Finance REITs
Sunrise Acquires Lake County Site for Seniors Housing Project
May 21, 2008
By: Dees Stribling, Midwest Correspondent

Sunrise Senior Living has acquired a 7.7-acre parcel of land in Mundelein, Ill., for the future development of a senior housing project.

The land traded for about $4.5 million. Sunrise currently operates 441 senior living communities in various parts of the world, largely assisted living with dementia care but also independent living and continuing care retirement centers. As of the end of the first quarter of 2008, the company had 40 properties under construction--about $1 billion worth--with capacity for an additional 5,300 residents. According to Sunrise, it expects to begin construction on about another 3,200 to 3,400 units in North America and the United Kingdom during the remainder of 2008.

As yet, McLean, Va.-based Sunrise hasn't unveiled specific plans for the Lake County site, but it will likely be an assisted living property. "Assisted living with memory care have been the most successful communities in our portfolio," said Paul Klaassen, co-founder & CEO of Sunrise, during a conference call earlier this month. "It serves a need-driven segment of the market, and produces high customer satisfaction."

He also said that Sunrise has identified over 350 zip codes in North America, primarily in the 30 largest metro markets, in which the company wants to build assisted living plus memory care properties. Each such property costs roughly $25 million to develop.

"Clearly, these are the most turbulent capital markets in years," Klaassen (pictured) added, but also noted an upside of current market conditions for companies such as Sunrise. "The positive aspect of a tight credit market is that it ensures that only well-capitalized and well-conceived projects by experienced providers will get funding, which in turn serves as a barrier to entry, and protects against overbuilding," he said.

Rosemont, Ill.-based Realty Partners/TCN Worldwide partners Phil Rosenberg and Ed Brandt, along with associate vice president Mike Nolan, represented Sunrise in the Mundelein deal, as well as the seller of the property, Ferris Homes.

 
Recent REITs Headlines
Parkway Pockets $25M in Sale of St. Petersburg Office
Parkway Properties Inc. has concluded the $26 million disposition of Wachovia Plaza, a 186,000-square-foot office asset in St. Petersburg, Fla., that the company has owned since 1998.
Ramco-Gershenson Adds Shopping Center to Florida JV
Ramco-Gershenson Properties Trust has sold the 330,000-square-foot Plaza at Delray shopping center in Delray Beach, Fla., to its $450 million joint venture with the state of Florida, which is advised by Heitman L.L.C.
Liberty Takes Class A Florida Office
Liberty Property Trust is expanding its portfolio in the Sawgrass International Corporate Park in Sunrise, Fla., with the acquisition of a 107,000-square-foot Class A office building. The REIT bought the building at 13621 NW 12th St. from Real Estate Capital Partners, but did not release the purchase price. The building is fully leased by UnitedHealthcare.
286,000-SF Sale-Leaseback Deal Incorporates Houston Food Distributor's Expansion
Two years after developing its 286,000-square-foot Houston headquarters and distribution center, Glazier Foods Co. Inc. has sold the Class A property in a triple-net sale-leaseback transaction with GSL Welcome Group L.L.C.
Boston Properties' $440M Office Purchase Wraps Up Macklowe Deal
Just a day after announcing the closing of two New York City office building acquisitions from Macklowe Properties totaling $705 million, Boston Properties has completed its purchase of yet another Macklowe trophy office building, 125 West 55th St. The acquisition of 125 West 55th St. was part of a $3.95 billion, four-property portfolio purchase agreement Boston Properties and partners made with debt-ridden Macklowe earlier this year.