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Posts Tagged ‘public relations’

BRANDYWINE HOMES SELLS 40 NEW HOMES, OPENS THREE COMMUNITIES, BREAKS GROUND ON 11 NEIGHBORHOODS IN 2015

February 5th, 2016

Brandywine

 

Developer Plans to Close 216 Homes, Acquire More Properties for Build-Out in 2016

IRVINE, Calif. – Brandywine Homes, a pioneer of infill development in Southern California, sold 40 homes, opened three new communities and broke ground on 11 additional communities in Southern California in 2015. The homebuilder, who recently ranked number 17 on the Orange County Business Journal’s Homebuilder List based on home sales in 2014, aims to close about 216 homes throughout Orange and Los Angeles counties in 2016.

“2015 was a transition year for us with 40 closings, but it was a banner year for acquisitions and our pipeline has grown significantly,” said Dave Barisic, vice president of sales and marketing at Brandywine Homes. “We are continuing to look for and acquire land for build-out in 2017 and beyond.”

In 2015, Brandywine opened Seabright, 26 townhomes in Costa Mesa; Covington, a 51-unit community in Yorba Linda; and Brighton, 60 single-family homes in unincorporated West Carson near Torrance. Brandywine also broke ground at Citrine, a 16 townhome community in Norwalk; Sunstone, 31 townhomes in Norwalk; Lakehouse, with 20 single-family homes in Anaheim; Lotus Court, 13 townhome community in Monrovia; Provence, 28 single-family homes in Yorba Linda; Griffin, a 17 townhome community in Arcadia; Newbury, 15 estate residences in Yorba Linda; and entitled Candlewood, a 53 townhome community in Whittier.

“Overall, 2015 was a solid year for new home sales in both Orange County and Los Angeles,” Barisic said. “And with 17 new sales in January of 2016 alone, we are excited for what this year has in store.”

About Brandywine Homes
Brandywine Homes is a residential homebuilder based in Irvine, Calif., that specializes in challenging infill development. Founded in 1994, the family-owned and operated company has built or developed almost 1,500 homes in 45 small- and mid-sized infill communities, revitalizing some of Southern California’s oldest and most established neighborhoods. Brandywine builds homes that respect and complement the heritage, values and architectural integrity of existing neighborhoods and the people who live there – making a positive contribution to the community. www.brandywine-homes.com. Social media: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Brandywine Blog.

2015: A BANNER YEAR FOR SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY HOMES

January 17th, 2016

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Homebuilder Sold 268 Homes During Second Year in Business,
Had 73 Closings in December

VISALIA, Calif. – Local homebuilder San Joaquin Valley Homes (SJV Homes) had a successful year in 2015 with 268 homes sold. SJV Homes constructed and closed 237 homes in 2015 —a 67 percent increase over the 142 homes it closed in 2014. The company also closed out one subdivision and added two more.

“Our second full year as a production homebuilder has been a very successful and satisfying year,” said Joe Leal, co-founder for Visalia-based San Joaquin Valley Homes. “And we continue to grow, we are adding a new neighborhood, Sedona, at the Palo Verde master plan in East Tulare and hope to have a grand opening in March. We will work around the El Nino spring rains to schedule that because we, like everyone else, desperately want rain for our region.”

SJV Homes closed out Catalina in December 2015, its first subdivision in Tulare County with 71 units.

“Catalina is a beautiful neighborhood that was well-received, and our thanks go out to our superintendent Chris Machado for a job well done,” Leal said.

In 2015, SJV Homes added two more subdivisions, Visalia at San Marino and Tuscany at Bakersfield. The homebuilder has five neighborhoods in Tulare County and two properties in Kings County, the nation’s second-fastest-growing urban county.

Founded in 2013 by Leal, Jim Robinson and Randy Merrill, who had overseen construction of more than 800 quality homes a year while working together for another builder, SJV Homes has grown from one home closing in its first year to 237 home closings in 2015. The company’s commitment to quality—based on the founders’ eternal question, “Would our own wives be happy with it?”— has earned it deep customer loyalty and trust.

The following is a breakdown of SJV Homes’ current projects:

Tulare County
Catalina, 71 units, Tulare, Calif. (sold out)
Chelsea Place, 155 units, Visalia, Calif.
San Marino, 95 units, Visalia, Calif.
Savannah, 130 units, Tulare, Calif.
Sedona@Palo Verde, 51 units, Tulare, Calif.

