FLAGSTAFF, ARIZ. — Fort Worth-based operator Civitas Senior Living is nearing completion of The Bluffs of Flagstaff, with a tentative opening date of April 2022. The Bluffs of Flagstaff is a 210,572-square-foot, three-story assisted living and four-story independent living campus. The property features 123 independent living, 64 assisted living and 25 memory care residences. Janet Mars will be executive director of the community. The architect is Kaas Wilson, contractor is Greenberg Construction and the designer is Senior By Design.
Seniors Housing
COVID-19 has changed many investors’ approaches to the seniors housing sector. The pandemic caused a major shift in who’s buying and who’s selling. Some of the biggest buyers in 2019 were the biggest sellers in 2021. For example, institutional investors went from buying more than $2 billion in 2019 to selling more than $3 billion through the first three quarters of 2021. That’s according to Real Capital Analytics, a New York City-based data firm. The numbers are based on publicly announced deals over $2.5 million. “There still is an element of fear and uncertainty,” says Jim Costello, senior vice president with Real Capital Analytics. “We saw early in the pandemic that some of the management issues resulted in more fatalities. It’s not the problem now that it was then, but that comes with higher costs. More spending has to be done to mitigate the risks involved. That changes the investment opportunities.” These changes have led to a growing bid-ask spread in the marketplace. Buyers aren’t willing to spend as much, knowing that expenses are higher now, but sellers aren’t necessarily willing to reduce prices, says Costello. At least in 2020, this resulted in a massive dip in overall deal volume, …
LOS ANGELES —Grandbridge Real Estate Capital has provided a $30.4 million first mortgage loan secured by Sunset at Normandie Towers, a 148-unit Section 8 senior living facility in Los Angeles. Artin Anvar originated the refinancing transaction through HUD’s 223(f) loan insurance program. The loan features a 35-year term and 35-year amortization. “The owners of Sunset Normandie were able to lock a very low fixed rate for 35 years allowing for the preservation of the much-needed affordable housing in Los Angeles,” says Anvar. “As a repeat HUD borrower they were able to capitalize on the low rate environment while also taking equity out of the property.”
YAPHANK, N.Y. — Chelsea Senior Living has completed an assisted living and memory care expansion project at The Chelsea at Brookhaven, located in the Long Island hamlet of Yaphank. The number of units was not disclosed. While the community’s independent living portion has been open for the past two years, the assisted living and memory care building next door recently received licensing approval from the state.
LUBBOCK, TEXAS — Seniors housing developer LifeCare Properties and New Orleans-based investment group ERG Enterprises have unveiled plans for The Blake at Lubbock, a seniors housing community in West Texas. The number of units was not disclosed. The property will offer assisted living and memory care units. Blake Management Group will operate the property upon completion, which is slated for 2023.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — KeyBank Real Estate Capital has provided a total of $48 million in financing for Eastway Park Apartments, a 132-unit affordable seniors housing development in Charlotte. The financing includes a $14.3 million construction loan, $8.4 million equity bridge loan and $13.3 million Fannie Mae mortgage-backed security (MBS) as Tax-Exempt Bond Collateral (MTEB). In addition, KeyBank subsidiary Key Community Development Corp. (KCDC) is investing $12 million of 4 percent Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) equity to support the development. The nonprofit borrower and developer, Harmony Housing, did not disclose a construction timeline for the project. Eastway Park will include age-restricted units for those 55 years of age and older. The property will serve households earning a range from 30 percent to 80 percent of area median income (AMI) and will be subject to an agreement ensuring ongoing affordability for at least 30 years. Out of the 132 units, 40 of the one-bedroom units will have project-based rental assistance and veterans’ preference by way of Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) Vouchers from Inlivian, formerly known as Charlotte Housing Authority. The development will provide supportive services to tenants including a shuttle service. The development team has also contacted organizations such as …
Berkadia Arranges $92.8M in Financing for Affordable Senior Living Portfolio in Arizona
by Amy Works
TUCSON, MESA AND PHOENIX, ARIZ. — Berkadia has secured a cross-collateralized pool financing on behalf of Arizona-based Christian Care Cos.’ Fellowship Square affordable senior living portfolio in Arizona. The 10-year, $92.8 million loan pool features a 65 percent loan-to-value ratio and three years of interest-only payments. Steve Ervin, Richard Price, Chris Cain and Rafael Nobo of Berkadia collaborated to secure the Freddie Mac permanent refinancing for the borrower. Nearly $89 million in high-interest-rate, first lien, tax-exempt bonds were redeemed with proceeds from the financing. The portfolio includes: Fellowship Square Tucson, located at 8111 E. Broadway Blvd. in Tucson, features 612 independent living and assisted living units in a mix of studio, one- and two-bedroom floor plans with a private balcony or patio. Community amenities include central dining, transportation services, recreational venues, swimming pools, a fitness center and laundry facilities. Twenty percent of the units must be rented to residents with incomes at or below 50 percent of the area median income (AMI) and 46 of the units are targeted to households at or below 80 percent AMI. The remainder of the units are rent restricted to 30 percent to 80 percent of AMI. Fellowship Square Historic Mesa, located at 35 …
SIMI VALLEY, CALIF. — Griffin Living has opened the doors on Varenita of Simi Valley, an assisted living and memory care community in Simi Valley, approximately 40 miles northwest of Los Angeles. The 97,000-square-foot building, located in the Griffin Plaza shopping center at the corner of Tapo Canyon Road and Cochran Street, includes 75 assisted living units and 27 memory care units. The location of Varenita of Simi Valley represents a pioneering design in senior living development, since residents are within walking distance of amenities like Aldi supermarket, CVS pharmacy and a variety of retail shops, services and restaurants. Griffin believes placing residents at the heart of a vibrant community center allows them to maintain independence as they age. “Our residents may not be able to go into the world as easily as they once did, so at Varenita, we bring the world to them,” says Paul Griffin, CEO of Griffin Living. “Traditional senior living is modeled on the idea that older residents want peace and quiet,” continues Griffin. “It can have an unintended effect of isolating them.”
DUBLIN AND NOVATO, Calif. — Southern California private equity firm IRA Capital has acquired two newly constructed assisted living and memory care facilities totaling 160 units in the Northern California cities of Dublin and Novato for $106.5 million. An active player in the medical office, life sciences and ambulatory surgery space, IRA Capital is growing and diversifying its healthcare real estate portfolio by expanding into seniors housing in high-barrier-to-entry markets on the West Coast. Elegance Senior Living operates the two Class A communities. Elegance at Dublin is an 80-unit community located within walking distance from a variety of shopping centers and restaurants, several hospitals and directly across the street from the Dublin Senior Center. Elegance Hamilton Hill in Novato is an 80-unit community situated in the heart of Hamilton Field’s 414-acre master planned community near shopping centers, restaurants and medical facilities. “The launch of our new seniors housing vertical is consistent with IRA’s goal of pursuing best-in-class assets that drive long-term growth for our investors, while providing quality services for the community,” says IRA Capital co-founder Jay Gangwal. IRA Capital has allocated approximately $1 billion to acquire over 2,000 seniors housing units over the next couple years. As part of …
NAMPA, IDAHO — Blueprint Healthcare Real Estate Advisors has arranged the sale of a seniors housing community in the Boise suburb of Nampa. The single-story community features 107 independent living units, 18 assisted living units and 42 licensed skilled nursing beds. The REIT owner and operator collectively decided to divest the property, as it was the operator’s only Idaho location. Cascades Healthcare acquired the asset for an undisclosed price.