Monday, March 12, 2012

Serene Haven Inc. Acquires Third Los Angeles Property to House Homeless U.S. Veterans and Their Families

  

LOS ANGELES, CA (March 12, 2012) – Serene Haven, Inc., a 501c3 non-profit organization that acquires and renovates residential facilities to provide safe housing to homeless military veterans and their families, has acquired a property located at 2501 West 54th Street (middle right map) in Los Angeles.

 This is the third LA-area, multi-unit residential facility the organization has acquired to house veterans in just under two years, according to Matthew J. Heslin (top right photo), Co-Founder and Chairman of Serene Haven, Inc., and partner in Heslin Becker Properties.

“Serene Haven renovates these properties and provides a secure and comfortable transitional living environment for our military heroes,” said Heslin. 

“Housing is a major issue in the fight to eradicate homelessness amongst veterans, as most accommodations made available to physically disabled veterans are improper and sub-standard.  At Serene Haven, our mindset is ‘if we won’t live there, we won’t allow a veteran to live there.’”

Heslin says the problem of homelessness among veterans is growing in Los Angeles.

“There are more than 20,000 homeless veterans in LA County alone, and with the winding down of the Iraq war, it is estimated that an additional 14,000 military heroes may be facing homelessness in the very near future,” commented Heslin. 

“We are always seeking companies and organizations that will donate funding for additional properties, critical services for these at-risk heroes, or obsolete properties we can revitalize.”

Critical services, which include supportive programs such as mental health counseling, physical therapy, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, and job placement services, are available to all veterans who reside at Serene Haven facilities, according to Heslin.  The organization also provides property redevelopment services and transportation via shuttle service to veterans.

Serene Haven’s newly acquired property is made up of 15 apartment units situated on eight retail spaces below, and will become a field office for the non-profit organization.

“The mixed-use makeup of this newest Serene Haven facility is unique, and will allow our organization to provide on-site opportunities for job placement and job training to assist our veterans,” said Heslin.  “The Serene Haven team will work tirelessly over the coming months to remodel this property and make it a safe, clean, and supportive community for these at-risk military veterans.”

In addition, Serene Haven owns and operates residential facilities at 4416 Arlington Ave. (middle left map)  and 2608 Ridgeley Drive (lower right map) in Los Angeles.  These properties have been completely remodeled and are fully occupied by veterans and their families.  Funding for the first two properties was provided by Heslin.

“Serene Haven is planning at least one more acquisition in 2012, and we will continue to seek opportunities to create safe, transitional housing.  We are humbled by the opportunity to serve these men and women who have sacrificed so much for the safety of our country,” said Heslin.

Serene Haven Inc. is a 501c3 non-profit organization that acquires and renovates residential facilities to provide safe, low-cost housing to homeless military veterans and their families.  Each Serene Haven facility is self-sustaining, and all revenues net of expenses are applied to the acquisition and development of additional transitional housing to take veterans directly off the streets of Southern California. 

For more information or to make a donation, visit www.serenehaven.org.

Contact:

Jenn Quader / Judith Brower
Brower, Miller & Cole
(949) 955-7940

Voit Real Estate Services Expands Inland Empire Brokerage With New Senior Associate



INLAND EMPIRE, CA – Voit Real Estate Services has announced the addition of Dennis Keane (top right photo) as a Senior Associate in Voit’s Inland Empire office.  Keane brings his expertise in tenant and buyer representation to Voit.

In his new role, Keane will be responsible for providing value-added services to assist local business owners, both large and small, with resources that are essential to improve their operations, according to Walt Chenoweth, (lower left photo) Executive Vice President in Voit’s Inland Empire office.

“Voit recently relocated and expanded our Inland Empire office, with the goal of re-investing in our people and making room for our growth over the next few years.  As a result, we are actively recruiting the industry’s best and brightest,” said Chenoweth. “Dennis’s extensive experience and knowledge in the industrial market of the Inland Empire and San Gabriel Valley make him a valuable asset to our team and clients.”