Kings County
Hartley Grove, 182 units, Hanford, Calif.
Pheasant Ridge, 73 units, Corcoran, Calif.

Kern County
Tuscany, 116 units, Bakersfield, Calif.

About SJV Homes

Deeply rooted in residential construction, the founders of Visalia, California-based San Joaquin Valley Homes have built thousands of quality homes and attractive neighborhoods for Central Valley residents. Founders Joe Leal, Jim Robinson and Randy Merrill share a vision of delivering excellence through every level of building, delivering wonderful homes in great neighborhoods. In 2013, SJV Homes combined forces with Presidio Residential Capital, a real estate investment company based in San Diego. www.sjvhomes.com

Strategic Storage Growth Trust, Inc. (SSGT) in Contract to Acquire Four Self Storage Facilities Located in Texas and Colorado for $39 Million

January 7th, 2016

SSGT Logo

 

After Closing, SSGT’s Current Portfolio Will Include Approximately 8,460 Units and Approximately 980,000 Square Feet

SAN ANTONIO, TX and KINGWOOD, TX and AURORA, CO – Strategic Storage Growth Trust, Inc. (SSGT), which is sponsored by SmartStop Asset Management, LLC, is in contract to acquire four self storage facilities totaling approximately $39 million, 279,700 net rentable square feet of storage space and 1,840 units. This portfolio consists of two self storage facilities located in San Antonio, Texas, one self storage facility located in Kingwood, Texas and one self storage facility located in Aurora, Colo.

“Our strategy is to add more high quality, growth oriented facilities into our portfolio and this acquisition is a perfect example,” said H. Michael Schwartz, chairman and CEO of SSGT.

The details of the Texas/Colorado portfolio are as follows:

  • 8239 Broadway, San Antonio, TX: approximately 490 units, approximately 76,700 square feet.
  • 875 E. Ashby Place, San Antonio, TX: approximately 440 units, approximately 83,400 square feet.
  • 1671 North Park Dr., Kingwood, TX: approximately 470 units, approximately 60,100 square feet.
  • 500 Laredo, Aurora, Colo: approximately 440 units, approximately 59,500 square feet.

This portfolio will offer climate controlled units, drive-up units and covered RV spaces.

About Strategic Storage Growth Trust, Inc. (SSGT)

SSGT is a public non-traded REIT that focuses on the acquisition, development, redevelopment and lease-up of self-storage properties. The SSGT portfolio currently consists of nine self storage facilities located in five states comprising approximately 6,620 self-storage units and approximately 700,200 net rentable square feet of storage space.

About SmartStop Asset Management, LLC
SmartStop Asset Management, LLC is a diversified real estate company with a managed portfolio that currently includes approximately 31,000 self storage units and approximately 3.4 million rentable square feet. The company is the asset manager for 49 self storage facilities located throughout the United States and Canada. SmartStop Asset Management is the sponsor of SSGT and Strategic Storage Trust II, Inc. (SST II), a public non-traded REIT that focuses on stabilized self storage properties. The facilities offer affordable and accessible storage units for residential and commercial customers. In addition, they offer secure interior and exterior storage units as well as outside storage areas for vehicles, RVs and boats. Additional information is available at www.smartstopassetmanagement.com.

The Roxborough Group and Continental Realty Advisors Acquire Apartment Complex in Henderson, Nevada

November 18th, 2015

Roxborough Group

 

Privately Held Real Estate Investment Firm and Denver Based Multi-Family Real Estate Owner/Operator Purchase 400-Unit, Turtle Creek Apartment Complex

HENDERSON, NV- Roxborough Fund I, an affiliate of San Francisco-based real estate investment firm The Roxborough Group, LLC in partnership with Continental Realty Advisors, Ltd. (“CRA”), a Denver-based multi-family investment and management firm, completed the acquisition of Turtle Creek Apartments, located in the Las Vegas suburb of Henderson, Nevada. Deal terms remain undisclosed.

The 400-unit apartment complex is located in Henderson, Nevada, one of the most desirable submarkets of Las Vegas. The property’s immediate location is particularly attractive due to its close proximity to Union Village, a 155-acre health care complex currently under construction on its first phase (Henderson Hospital), which is due to deliver in October 2016. Turtle Creek will benefit from the new hospital, which is anticipated to create over 700 new jobs. Also, Union Village is expected to create 17,000 direct and indirect jobs after full build-out.

