For years The Garlands has been known as of the premiere senior retirement communities in the country, a place that truly redefined what active senior living could be. And now we're doing it all over again!

Building on the success that The Garlands and its members have enjoyed, our new Phase II construction aims to provide nothing less then the finest senior living community in the country.

I'll be updating this blog with news of our construction progress, so check back here to watch us grow!

Tom Herb

Labels: active senior living, Chicago assisted living, Phase II, senior living facility, senior retirement communities

If you've been keeping an eye on the construction project in our backyard, you've seen that the exterior--with the exception of gutters and balconies--is complete. Now that the majority of the exterior envelope as well as the roof assembly, mechanicals, electrical and plumbing rough--in is finished, work on the interior is proceeding right on schedule, including drywall taping and sanding, ceramic tiling and painting.

As you may recall, the building is divided into six vertical sections containing four floors of various-sized units. The first vertical section, at the east end of the building, will be complete in approximately 60 days. Moving east to west, the remaining five vertical sections will be carefully choreographed so work will proceed efficiently floor-by-floor within the subsequent vertical stacks. When blocks of units are completed, a rigorous punch-list process will ensure that the new residences meet the highest standards expected at The Garlands. Meanwhile, since they do not align with the units on the floors below, separate dedicated work crews will be assigned to the 16 penthouse suites. The penthouses have numerous atypical construction conditions related to the sloped roof trusses that create the opportunity for aesthetically striking ceiling conditions within many of the units.

Labels: active retirement communities, Alzheimer's Care, Chicago estate planning, Midwest retirement home, Phase II

Phase II of The Garlands is making great strides; our latest progress being in Building D, the superstructure of which was completed on schedule in August 2009. And a model unit--showcasing the luxurious living offered by our new residences--is finished and ready for visitors. We hope you can stop by and take a look!

Other progress you'll notice on your visit:

Roof trusses for this project are quite complicated and have been described by many as a most challenging geometric design. But the challenge has been met and these trusses are nearly complete at the west end of the building with the final roofing scheduled for completion by Thanksgiving.

With the completion of the roof trusses, the huge crane seen looming over our site has recently been dismantled and removed as its work is done.

The installation of the trusses and roofing enables the work on the exterior walls to progress. The exterior masonry is now 85% complete with the anticipated completion of all exterior wall masonry is mid November.

The Garlands goes green:

Insulation board is being installed behind the masonry, and when combined with the fiberglass insulation within the walls, we'll get exceptional energy efficiency in the residential units. In addition, the exterior Tyvek wrap system has been designed and installed per DuPont's standards to include special fasteners and flashing around the windows, all done to provide excellent protection against water intrusion through the exterior wall. All told, these will be extremely well made and efficient residences, which are easy on the heating/ cooling bills, as well as friendly to mother nature.

The east half of the building is already weather-tight, allowing the interior to be finished. The mechanical, electrical, HVAC and plumbing tradesmen have already completed their rough-in work in the east half of the building. In this location, drywall is being installed as well as ceramic tile, wood doors, millwork, cabinets, painting and appliances.

The residential units at the east end of the building will start to approach completion by this year's end. This completion sequence will march west through the building throughout the winter months.

At ground level, the building will begin to take it's final form during late Summer of 2010 when driveways will be paved, landscaping installed and construction trailers removed.

The current schedule targets building completion by October 2010--less than one year away!

Labels: Chicago assisted living, Midwest retirement home, Phase II, upscale retirement community, upscale senior living

We have recently completed our annual member satisfaction survey, and are excited about the results! We are appreciative of our membership's honest feedback and in general, the news is good (actually, great!). Although there is always room for improvement, we are pleased to report that:

• The average score in 99% of the categories rated "Exceeded Expectations"

• The average score for overall satisfaction among Independent Living members was 3.96 on a scale where 3.0 or higher means "exceeds expectations."

Although the numbers are wonderful, I'm most please by the kind comments we received from our residents:

"I never expected service of this caliber."

"The cleanliness of the entire community is outstanding. A tribute to all the staff involved."

"The work done by staff is excellent. I have had nothing but superior work from every single person. I am always greeted with a cheerful voice early in the morning and late at night!"

"We continue to believe that The Garlands is one of the finest CCRCs in the country.
We are very pleased that we made the decision to live here."

"I am proud to tell my friends where I live, and they seem to be impressed. You are doing a wonderful job."