Prior to joining Voit, Keane served as a Senior Associate at Lee & Associates, where he successfully completed over two million square feet of industrial transactions throughout Southern California.

Keane earned his degree in Communications from Vanguard University.

Contact:

Jenn Quader/Judith Brower
Brower, Miller & Cole
(949) 955-7940

Interstate Hotels & Resorts Opens Holiday Inn Express Amsterdam-Sloterdijk Station in the Netherlands



ARLINGTON, Va., March 12, 2012—Interstate Hotels & Resorts today announced the opening of the 252-room Holiday Inn Express Amsterdam-Sloterdijk Station (top left photo) in the Netherlands.

 The hotel is the second of a nine-hotel portfolio currently being developed across the Netherlands.  As previously announced the portfolio is jointly owned by Interstate and TVHG Budget Group Beheer BV (TVHG) and operated by Interstate Hotels & Resorts under long-term contracts.

“One of the pillars of success of our global management model is the Company’s long and strong relationships with top international hotel brands,” said Jim Abrahamson (middle right photo), Interstate’s chief executive officer.

 “The Holiday Inn Express at Sloterdijk Station is now one of the newest hotels in the market and, with its convenient location at this major transportation hub and high value offering, will quickly become a magnet for business and leisure travelers.” 

Located adjacent to Sloterdijk Station (middle left photo), one of the main train stations of Amsterdam, the Holiday Inn Express offers convenient access by rail to Amsterdam City Center, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and Amsterdam RAI Convention Center.  Hotel amenities include extensive lobby level lounge spaces for work or relaxation, a lobby bar, complimentary Wi-Fi and continental breakfast served daily.

The nine properties in the Netherlands portfolio, comprising 1,800 rooms, are all well-located, close to railway stations and airports or along main highways, and will be branded under the Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express or Hampton Inn by Hilton flags.

“Another key aspect of our successful global management platform is our ability to make selective investments in key markets to support our growth, with a focus on partnering with experienced local companies,” said Leslie Ng (lower right photo), Interstate’s chief investment officer.  “We have a strong relationship with TVHG, a very experienced, highly regarded hotel developer, and look forward to building on it in the future.”

For more information about TVHG Budget Group Beeher BV,  please call +31 20 301 22 55.

For additional information about Interstate Hotels & Resorts, please, contact Interstate’s Senior Vice President, Development-Europe, Aaron Greenman, aaron.greenman@ihrco.com or +32 498127973, or visit the company’s website:  www.ihrco.com.


Contacts:

Jerry Daly, Carol McCune                              
Media                                                              
Daly Gray, Inc.                                              
(703) 435-6293                                              

Patrick Daly
Account Supervisor
Daly Gray, Inc.
Office:  (703) 435-6293
Cell:  (703) 300-8289

Charles Dunn Co. Completes $2.29 Million Sale of an 18-Unit Multifamily Property in Los Angeles



 LOS ANGELES, CA – Charles Dunn Company, one of the largest full-service regional real estate firms in the Western United States, has completed the $2.29 million sale of an 18-unit multifamily property that is located at 2469 S. Robertson Blvd. (top left photo) in Los Angeles near the cross streets of National Blvd. and Cadillac and in close proximity to the 10 Freeway.

Michel Hibbert (lower right photo) of Charles Dunn Company represented the Los Angeles-based buyer, 6656 Fountain LLC, as well as the seller, Los Angeles-based 2469 S. Robertson Associates, LP in the transaction. The closing cap rate was 5.3 percent.

“This multifamily property recently underwent a major renovation making it an attractive asset in a prime Los Angeles submarket that is seeing a three percent vacancy,” said Hibbert.

The property was 100 percent occupied at the close of escrow and includes 17 one-bedroom/one-bathroom units, and one two-bedroom/one-bathroom unit.  It has a secured entrance and a pool.

Contact:
Darcie Giacchetto
D.G. Communications, Inc.
949.278.6224