The property is located near a strong amenity base including the Sunset Galleria, Sunmark Plaza shopping centers and the adjacent 96-acre Silver Bowl public park. The property also offers convenient regional access through the adjacent Interstate 515 on ramp and Boulder Highway.

“We are excited for the opportunity to acquire an eight-year-old asset at a significant discount to replacement cost in a unique location on the cusp of a job growth resurgence from the nearby medical village development,” said founder and managing partner of The Roxborough Group, Marc Perrin. “The Las Vegas market is seeing tremendous rent growth and economic signs are indicating a continued post-recession recovery.”

Turtle Creek is the first acquisition for the partners, who plan to renovate the units and common areas to capitalize on the rent growth in the market. CRA is a proven partner in this space and the company’s experience will be critical to the renovation project and execution of the overall business plan at Turtle Creek.

“We are excited to re-enter the Las Vegas market, and believe it is an opportune time to capitalize on significant demand for lifestyle communities in the area,” said David Snyder, chairman of Continental Realty Advisors. “The combination of the Roxborough Group and Continental Realty Advisors brings together two dynamic investment teams that are known for creativity and opportunistic investing.”

CRA and Roxborough’s plans include an interior renovation program, an upgrade of the property’s common areas and amenities, as well as a new entrance off the Boulder Highway for improved access and visibility. The repositioning is designed to take an underperforming asset through a series of targeted improvements and capitalize on the recovering Henderson and Las Vegas economy.

“Turtle Creek Apartments will become a community known for its lifestyle and amenities, while still providing value for its resident clients,” added Snyder. “We look forward to the excitement that will be created with the planned improvements to this community.”

About The Roxborough Group
The Roxborough Group is a private real estate investment firm founded in 2013. Headquartered in San Francisco, Calif., the firm has a broad mandate to invest in all real estate asset classes, both directly and with operating partners. Roxborough focuses on opportunistic, value-add and transitional real estate assets, high-yielding real estate debt, real estate-related operating businesses, as well as high quality, lower risk and longer duration real estate investments. For more information, please visit www.theroxboroughgroup.com.

About Continental Realty Advisors
Continental Realty Advisors (“CRA”), an owner, asset manager, and institutional fund sponsor, was founded in 1981 and has solely focused on investment in the multi-family segment of real estate. The company is an institutional fund investor and expects to acquire over $1 billion in assets over the next several years. CRA is currently acquiring multi-family assets on a nationwide basis. CRA has the ability to close on an all-cash basis within very quick time limitations. For more information on the company’s market focus and acquisition criteria, please visit www.continentalrealtyadvisors.com

Crisis Management: Salvaging the Reputation of American Suzuki

March 5th, 2013

This post is part of a series on how good public relations can help businesses make a name for themselves, promote their products & services, land speaking engagements for executives, influence public opinion or handle crisis situations.

Challenge
When Suzuki entered the U.S. market in 1988, its Suzuki Samurai was tested by the staff at Consumer Reports, a trusted source of consumer advocacy. But when the magazine published its findings, the Samurai was rated a “Not Acceptable” safety hazard because it allegedly rolled over in turns. The cover story decimated sales and damaged the reputation of American Suzuki Motor Corp. and all of its new vehicles for years. Consumer Reports continued to exploit the Samurai evaluation over time for financial and promotional gain until 1996, when Suzuki filed a product disparagement lawsuit alleging that the testing was rigged and the magazine staff so biased that it force the vehicle to tip over and maliciously published the false results.

 

Solution

The public reputation of Consumer Reports was so high that Suzuki hired Gladstone International, a crisis management firm in Southern California. We were brought on as media consultants to help Suzuki present its case to the public, prepare for media challenges and provide compelling information about Suzuki’s side of the story. We produced a video with enhanced audio that revealed incriminating comments by Consumer Reports staff, a lengthy Q&A to prepare for media interviews and a 12-piece media kits. We coordinated a news conference in Washington D.C. when the case reached the U.S. Supreme Court. And we engaged long-time Samurai owners and fan clubs to defend the vehicle’s safety record in a viral online campaign..

