Defining Active Adult Communities – Notes from the Interface Conference

Posted on | by Bob Ritter

Last month we wrote about how The Senior Housing Evolution Continues, specifically discussing the Active Adult concept. Last week, The Douglas Company attended an Active Adult conference hosted by Interface, where we heard from pioneers and visionary leaders in this new product. Three major conceptual questions stood out through all the sessions:

How to Define Active Adult?

While there is huge excitement about the space, there isn't a clear-cut, one-size-fits-all definition of what an "Active Adult" community really is, or for that matter, if the term "Active Adult" is going to stick. While time will probably resolve these issues, there is consensus on the place in the market - Seniors in their early 70s want to take advantage of the equity in their homes and sell them to downsize in an effort to reduce maintenance and find a new social circle. This is want-based, not need-based like other senior housing...

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The Grand Opening of the New Eastern Woods Senior Apartment Community

Posted on | by Bob Ritter

The Douglas Company, along with Pennrose, LLC of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Blanchard Valley Health System, celebrated the grand opening during a ribbon-cutting ceremony of the new Eastern Woods Senior apartment community in Findlay, Ohio.

Designed by architectural firm Moody Nolan, Inc., a Columbus, Ohio-based company, the development offers affordable housing to the growing senior population in and around the Findlay, Ohio area.  Eastern Woods Senior consists of 50 senior apartment units in one three-story building, with a total square footage of 49,677. Amenities include elevator service, resident storage, fitness center, on-site management office suite, community gathering space, outdoor patio, and ample on-site parking, all within the peaceful, walkable, amenity-rich Eastern Woods mixed-use campus. The building was designed to meet “Aging in Place” design requirements and achieves LEED Silver standards to ensure energy efficiency.

"The Douglas Company is proud to see this project come to fruition and to...

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The Senior Housing Evolution Continues

Posted on | by Bob Ritter

The resilience of active adult communities during the pandemic and resulting recession has resulted in many developers, operators, lenders, and equity investors taking another look at the product and determining how it fits their strategy for future growth.

Many skeptics have become supporters after seeing the performance turned in by active adult communities through 2020.  Active adult rental properties were already among the senior housing product types with the strongest performance prior to Covid-19.  But the segment outperformed all other types of senior housing during the pandemic according to data from Senior Housing News.  Active adult communities are outpacing Independent Living and attracting a younger and healthier demographic.

At a recent Active Adult Virtual Summit hosted by The National Investment Center for Seniors Housing (NIC), they shared the belief that active adult is taking over the role that Independent Living played in the continuum of care 20 years ago.  While dining...

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Construction is underway on the new John Arthur Flats affordable living community in Cincinnati, Ohio

Posted on | by Bob Ritter

The Douglas Company, an award-winning Toledo, Ohio-based general contractor, is proud to announce construction is underway on the new John Arthur Flats affordable living community located in Cincinnati, Ohio is a collaboration between neighborhood community development corporation Northsiders Engaged in Sustainable Transformation (NEST) and national developer Pennrose Properties, LLC.

The 50,195 square foot John Arthur Flats will be Cincinnati's first Affordable Housing Community for LGBTQ seniors. Designed by New Republic Architecture, the three-story development will consist of 57 one and two-bedroom apartments. Amenities include a fitness center, outdoor terrace, community space, as well as parking. Construction is scheduled to be complete in spring 2022.

"The Douglas Company is thrilled to be part of the project team working with Pennrose; they have a great reputation, and their affordable housing properties are among the best available. John Arthur Flats will provide crucial housing and supportive services to the many LGBTQ...

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The Douglas Company celebrates with TLC Management, Inc. the completion of Blue Heron Health and Rehabilitation Community

Posted on | by Bob Ritter

The Douglas Company, an award-winning general contractor, celebrates with TLC Management, Inc. the completion of their new $34.0 million Blue Heron Health and Rehabilitation Community in Wesley Chapel, Florida.