Labels: active retirement communities, active retirement community, Chicago assisted living, Phase II, retirement community

Not rain, snow, excessively cold temperatures or even a tightened economy has impacted the progression of the Garlands new Phase II residences. In fact, as of this spring, the shell of the building that will hold these 85 new homes is 80% complete, with the framing of the roof trusses and asphalt shingling soon to follow. Next up: the brick masonry, a signature architectural feature of The Garlands upscale retirement community, will commence throughout the summer.

Meanwhile, the interior designers are working their magic as they weave a careful blend of texture, color and fine finishes to create the casually elegant ambiance our residents and guests love.

Building upon the success of The Garlands initial phase of development, Phase II sets yet a new standard for retirement communities nationwide.
There is no doubt that today's retiree wants . . .

-Bigger residences
-Open floor plans
-Plenty of storage
-And the highest quality

The Garlands offers all this and more. Start planning for your future today. A refundable deposit lets you secure The Garlands Phase II home of your choice while you plan for your move in late 2010.

Call 847-304-1996 to schedule an appointment to review floor plans and pricing options.

Labels: active senior living, Chicago estate planning, Phase II, senior living, senior retirement communities, the garlands

Economic uncertainty has left many retirees feeling less secure about their nest eggs. However, most agree that with careful retirement planning, financial security can be attained and maintained. Now is the perfect time to consider an option that pays dividends--The Garlands lifestyle.

Peace of Mind Regardless of The Economy

When so much in the world is uncertain, it is comforting to know that at The Garlands you are part of an active retirement community that offers a fixed rate of return on your investment and a clear and convenient care path in the event of future health care needs. Garlands residents enjoy a consistent return on their upfront investment and predictable costs regardless of the economy. They also appreciate the peace of mind they experience knowing they have access to assisted living and skilled care right on campus should they ever need it.

Assurance in Uncertain Times

Plus, at a time when proceeds from the sale of a home are the primary capital one would use to move to a retirement community, we can help. The Garlands lets you secure your future in one of the few remaining Phase I Garlands residences today while at the same time offering the flexibility you need to secure a buyer for your current home. You can actually move into The Garlands now and extend your entrance fee payments for up to two years while you sell your home. During this time you can establish equity toward your Garlands investment. In addition to this low-risk convenience, we also recognize that preparing for a move of this magnitude takes a significant effort. We can make your life easier. From selling your home, to helping you decide what stays and what goes, to packing...The Garlands will support you every step of the way.

Long-Term Stability

The Garlands lifestyle offers long-term stability and pays the additional dividends of maintenance-free living, reliable personalized service, engaging social and educational pursuits, convenient dining programs, delightful amenities and access to health care support as needed. While we remain sensitive and mindful of our country's financial concerns, we encourage you to maintain a long-term view. Resist putting your retirement living plans on hold...rather, secure your future at The Garlands.

Labels: active retirement communities, active senior living, Chicago estate planning, chicago retirement community, Phase II

Early on, our crew made the decision to use metal stud partitions that are prefabricated off site. Why? First and foremost, the panels arrive in nearly perfect condition. Producing precisely sized, beautifully square panels like these is very difficult on a work-site, and the time spent reworking them into shape is time we'd rather spend on the building itself. The panels are fabricated on an assembly line in Alpharetta, Georgia that has been designed specifically for our application and then shipped to our site here in Barrington, Illinois. This decision has saved us money and time, allowing us to maintain the brisk construction schedule for this grand addition to our upscale retirement community.

Labels: Chicago assisted living, chicago retirement community, chicago senior living, Phase II, upscale retirement community

Despite the constant barrage of cold weather, construction of the "Phase II" addition to our upscale retirement community continues to progress right on schedule. The crew is currently assembling the superstructure of the new building, which consists of load bearing wall panels, structural steel beams, metal decking and the pouring of concrete floor slabs. Construction on the west wing has began with the framing of the 1st floor, while the central section has now sprouted a 2nd floor, and work on the eastern wing is now all the way up on the 4th floor. We plan to begin putting up roof trusses and installing roof materials in the spring.

With many lower levels now enclosed, construction has sped up considerably--who doesn't like working indoors on days like these? Our tradesmen have completed over half of the suspended plumbing, electrical, and fire protection piping. The large intake/exhaust fans and their related runs of ductwork are now up. The installation of the electrical vault for the new power system is scheduled to begin next week--a critical milestone for all construction projects.

Labels: active senior living, Chicago assisted living, chicago retirement community, chicago senior living, Phase II, upscale retirement community

A slow housing market continues to dominate news headlines. But here at The Garlands we're seeing a different picture than what the real estate news commonly reports.

