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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 17th Annual Competition Recognizes People, Projects and Programs that Enhance the Quality of Life for Southern California Residents Aged 55+ IRVINE, Calif. — September 26, 2011 — The 55+ Housing Council, a special interest council of the Building Industry Association of Southern California, today announced its winners for the annual SAGE Awards. The SAGE awards recognize individuals, projects and programs that have made outstanding contributions to enhance the quality of life of Southern California residents aged 55+. Celebrating its 17th year, this housing industry-recognized awards program has four categories of submissions: Person of the Year, Program of the Year, Project of the Year, and an “On the Boards” category. The Council received numerous outstanding entries this year. The winners are: Person of the Year, Graham Espley-Jones, President of Western Community Housing, Inc. (Costa Mesa, CA). Graham Espley-Jones will be honored in recognition of his commitment, compassion and professional contributions to 55+ housing in Southern California, dating back more than 20 years. Widely acknowledged for his financial expertise and acumen crossing two distinct market sectors -- affordable senior apartments and assisted living (“service enhanced”) -- Graham’s broad connections throughout the senior housing industry have resulted in an impressive record of public-private partnering and mentoring in the course of developing over 10,000 housing units for seniors. Under his direction over the past nine years, Mr. Espley-Jones has overseen Western’s growth of its affordable housing portfolio from ownership interests in five affordable apartment communities to more than 80 communities. Western has an ownership interest in 29 senior apartment communities, which total 2,758 units with approximately 3,300 residents. Western’s development partners include Highridge Costa Housing Partners, LLC; Meta Housing Corporation; Wasatch Advantage Group; Urban Housing Communities, LLC; Steadfast Companies; Palm Communities and others equally respected for their experience and innovation in creating communities where Southern California seniors can live and thrive. Western’s communities have been awarded over $850 million dollars in tax credits and other funding designated for affordable housing. In 2010, Western was one of 23 organizations (of 230 applicants nationwide) awarded grants to help finance affordable housing under the new Capital Magnet Fund. Western will leverage their $5 million grant to preserve, rehab or purchase affordable housing communities. Western was also the recipient of a $10 million Neighborhood Stabilization Grant that it used to purchase and rehabilitate a foreclosed, partially completed 70-unit senior affordable community in August 2011. Mr. Espley-Jones began his career in senior and affordable housing at ARV Assisted Living, Inc. where he served for 10 years as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. During his tenure at ARV, the assisted living division developed and/or acquired over 60 assisted living communities comprising approximately 7,000 units and the affordable housing division developed and/or acquired 22 apartment communities containing approximately 2,000 apartment units. Mr. Espley-Jones also served as the Chief Financial Officer of Kaufman & Broad Multi-Housing Group, Inc. (now Highridge Costa Housing Partners, LLC), a leading investor and developer of senior and family affordable apartment communities, and as Chief Financial Officer of the Meyers Group, a real estate information and consulting company specializing in the housing industry. He serves on the Board of Directors for EngAGE (honored as the 2003 SAGE “Program of the Year”), whose mission is to provide life-enhancing programs to low and moderate income seniors living in affordable apartment communities. He is a member and supporter of The Kennedy Commission (affordable housing advocacy) as well as the BIA and 55+ Housing Council (Director, 2003-2004). The 55+ Housing Council has named the Laguna Woods Village Social Services Department as the 2011 Program of the Year. Implemented and managed by Professional Community Management (PCM), the Social Services department has been a cornerstone of the Laguna Woods Village 55+ community since 1972. (Built in 1964, the community comprises 12,736 dwellings with more than 18,000 residents.) The Social Services department serves as a safety net for residents, where residents in crisis can receive accurate information and referrals to numerous resources to deal with financial, health, and social issues with the goal of remaining in their homes. Four social workers employed full-time by PCM coordinate counseling, support groups, education, emotional and social support (including the “Friendly Visitors” program to match residents with homebound residents) — all at no cost. Judges were impressed by the breadth of services available as well as innovative means of “getting the word out,” which includes professional videos and social media. This year there are two winners for the SAGE Award for Project of the Year. This award recognizes one or more innovative residential developments targeted to the 55+ market that can serve as a model for other housing developments. They are SEASONS at Compton (LINC Housing — special needs affordable community); and Mirandela Senior Apartments in Rancho Palos Verdes (AMCAL — affordable rental community). Both communities overcame significant obstacles to open their doors, including major site challenges (removal of 14,000 cubic yards of “junk soil” and satisfying neighbors’ concerns about impacts on views and traffic in the case of Mirandela; split jurisdictions and the need to design the project to mitigate for freeway proximity and to meet the special needs of their residents in the case of SEASONS at Compton). The “On the Boards” SAGE award showcases 55+ residential communities still in the design stage. SAGE judges recognized 5555 Hollywood, a transit-oriented, mixed-use, affordable senior apartment project in Hollywood (Meta Housing Corporation) for its creative incorporation of outdoor space and amenities tying into its urban setting. Nominee submittal packages were reviewed and scored by a panel of five judges comprised of past SAGE winners, past presidents of the 55+ Housing Council and others selected for their expertise in the field of 55+ housing. The award program caps a year of membership, attendance and sponsorship gains unmatched by many building industry-related groups. The upsurge of activity in the “55+ housing” arena reflects the building industry’s growing awareness of the importance and vibrancy of this market segment as Baby Boomers advance in years. Award winners will be honored the evening of the SAGE Awards event, to be held on November 3, 2011 at The Turnip Rose, Grand Newport Plaza in Costa Mesa, CA. The event begins at 6:00 p.m. For more information about this event, visit www.55socal.com.
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