Wallick’s Development Team Announces Change

It’s Wallick’s pleasure to announce that John Leonard has taken leadership of the company’s development team, in addition to our construction team. Since 2016, John has successfully led Wallick Construction, and under his guidance, the company has seen project after project completed on-time and on-budget. Now, John will lead both business units and oversee projects from concept through construction completion.

Additionally, Wallick has promoted Alexis Dunfee and Joe Hall to Vice President, Development as well as Tyler Ponder and Michael DiCarlantonio to Development Manager.

Andrew Piletz Joins Wallick as Director of Marketing, Senior Living

Meet Andrew, our new Director of Marketing for Senior Living. He leads the marketing and strategy for our senior living communities which includes: positioning, brand strategy, and lead generation.

Andrew joins Wallick Communities after spending eight years at Abbott Nutrition. In his previous role as Senior Brand Manager, Andrew led the direct marketing efforts for the Ensure and Glucerna brands. Andrew received a bachelor’s in international studies from The University of Mississippi, his MBA from The George Washington University, and teaches marketing at The Ohio State University. Andrew lives in New Albany, Ohio with his wife and three children.

 

Congressman Bill Johnson Speaks at Lawrence Manor’s Grand Reopening

On Thursday, Congressman Bill Johnson was in South Point, OH to visit Lawrence Manor Apartments, an affordable senior community commending its recent renovation and grand reopening. Lawrence Manor is one of several communities owned or managed by Wallick that Congressman Johnson has visited within the last four years.

In partnership with the Ohio Housing Finance Agency, Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing and others, Wallick Communities secured nearly $7 million to redevelop Lawrence Manor – a task that also would not have been possible without the 9% Housing Tax Credit.

Originally built in 1980, Lawrence Manor received a complete renovation, including an expanded community building with a computer center, laundry facilities and resident service coordinator office. Additionally, residents saw improvements like new Energy Star appliances, new cabinets and countertops, showers, fixtures, central HVAC and flooring throughout, as well as raised garden plots and a gazebo.

To honor the community’s almost 40-year history, Wallick celebrated with cake, flowers and a chorus of “Happy Birthday” for longtime resident Juanita Clark, who just celebrated her 91st birthday the day before. Other speakers for the event included:

  • Tm Swiney- SVP, Wallick Communities, Tax-Credit Development
  • Guy Ford- Director of Legislative Affairs, Ohio Housing Finance Agency
  • Doug Klingensmith- Vice President, Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing
  • Jeff Banker- Vice President, Red Capital Markets, LLC
  • Ralph Kline- Assistant Executive Director of Planning, Ironton-Lawrence County CAO
  • Michelle Norris- MFH Specialist, Rural Development
  • Rita Ferguson- Community Manager, Wallick Communities

Additional project partners include Hooker DeJong and RiverHills Bank.

The Ashford on Broad Ranked First Among Columbus Assisted Living Communities for Resident Satisfaction

The Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, a division of the Ohio Department of Aging, has released results of the 2017 Long-Term Care Resident Satisfaction Survey. This survey, conducted through face-to-face interviews with residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities, assessed residents’ satisfaction with an array of subjects related to their care and everyday life.

The statewide average satisfaction score for assisted living facilities was 85.2 out of 100. With an overall score of 92.4, The Ashford on Broad ranked first among Columbus assisted living communities for resident satisfaction. In addition to overall satisfaction, the survey measured how well specific aspects of the facility met the residents’ needs and expectations. The attached image shows The Ashford on Broad’s scores for each aspect and how it compared to the statewide average.

The Ashford on Broad’s excellent ratings also placed the community in the top 10% of all assisted living communities in Ohio. Congratulations to the team members that made The Ashford on Broad one of the best care facilities in the state!

