BIA/SC 55+ Housing Council Announces Winners for 2011 SAGE Awards

Sept. 28, 2011 - PRLog -- IRVINE, Calif. — 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.  

Person of the Year is 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 in senior and affordable housing, 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 during the past nine years, Mr. Espley-Jones has overseen growth of Western’s affordable housing portfolio from ownership interests in five affordable apartment communities to more than 80 communities, financed with more than $850 million dollars in tax credits and other affordable funding sources. Western’s 29 senior apartment communities total 2,758 units and house approximately 3,300 primarily low-income seniors.

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 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.  

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 senior affordable community); and Mirandela Senior Apartments in Rancho Palos Verdes (AMCAL – affordable rental community).

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).

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. To register, call (949) 553-9500 or email pnearhoff@biasc.org.

About 55+ Housing Council
For over 20 years, the 55+ Housing Council has provided networking, education and partnering prospects for Southern California professionals involved in every aspect of building housing specifically for persons aged 55+ − active adult, “age-targeted,” age-qualified apartments and condominiums,  CCRC’s, Assisted Living, Alzheimer’s care and more. For more information, visit www.55socal.com.

About BIA/SC
Established in 1923, the Building Industry Association of Southern California (BIA/SC) is a non-profit trade association representing more than 1,350 companies involved in planning and building Southern California’s neighborhoods and communities. Members are involved in all aspects of the building industry, from architecture and green building to roofing and general contracting. For more information, visit www.biasc.org.

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