Opus West, Red, Leisure Care Partner in Developing Luxury Senior Housing in Phoenix

By Anuradha Kher, Online News EditorPhoenix–La Siena, a 190-unit high-end independent senior living facility located in Phoenix, will open next week.“Phoenix has always had the retiree demographic but lately it has become a high-growth city for senior housing,” John Boyd, Opus West senior director of real estate development, tells MHN.Opus West Corp. and RED Group LLC, in partnership with Seattle-based Leisure Care LLC, developed the four-story community, located on 6.2 acres at the site of the former Bud Brown’s Barn at 909 E. Northern Ave., just east of 7th St. in north central Phoenix. It is open to people 65 years or older. “But the typical resident will be in his or her mid-70s to early-80s,” adds Boyd.Apartments within the property range in size from 769 sq. ft. to more than 1,250 sq. ft., with one and two bedrooms, and some with den options. Interior amenities include a full-sized, fully equipped kitchen with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and washer and dryer. Monthly rents per apartment range from $3,500 to $4500. The rent includes utilities, meals, transportation and security. Residents can also buy additional services such as massages at the spa.“Most of the people coming to live here have sold their homes, so apart from their pension, they also have equity from their homes in their savings,” explains Boyd about the affordability of the apartments.The project offers restaurant-style meals served daily in a refined dining room, a casual bistro, lounge and pub and Internet café, a full-service salon and spa, demonstration kitchen, theatre and chapel. Additional services include weekly housekeeping, 24-hour staff, concierge, activities coordinator and scheduled transportation.            “With more options and choices than ever before, the aging wave of baby boomers has turned the commonly held perception of inactive retirement on its head,” says Kelly East, general manager of La Siena. “Our project conveys that energy with a full spectrum of programs and a keen attention to detail.” “This area has a well-established and growing population of active seniors, but it suffers from a lack of high-quality, service-oriented senior housing and has little or no new projects of this type planned for the future,” says RED Group Partner Greg Hogan.