 

Wallick Ranks Second on Cincinnati MHA’s Preferred Developer List

On Tuesday, the Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority (Cincinnati MHA) Board approved Wallick Communities as one of six preferred developers that the organization will partner with over the next couple years to help reposition the existing public housing stock in its portfolio. Wallick was one of eleven firms that responded to the Request for Proposal. Upon completion of the submittal evaluation and interview process, Wallick received a second position ranking with a score of 94.2 out of a possible 115. Wallick’s score was less than two points below Michaels Development Company, which placed first with 95.4. Other firms to make the list were:

  • Pennrose Development
  • Gorman & Company
  • Telesis Corporation
  • Wabuck Development Company

Through this partnership opportunity, Wallick could be selected to develop one or more projects with Cincinnati MHA. Congratulations to those who made this partnership possible. Because of your hard work and dedication, Wallick is now positioned among leading affordable housing developers from across the country.

Wallick’s Senior Living Operations Announce Change

To strengthen support for its growing portfolio of affordable assisted living and memory care communities, Wallick has promoted Stephanie Hess to Vice President, Senior Living Operations. In this role, Stephanie’s main responsibility is overseeing Wallick’s senior living communities, which include The Ashfords (Broad, Mt. Washington and Sturbridge) and Oakleaf campuses (Toledo and Columbus).

Additional dedicated roles have been created to further support the company’s Senior Living operations team, that include Talent Acquisition Specialist, Regional Director of Care, Marketing Director and Finance Director.

63 Individuals Hired at Job Fair Held by Resident Resources Network

An innovative approach to the traditional job fair led to more than 60 low-income, underemployed and hard-to-place jobseekers to employment opportunities. Held in March by Resident Resources Network (RRN), a nonprofit established in 2011 by Wallick Communities, this job fair strayed from more traditional methods by bringing the event to jobseekers and the community in which they live. The event was held at Rosewind, an affordable housing community nestled in the Linden area. Many of its residents and those in surrounding neighborhoods face obstacles when it comes to finding employment. Such barriers make attending a job fair unlikely, especially if it’s at a conference center across town. So, RRN devised a job fair that…

  1. Brought employers and service providers onsite, directly to jobseekers.
  2. Included employers who are willing to work with those that face barriers, such as lack of transportation.
  3. Invited local service providers who can connect those in Linden to resources that will address those barriers and improve the likelihood of employment. (e.g. GED programs, Legal Aid, job readiness training, etc.)

Lisa Dixon, service coordinator, led the effort behind this successful job fair. She also worked individually with several residents, who could not be in attendance, to create and pass out their resumes at the job fair. Ultimately, 63 jobseekers found employment with the following companies:

  • Dream Core Marketing
  • Legal Shield
  • COTA
  • Lowes
  • Acloche’
  • G6/ Manpower
  • Speedway
  • UPS
  • Staffing Leadership Group
  • Kroger Distribution
  • Nurses Heart
  • S.A.F.E. Felons Court

Late fall, RRN hopes to hold its next job fair and experience even greater success in helping others achieve their goals by connecting them to employers and service providers.

Three Residents Awarded Jack Wallick Scholarships

Congratulations to the following residents, who have been awarded the Jack Wallick Memorial Scholarship for 2018:

  • Brittany Durham: A resident of Fair Park Apartments in Sardinia, OH, Ms. Durham will attend Kaplan University to attain a bachelor’s degree in business.  
  • Earnestine Jones: Ms. Jones lives at Garden View Acres, located in Toledo, OH. She will work toward a bachelor’s degree in social work at the University of Toledo.
  • Pauline Habegger: Ms. Habegger is a resident of Pine Crossing Apartments in Decatur, IN. A student of the Ultimate Medical Academy, she is studying to become a medical billing and coding specialist.

Each spring, the Jack Wallick Memorial Scholarship awards several Wallick residents up to $2,500 (per school year for up to four years) to help pay the cost of attending college or technical school. Established in memory of Jack Wallick, founder of Wallick Communities, the scholarship program further supports his mission to help residents create better futures for themselves and their families.

The Grove Columbus Hosts First Event Since Groundbreaking

Dozens of business partners and community members eagerly arrived at The Grove at Oakleaf Village of Columbus last week to catch a quick tour of the progress that’s been made over the past year.