Blue Heron Health and Rehabilitation Community features 201 residences, including 106 skilled nursing, 22 memory care, and 73 assisted living suites. Eloquently designed by Cuhaci & Peterson, the community encompasses approximately 158,971 square feet of living and communal space.  Upscale amenities include a salon, theater, game room, wellness gym, activity center, resident art gallery, library, putting green, and indoor and outdoor bistros– all conveniently located on-site.

“It was a privilege to be involved with TLC Management to build this beautiful new community that will have a significant impact on the Wesley Chapel and offers a place for seniors to call home,” said Kevin Green, Senior Project Manager at The Douglas Company. “We are particularly proud of the great work...

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Construction Costs and Operations Costs: What’s Really the Problem?

Posted on | by Bob Ritter

I am hearing different stories from clients in my discussions.  There is no doubt that occupancies in Senior Living are down.  There is no doubt that projects are requiring more equity, and equity demands a higher return.  There is no doubt that staffing is more difficult to find and more expensive.  There is also no doubt that construction prices have risen dramatically in the past six to eight months due to supply issues caused by a myriad of factors. 

A client said to Bob Ritter, our Director of Business Development, the other day that he couldn’t look at new construction projects because construction costs were too high.  I wonder if that is accurate.  My experience in owning Senior Living projects is that capital costs are a minor part of the total operating budget.  Operating costs are the vast majority.  So if construction costs go up 10%, as an example, it...

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Active Adult – Leading the Way Post-COVID

Posted on | by Bob Ritter
Active Adult – Leading the Way Post-COVID

A somewhat new segment of rental active adult housing is showing signs of leading the way for senior living development post COVID.  Our estimating department is currently budgeting and pricing several active adult projects for multiple clients.  The product targets baby boomers in early retirement, looking to downsize, but who are years away from needing independent living or assisted living services.

Many seniors no longer want the maintenance and overhead of a large house, like the idea of increased socialization, but don’t require assistance with activities of daily living.  Active adult communities tend to command a premium over standard multi-family products, and because the residents are primarily retired, their incomes are somewhat insulated to swings in the job market and economy.  Another plus for developers, residents of active adult communities typically stay for five years or longer.

While the pandemic has impacted occupancy in all senior living sectors, several owners and operators...

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The Douglas Company is serving as the general contractor for the new $11.7 million Maumee Pointe assisted living and memory care

Posted on | by Bob Ritter

The Douglas Company is serving as the general contractor for a new $11.7 million assisted living and memory care project that recently began construction. Maumee Pointe assisted living and memory care will be located at 1050 Medical Center Pkwy, Maumee, Ohio. 

Designed by Davison Smith Certo Architects, Inc., Maumee Pointe will be a 69,310 square-foot assisted living and memory care community developed by Sage Real Estate Development of Rochester, New York. The new senior living community will consist of a single-story building including 22 memory care units for individuals with dementia-related conditions and a two-story assisted living building offering 58 one-bedroom suites for those needing assisted living services.

Amenities at Maumee Pointe will include an arts and crafts area, spa, chapel, bistro and dining area, wellness center, sunroom, and lounges. The exterior layout consists of two courtyards, a fire pit, and a greenhouse. Davison Smith Certo Architects, Inc....

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Getting the Right Team in Place

Posted on | by Bob Ritter

Due to the ongoing impacts of COVID-19, some new projects struggle to secure the necessary capital stack to move forward.  This has been more of an issue in the senior living segment than the multi-family segment; the multi-family space has remained resilient during this challenging year in regards to financial backing for new construction.  In speaking with our friends in the debt and equity circles, the money to fund new ground-up senior living projects is getting much more selective, but I am still being told “the good deals/projects find a way to get done,” that is positive to hear.

