-unit Autumn Glen and 55-unit Autumn Park, the 81-unit Riverside at Belfair
Retirement Community in Bluffton, SC, as well as its adjacent 23-unit memory
care wing, and the 91-unit Northwesterly Assisted Living Community in
Lakewood, OH.
The big picture of Kandu's Sunwest clean-up works out to 306 collective units for
$10.75 million, equaling $35,000 per unit. The Sunwest acquisitions follow
Kandu's strategic approach of selectively acquiring and managing well-located
senior housing communities.
"Our patience and expertise allowed our family to take advantage of an
opportunity to acquire exceptional assets at a reasonable valuation that would
permit us to create long term value while providing best in class care and service
to our residents," notes Dubin.
"We intend to build upon the momentum gained through these acquisitions by
acquiring additional senior living communities in the Midwest and Southeastern
United States."
Info: Visit Kandu on the Web at: www.kanducapital.com. For more information
on Bloomfield Senior Living communities, visit: www.bloomfieldseniorliving.com.
Posted online 08/27/2010 09:45 AM
Advertisement Critiques
Highland Farms Ad
Critique by Ron Smith,
JournalistPR LLC
HEADLINE: "OUR GARDENS
ARE FAMOUS..."Good ad, good
copy, good layout. A definite
benefit in the headline.
Might even be more powerful if
rewritten: "In our gardens, you can
make lasting friendships."
Now there's a definite benefit! As
for the money-saving options --
pointless to hint at them and
expect people to ask.
Might be wise to shorten the other copy, make a subhead of "MONEY-SAVING
OPTIONS," and then a line or two describing them.
Posted online 08/27/2010 08:52 AM
18. 18
Villas at San Bernardino Ad
Critique by Ron Smith,
JournalistPR LLC
HEADLINE: SUMMER SPECIAL!
(VILLAS, SAN BERNARDINO)
Great photo! However, there's
considerable evidence that you need to
headline a benefit -- you need to tell
what's in it for me, the reader.
Instead, this one headlines the name of
the facility, and only then drops to a
definite benefit -- the offer to choose two
out of four. I'd move the facility name to the bottom along with the address, and
I'd make a bigger thing of the headline. Also, I might simplify the offer because
people are reading quickly. Maybe make it "Choose any one!"
Posted online 08/27/2010 08:42 AM
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