The Grove Columbus will be Wallick’s second memory care community that will provide housing and care to seniors with Alzheimer’s and dementia-related illnesses. This $7.1 million community will be composed of four neighborhoods that can support up to a total of 56 residents. Designed to accommodate seniors as they progress through the stages of dementia, each ability based neighborhood features:

  • Living room
  • Open kitchen
  • Sun room
  • Private dining area
  • Secured courtyard

Additionally, The Grove Columbus will create approximately 40 full-time job opportunities for those in or surrounding Columbus, OH. Wallick Communities looks forward to having The Grove Columbus up and running early this fall.

Daines Village Moving Forward after Wallick Receives Housing Tax Credit Award

The Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) recently awarded Wallick Communities almost $800,000 in 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits for the development of Daines Village Apartments, a soon-to-be built affordable family community in London, Ohio. Located between Columbus and Dayton, the community was named in memory of Bob Daines, a recognized expert in affordable housing and one of Wallick’s most respected leaders. With a total of 48 one-, two- and three-bedroom units, Daines Village will be the first new multi-family community in London since 2004. Daines Village will also partner with Madison Health to integrate an infant mortality prevention program that will tackle a challenge that many communities are facing across Ohio.

In addition to offering some of the largest units in the market, Daines Village will also provide a separate 2,900 square foot clubhouse that will accommodate a variety of amenities, such as:

  • Resident services coordinator
  • Spacious multi-purpose room
  • Business center with computer lab
  • Exercise and wellness room
  • Laundry room
  • Playground

Families will enjoy living in a warm and friendly neighborhood that embraces the values and vibrancy of the city of London.

Matt Loges Joins Wallick Communities as Executive Director of The Ashford at Sturbridge

We are pleased to announce that Matt Loges has accepted the position of Executive Director for The Ashford at Sturbridge. He will oversee the daily operations at Wallick’s fifth assisted living community, which will be completed later this year.

Matt has 18 years’ worth of experience in long-term care and is a licensed Nursing Home Administrator. While the Ashford at Sturbridge is under construction, Matt will be headquartered at the nearby senior apartment community, Sturbridge Green.

A graduate of the University of Phoenix, Matt received a Master of Business Administration. In addition to healthcare, Matt also has an interest in real estate and is currently rehabbing two properties, something Wallick might also know a thing or two about!

Congressman Bill Johnson Visits Wallick’s Corporate Office

After passing up his visit in January due to delays in the spending bill, Congressman Bill Johnson made good on his promise to tour Wallick Communities’ new corporate office last week. A solid supporter of affordable housing, Congressman Johnson represents Ohio’s 6th District in which five of Wallick’s affordable apartment communities are located:

  • Lawrence Village- 70 units
  • Lawrence Manor- 58 units
  • Cambridge Village- 60 units
  • Cambridge Commons- 40 units
  • Berwick Apartments- 49 units

Wallick Communities and Congressman Johnson have built a good relationship over the past few years, ever since Congressman Johnson visited the newly renovated Lawrence Village in 2014. On Friday afternoon, Congressman Johnson toured the company’s headquarters and sat down with CEO Tom Feusse as well as Wallick’s development team to discuss Wallick’s future affordable housing projects.

Before departing, Congressman Johnson praised Wallick’s work in the affordable housing industry and held a Q&A session for the entire corporate office, where he answered some of the industry’s –and country’s– most pressing questions.

Batavia Village Named OHFA’s Featured Property of the Month

In March, the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) selected Batavia Village Apartments to be its featured property of the month. Batavia Village has served low-income families in Clermont County, OH for the past 37 years. Last fall, the community wrapped up a 4% tax credit rehabilitation on its nine apartment buildings.

Residents at Batavia Village are enjoying a number of upgrades to their homes, including all new kitchens and bathrooms.  In addition, the community building has been expanded to allow for more community activities and on-site resident services.

Wallick has also recently requested 9% Low-income Housing Tax Credits from OHFA to develop three brand-new affordable communities in Ohio: Silver Leaf Senior Apartments (44 units, Maple Heights, OH), Daines Village Apartments (48 units, London, OH) and Stroh Village Apartments (46 units, Wapakoneta, OH).