In this environment, now more than ever, developers need to have the best teams possible in place to support a successful project.  This of course, includes their general contractor, architect, and operator.  Debt and equity sources need to feel confident that the project has the best possible chance of success. The whole...

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The Douglas Company announces construction is underway on the new Eastern Woods Senior affordable housing apartment community in Findlay, Ohio

Posted on | by Bob Ritter

The Douglas Company, an award-winning Toledo, Ohio based general contractor, announces that construction is underway on the new Eastern Woods Senior apartment community,  designed to offer affordable housing to the growing senior population in and around the Findlay, Ohio area. Pennrose Properties, LLC of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is partnering with Blanchard Valley Health System on the new development, scheduled to open in late summer 2021.

Designed by architectural firm Moody Nolan, Inc., a Columbus, Ohio based company, the development will consist of 50 senior apartment units in one three-story building, with a total square footage of 49,677. Amenities include elevator service, resident storage, fitness center, on-site management office suite, community gathering space, outdoor patio, and ample on-site parking all within the peaceful, walkable, amenity-rich Eastern Woods mixed-use campus.

"We are very excited to get started on this project, these apartments will be a much-needed community resource that will help meet...

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Fighting COVID-19 with Bi-Polar Ionization

Posted on | by Bob Ritter

As we continue to learn, adapt, and move forward during a global pandemic, we understand that poorly ventilated buildings are a significant risk factor in the transmission of COVID-19.  Operators and developers who are planning new senior living communities will want to consider air cleaning technology as an option for creating and maintaining cleaner indoor environments that reduce the spread of disease.

Bipolar ionization systems have been tested and found to reduce the levels of various types of airborne contaminants with a MERV equivalent of 13 without the pressure increase of MERV 13 mechanical filters.  During the cleaning process, ions attach to airborne particles like dust, dander, and pollen, subsequently increasing their mass and size. This allows the air filtration system to easily capture the larger particles, increasing the capture efficiency of the HVAC system.

In addition to health benefits, this technology can save building owners 30% on conditioning costs because it...

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What’s the New Standard in Senior Living Communities?

Posted on | by Bob Ritter

It’s hard to believe that it was in May that I blogged about being ready to “turn the corner” on everything that was impacting the country.  I guess I was a little impatient.  In the meantime, it is as we predicted that there would be some creative times ahead in the design and construction of senior living communities. 

We have spoken with a lot of our colleagues in the senior living operations and design community in the last couple of months to learn about what they want to implement into their future projects to increase health and safety when a contagious health crisis such as Covid-19 hits.  At the top of the list is upgraded HVAC systems to better filter airborne pathogens as well as increase fresh air circulation.  A close second is UV technology to kill microbial particles (both incorporated into HVAC systems as well as other equipment options for...

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The Douglas Company is pleased to announce the completion of the Legacy Ridge Memory Care Community

Posted on | by Bob Ritter
Legacy Ridge Memory Care

The Douglas Company, an award-winning Toledo, Ohio based general contractor specializing in multi-family, senior living, and mixed-use construction projects, is pleased to announce the completion of Legacy Ridge, a new 41,189 square foot, single-story memory care community in Gainesville, Virginia.

The Douglas Company was pleased to work alongside the developer, Dillin LLC, and architect, M&A Architects, on another exceptional senior living project. This $11.6 million community features a blend of Hardi lap siding and beautiful brick veneer and includes stylish design elements such as architectural louvers, chimney pots, and large viewing windows. The 64 units offer built-in storage and walk-in showers with single or double occupancy options available.

Legacy Ridge combines contemporary elegance with a warm, inviting environment that is sure to create the feeling of home. Mealtimes are celebrated in the full-service kitchen and multiple dining rooms, featuring relaxing fireplaces, and restaurant-style dining options. The Fitness center, salon,...

