The Douglas Company Names Three Lead Estimators

Posted on | by Ann Krebs

Holland, Ohio, June 21, 2022 - The Douglas Company is pleased to announce that Andrew Barger, Rey Rodriguez, and Matthew Upton have all been promoted from project estimator to lead estimator. These well-deserved promotions come as the company’s preconstruction departments are working harder than ever to keep projects on track in preconstruction through a challenging market, and getting more creative and proactive in keeping project prices under control.

As lead estimators, these professionals will manage the entire preconstruction process from concept to contract including taking the lead on preconstruction calls, meetings, and presentations. Along with this huge jump in responsibility, they will continue to meet the needs of our clients and work with the assembled team to keep projects on time and within budget.

 “We are proud to promote Andrew, Rey and Matthew as lead estimators,” said Peter Douglas, president of The Douglas Company. “Our company is committed to providing quality preconstruction...

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The Douglas Company announces construction of Hearthstone Wildwood in Florida

Posted on | by Ann Krebs

Holland, OH, June 1, 2022 – The Douglas Company, an award-winning general contractor, is pleased to announce that construction has begun on the $18.2 million Hearthstone Wildwood senior living community in Oxford, Florida. Developed by Wildwood Senior Housing RE, LLC. and situated on the doorstep of the world-famous 55+ retirement community “The Villages”, Hearthstone will be comprised of 36 memory care units and 94 assisted living units for a total count of 130 units.

Forum Architecture & Interior Design Inc. designed the 83,000 square-foot complex with a two-story assisted living building and a one-story specialized memory care facility. Welcoming in-house amenities will include a salon, fitness center, library, theater/multipurpose room, bar/bistro, private dining, and multiple courtyards landscaped to enjoy the beautiful outdoors. Construction is expected to be completed in the spring of 2023.

“We are excited to be working with the owner, Wildwood Senior Housing, and their partner, Nvision Development, to bring...

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The Douglas Company begins ninth construction project with Kaplan Development

Posted on | by Ann Krebs

Holland, OH, May 5, 2022 – General Contractor, The Douglas Company, is proud to announce the beginning of construction on its ninth project with owner, Kaplan Development Group, LLC. The $15.9 million, All American at Tinton Falls is a 58,000 square-foot, 58 unit assisted living and memory care community in Tinton Falls, New Jersey.

Designed by EGA Architects, All American of Tinton Falls will offer quality senior living with a vast array of amenities including an interior courtyard, double-sided fireplace, salon, beauty parlor, bistro, and media room. Construction completion is scheduled for June 2023.

“The Douglas Company is honored to once again work with the professional team at Kaplan Development,” said Dylan Lewis, assistant project manager for The Douglas Company. “The All American communities are uniquely designed with senior independence in mind and we are proud to deliver this distinctive project to Tinton Falls.”

The Douglas Company

The Douglas Company is headquartered in Holland,...

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The Douglas Company Announces the Completion of Construction on Maumee Pointe!

Posted on | by Bob Ritter

Holland, OH, April 5, 2022 – The Douglas Company proudly announces the completion of Maumee Pointe, a new assisted living and memory care community developed by Sage Real Estate Development of Rochester, New York. The Douglas Company served as the general contractor for the $13.6 million community conveniently located at Side Cut Crossings in Maumee, Ohio.

Designed by Davison Smith Certo Architects, Inc., the new Maumee Pointe is a 69,310 square-foot assisted living and memory care community consisting 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. The new community boasts numerous upscale amenities, including an arts and crafts area, spa, chapel, bistro and dining area, wellness center, sunroom, and lounges, two exterior courtyards, a fire pit, and a greenhouse.

“As The Douglas Company continues to fulfill the demand for senior...

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The Douglas Company Completes Construction on The Grove at Trelago

Posted on | by Bob Ritter

The Douglas Company has announced the completion of construction on The Grove at Trelago, a new assisted living and memory care community located in Maitland, Florida, along Maitland Boulevard, east of I-4, with the elegant backdrop of Lake Charity. Developed by The Vestcor Companies, The Douglas Company served as the general contractor for the $21.7 million community.

 

Designed by PQH Group Design Inc., The Grove at Trelago is a 113,989 square-foot assisted living and memory care community comprised of 96 assisted living and 20 specialized memory care studios for residents with Alzheimer's, dementia, and...

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Finally, Some Encouraging Trends in Senior Living

Posted on | by Bob Ritter

Earlier this month several of us from The Douglas Company attended the annual NIC Fall Conference, held this year in Houston, Texas.  It was encouraging to see more than 2,500 senior living professionals in attendance (in person) and optimistic about the future of the Senior Living Industry post-COVID.

NIC has also released the 3rd Quarter 2021 NIC MAP Data, which shows that demand in the 3rd quarter rebounded with the strongest quarterly increase since NIC began reporting the data in 2005.  Overall seniors housing occupancy increased to 80.1%.  Still 7.3% below pre-pandemic occupancy, but finally trending in the right direction.  Additionally, one statistic we heard is that the age cohort for senior living will double every 5 years between 2020 and 2040.  That is a lot of new seniors who will need some type of senior housing!

One topic that seems to be on everyone’s mind is “Active Adult”. ...

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HarborChase of Shaker Heights has Broken Ground

Posted on | by Bob Ritter

The Douglas Company, an award-winning general contractor, is excited to announce that HarborChase of Shaker Heights has broken ground. The new 106,698 square-foot assisted living and memory care community is located within one of Cleveland's most affluent suburbs, just eight miles from downtown. It is the first project of its kind to break ground in this city within the past 20 years.

Co-developed and owned by Denver, Colorado-based Confluent Senior Living, co-developed and operated by Vero Beach, Florida-based Harbor Retirement Associates, and designed by RDL Architects; HarborChase of Shaker Heights will provide a mix of 108 assisted living and memory care apartments in the three-story community. This extravagant facility offers vaulted ceilings upon entering and has several in-house amenities, including a commercial laundry service, full-service commercial kitchen, exhibit kitchen complete with a pizza oven, virtual activity room, two salons, bistro, bar, a large wellness room, private...

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The Douglas Company celebrates the beginning of construction on the All American of Enfield

Posted on | by Bob Ritter

The Douglas Company, General Contractor, celebrates the beginning of construction on its eighth project with the owner, Kaplan Development Group, LLC. The $12.3 million, All American of Enfield is a 55,992 square-foot, 58 unit assisted living and memory care community in Enfield, Connecticut.

Designed by EGA Architects, All American of Enfield boasts several in-house amenities, including a salon, beauty parlor, bistro, media room, and an interior courtyard. The building is wood-framed and constructed on a slab on grade over a standard spread footer/stem wall.  The exterior is finished with CertainTeed Vinyl Siding, including lap boards and "cedar" shakes, with a mix of EPDM and asphalt shingle roofing. 

"The Douglas Company team is grateful for our continued collaboration with Kaplan Development. We are excited to bring All American of Enfield to life and deliver a best-in-class project for the Enfield region," stated Alan Kluczynski, Assistant Project Manager of The Douglas Company.

The...

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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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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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