Sarah Malone Joins Wallick Communities as SVP of Asset Management

Meet Sarah, our new Senior Vice President of Asset Management. She is responsible for ensuring all company-owned communities are performing financially and generating a return on investment.

Sarah joins Wallick Communities after spending 10 years at Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing (OCCH), first as Vice President of Fund Management then as Director of Fund Management. In her previous position, Sarah oversaw the day-to-day activities of LIHTC asset underwriting including the approval process, construction management and closing. She also worked closely with investors on proprietary fund investments.

Sarah holds a board seat on YWCA of Columbus and received a bachelor’s in business administration and marketing from Ashland University as well as an MBA from Capital University. In her free time, Sarah enjoys spending time with her family, attending music events and reading bestsellers for her book club.

Wallick Adds Final Touches to New Corporate Office

With the creative expertise of ExhibitPro, a full-service exhibit company based in New Albany, Ohio, Wallick was able to incorporate several new branded elements in its corporate office.

Wallick’s Affordable Housing Communities Receive Makeovers

This summer, Wallick celebrated the grand re-openings of three affordable communities, all achieved under the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program:

  • Georgetown Senior Apartments – 64 units, Delaware, OH
  • Echo Hill – 40 units, Vanceburg, KY
  • Cutter Apartments – 40 units, Cincinnati, OH

These communities underwent major improvements including brand new kitchens and bathrooms, new windows and roofs, enhancements to their exteriors and interiors and energy savings enhancements.

Additional communities currently being renovated, also under the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, include:

  • Cypress Commons – 44 units, Middletown, OH
  • Bedford Village – 40 units, Bedford, KY
  • Locust Ridge – 72 units, Dry Ridge, KY
  • Highpoint – 44 units, Ludlow, KY

These communities are expected to be complete by summer of this year.

Wallick Featured in Two Leading Industry Publications

Wallick Communities was pleased to be recognized by Tax Credit Advisor and Affordable Housing Finance this year.

The Ashford on Broad, Wallick’s first affordable assisted living community, was featured on the cover of Tax Credit Advisors’ September issue. The case study “Affordable and Assisted with a Wow Factor” explored the increasing demand for assisted living services and how Wallick is working to meet that need, through the development of The Ashfords, at a cost that is affordable for seniors of all incomes.

The Ashford on Broad and The Ashford of Mt. Washington were also the topic of Affordable Housing Finance’s online article, “Wallick Works on Affordable Assisted-Living Model”.

Wallick Associates Focus on Giving Back

With several communities in development and others coming on-line, this past summer was a busy one for Wallick. However, Wallick associates still found time to volunteer, serving those living in substandard conditions, near and far.

In June, Wallick sent a team of associates and their families – 52 strong – to Ensenada, Mexico. For an entire week, these individuals worked side-by-side with five families that previously lived in deplorable conditions, building each family a new house. See their life changing experience unfold here.

Throughout the summer nearly 60 other Wallick associates volunteered to build houses for those in need, however, this time it was in their own backyard. Through a partnership with Habitat for Humanity, teams of associates worked in Columbus and Cincinnati building houses for families eagerly awaiting a place to call home. Catch a glimpse of their experience here.

Wallick Expands to New Territories

In 2017, Wallick acquired over 600 new affordable apartments, expanding into Wisconsin and West Virginia, and growing its portfolio in Indiana. New communities include:

Wallick is currently in the closing process of three other acquisitions in Wisconsin and Ohio.

Wallick’s Innovation of Affordable Senior Living Continues

What was once just a concept, has now become reality. In 2017 Wallick celebrated the grand openings of its first two affordable assisted living communities, The Ashford on Broad and The Ashford of Mt. Washington. In October, Wallick broke ground on its third affordable assisted living community, The Ashford at Sturbridge. Additional communities are being planned in Columbus, Cincinnati, Toledo, Dayton, Akron and Indianapolis.

Affordable assisted living is merely one opportunity within the realm of senior living that Wallick has turned its focus toward. In May, The company broke ground on its second memory care community, The Grove at Oakleaf Village of Columbus. Premarketing of The Grove is now underway as the community is expected to open in July 2018.