 

Results
Our efforts generated coverage from the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times to the BBC and a special on CBS-TV’s “60 Minutes” where Suzuki’s general counsel appeared to challenge the publication. Although Suzuki settled the lawsuit in 2004, our efforts contributed to the restored reputation of the carmaker and media analysis showed media references to the Samurai as a dangerous vehicle virtually disappeared as a result.

Crisis Communications Thumbnail

May 14th, 2012

Great article on handling a communications crisis by Abigail Kesner, a senior associate at SE2, a Colorado-based mass communications firm. I met Abigail earlier this month during a business trip to Denver. We discovered that both of us had worked for CNN, although not at the same time.

This section addresses a fundamental principal of crisis PR that companies sometimes forget:

“When responding to the media, be forthcoming, particularly with ‘bad’ news. You should deal with a crisis like you pull off a bandage: quickly. Suppressing information that will later come to light will jeopardize your relationship with the professional media and will ultimately be a negative. This is particularly true in today’s technology-driven 24-hour media cycle where not only traditional reporters, but also bloggers and citizen journalists will have access to distribution of information on a large scale.”

It’s a fast read and hits the mark!

http://ow.ly/aMzNl

 

 

Media Relations: Putting Wood Partners on the National Housing Map

April 13th, 2012

Wood PartnersChallenge: Founded in 1997, Wood Partners had become the No. 1 multifamily builder in the nation with 6,000+ apartment starts in 2004. By 2007, it was named “The Fastest Growing Private Builder” in America by Builder magazine. Yet the company had almost no name recognition outside of its base in the Southeast and Texas, and that became a problem when Wood Partners wanted to expand, especially during the downturn when financing was tight.

 

Action: To build awareness of the Wood Partners brand, tout its track record and announce its expansion, Anton Communications implemented a comprehensive media relations and marketing campaign. It began with the successful launch of the company’s first California office in 2007, followed by the opening of a Denver office in 2008, and others in Seattle (2010) and Boston (2011). We also announced new acquisitions nationwide and promoted the company and its executives through proactive media pitching, executive interviews and speaking engagements at key industry conferences. Eventually, Wood Partners offices across the country began to call on our firm to help with grand openings of new communities and other special events, apply for industry awards and assist with social media efforts. In 2010 we were invited to join the in-house team in charge of developing a new website and created most of the content.

 

Results:  In 2011 alone, our firm generated 300+ positive news articles about Wood Partners with 10.4 million impressions, including coverage by the New York Times, the Financial Times, the Wall Street Journal and major newspapers in every city where it is actively developing. The print publicity was worth an estimated $442,000. Wood Partners has emerged from the depths of the housing crash as the nation’s second largest multifamily developer with almost 4,000 starts in 2011 – and everybody knows their name now.

Media Relations: Putting Wood Partners on the National Housing Map

February 15th, 2012

This post is part of a series on how good public relations can help businesses make a name for themselves, promote their products & services, land speaking engagements for executives, influence public opinion or handle crisis situations.

Challenge: Founded in 1997, Wood Partners had become the No. 1 multifamily builder in the nation with 6,000+ apartment starts in 2004. By 2007, it was named “The Fastest Growing Private Builder” in America by Builder magazine. Yet the company had almost no name recognition outside of its base in the Southeast and Texas, and that became a problem when Wood Partners wanted to expand, especially during the downturn when financing was tight.

Action: To build awareness of the Wood Partners brand, tout its track record and announce its expansion, Anton Communications implemented a comprehensive media relations and marketing campaign. It began with the successful launch of the company’s first California office in 2007, followed by the opening of a Denver office in 2008, and others in Seattle (2010) and Boston (2011). We also announced new acquisitions nationwide and promoted the company and its executives through proactive media pitching, executive interviews and speaking engagements at key industry conferences. Eventually, Wood Partners offices across the country began to call on our firm to help with grand openings of new communities and other special events, apply for industry awards and assist with social media efforts. In 2010 we were invited to join the in-house team in charge of developing a new website, and created most of the content.

Results: In 2010 and 2011 alone, our firm generated more than 300 positive news articles about Wood Partners with 5.6 million impressions, including coverage by the New York Times, the Financial Times, the Wall Street Journal and major newspapers in every city where it is actively developing. The print publicity alone was worth an estimated $442,000. Wood Partners has emerged from the depths of the housing crash as the second largest multifamily developer with almost 4,000 starts in 2011 – and everybody knows their name now.

 
 

Anton Communications |