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Designing Senior Living Communities for COVID-19

Posted on | by Bob Ritter

Recently I had the privilege of participating in a design charrette for a new IL/AL/MC facility.  Obviously the current pandemic is on everyone’s mind.  No one knows when it will end, if the virus will morph and/or come back, or if we will someday need to deal with another similar crisis.  So the decision was made by the client that the facility needed to be designed not only to protect the residents and staff but also in such a progressive manner that the operator could use this as a strategic advantage in the marketplace.  Their concept is that they want to be known as a place safer than home-where professionals know how to keep you safe. In my experience, these discussions are just starting, so there is much to learn and will continue to be, but some of the ideas that came out were as follows:

  • Electrostatic sanitation systems.
  • Safe visitation areas.
  • A...

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Post Covid-19 Senior Living Communities

Posted on | by Bob Ritter

The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted nearly everyone and somehow touched every aspect of the world in which we live.  It will change many aspects of the senior housing industry, including not only the prospects for new development but the design and functionality of new senior living communities.  While the ramifications both short and long term are still unclear, the pandemic will not change the vast wave of baby boomers who will provide steady demand growth for senior housing for several years beginning in 2022.

Most experts within the senior living industry continue to express optimism about the long term prospects for senior housing, and particularly the assisted living, memory care, independent living and active adult segments, all of which have experienced significantly fewer cases of Covid-19 than have been realized in skilled nursing communities.

As we begin to look to the future, it seems inevitable that Covid-19 will have a lasting impact...

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The Douglas Company announces that construction has begun on The Grove at Trelago

Posted on | by Bob Ritter

The Douglas Company, an award-winning Orlando, Florida based general contractor, announces that construction has begun on Vestcor Communities' newest $21 million assisted living and memory care senior housing community. The Grove at Trelago will be located along Maitland Boulevard east of I-4, with the elegant backdrop of Lake Charity.

This luxurious 113,989 square-foot assisted living and memory care community designed by PQH Group Design Inc. will be comprised of 96 assisted living units, 20 memory care studios. The Grove at Trelago will boast spacious, well-appointed studio, one and two-bedroom assisted living apartments as well as private memory care residences. The expansive resort-style community will include a fitness and wellness center, movie theatre, multiple dining options, a beauty salon, a grand atrium staircase, and areas for social and educational programming. Outdoor amenities include a resort-style pool, plantation-style porches, luxuriously landscaped courtyards, a putting green, outdoor fireplace, numerous water...

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Turning the Corner

Posted on | by Bob Ritter
Turning the Corner in design for senior living

Who is ready to turn the corner on everything that has been in front of us in the last couple of months?  I know I am.  While The Douglas Company has been fortunate and grateful to continue operations as an essential business during this pandemic, it has, of course, prevented me from getting out and seeing clients, prospects, and my networking partners, unfortunately.  As I’m sure many can relate, Zoom is just not the same!

That being said, and while it could have spawned from better circumstances, there will be some interesting and exciting times ahead for the design and construction of multi-family spaces in particular senior living communities. 

We have been busy in our estimating and pre-construction departments assisting clients with conceptual budget estimates and value engineering as usual and look forward to seeing more and more creative ideas on how to address health crisis type issues that can...

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Active Adult Senior Communities

Posted on | by Bob Ritter

As I talk with both senior living and multi-family developers, there is a big focus and many questions relating to “active adult” or “age-restricted’ apartments.  It makes sense for many reasons, but the average age of entry stands out the most.  Today the average age at which a person moves into traditional senior housing is 85, with an average length of stay just over six years.

The move-in age for active adult communities is in the low to mid-70's.  The oldest members of the baby boomer generation, those born in 1946, are just now turning 74.  This creates a true opportunity to capture a younger senior demographic ten years earlier than traditional senior living facilities.

Boomers considering active adult communities prefer renting over owning to provide them with economic and logistical flexibility.  They are attracted by a sense of community and are healthy enough to not need traditional care-based senior housing.  At...

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All American Assisted Living at Enfield

Posted on | by Bob Ritter

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