Regionally, home sales are significantly better than national reports. Plus, the 55+ market is less stagnant than other demographics. Perhaps it is because this generation has realized so much appreciation in their homes over the years. As such, residents are choosing The Garlands at a pace that is greater than last year.

Another reason for this phenomenon is that we make it so easy. We offer several relocation resources--from help selling an existing home to assistance with packing--our expert Residency Counselors have the experience and the programs to help ensure a smooth move.

There has been strong interest in the Phase II Founders Club. The Founders Club offers our members a unique opportunity to take advantage of pre-construction discounts on Phase II units. Founders Club Members also enjoy the benefit of Membership at The Garlands as well as the ability to personalize their new home. Call today to speak with a residency counselor to secure your place in this landmark new addition to our upscale retirement community. Start planning for your future today--the timing couldn't be better!

Labels: active retirement communities, chicago senior living, Phase II, senior retirement communities, upscale retirement community

This Phase II construction at The Garlands is going to set the standard for active retirement communities nationwide, and will shift perceptions of what independent senior living can be. As such it is a complex and sophisticated undertaking.

Since it's raining today, I thought I'd explain a little about our plan of attack. We are building the second phase of The Garlands in three vertical sections--starting with the east, moving to the center and finishing with the western portion of the building. We are building vertically vs. horizontally (meaning floor-by-floor) because we feel there are better economies of scale in doing so. In this manner we can have greater efficiencies with the tradespeople, meaning our lead trades can go in creating the "bones" of the first third of the building and then clear the first vertical, making way so the following tradesmen--mechanical, electric and plumbing--can start their work.

Labels: active retirement communities, Chicago independent living, Phase II, senior living facility, upscale retirement home

We have every reason to believe we can meet our first milestone of having the first third of the building under roof by the end of the year. The process involves:

• Finishing the support columns in the basement
• Pouring the slab on grade in the basement
• Framing the eastern third of the building by floors 1-4
• Setting the roof truss system
• Placing the roof to "dry in" the areas beneath so that the following trades of mechanical, electric and pluming can start their work

This new Phase II project is going to change the way you think about active senior living, check back often for more updates!

Labels: active retirement communities, active senior living, Chicago assisted living, Phase II, senior retirement communities

It's great for the gardeners, but not so great for construction of an upscale retirement community, i.e. The Garlands Phase II. Ours has been an unusually rainy summer, and has definitely kept our tradesmen from working on certain days. The good news is, we are not far off schedule and have every reason to believe that we will be caught up by September.

Labels: active retirement communities, Chicago estate planning, Phase II, senior living facility, upscale retirement community

Things are happening fast with Phase II construction at The Garlands Chicago retirement community. The footings are now in place for the exit stairwells, and we've begun framing out the walls for the stairwells. We're also "going vertical" with our elevator shaft. In order for the elevator to go up 4 stories, it also has to go down an equivalent distance--that's a lot of digging! The elevator footings for the three elevator banks are now in place, and the pistons are being installed.

Labels: active retirement communities, chicago retirement community, chicago senior living, Phase II, senior retirement communities

The most significant development lately has been the pouring of the first floor in the underground parking garage. Heated, underground parking is a benefit that members of The Garlands really enjoy--each residence comes complete with a designated parking place, just one of a million conveniences that make up The Garlands lifestyle, and what we feel is a part of upscale senior living. Meanwhile, site utilities for storm and sanitary lines, main electrical feed and being installed in the coming weeks.

Labels: Alzheimer's Care, chicago retirement community, Midwest retirement home, Phase II, upscale retirement community, upscale senior living

Today, tradesmen have been busy framing-up the walls along the perimeter of the building. Columns are also being framed and set on the existing footing. In fact, most of the columns that hold up the first floor on the east side of the new building are completed. Soon we'll begin pouring the columns in the center of the building. For us at The Garlands, it's exciting to see how Phase II is changing and enriching our upscale retirement community!

Labels: Chicago estate planning, Phase II, senior living facility, senior retirement communities, upscale retirement community

Kenneth E. Hurd, the renowned interior designer whose work includes the historic renovation of New York's Waldorf-Astoria and who created the interior design of the Garlands first phase will return for a Phase II Garlands engagement.

With Ken's leadership and vision, our goal is to create the same level of quality, finish and feel people have come to expect of The Garlands. We constantly receive compliments for the casual elegance of our interior design. As one of the preeminent active retirement communities in the country, we feel a responsibility to such high standards, and we're thrilled to have Ken back on board to help!

Labels: active retirement communities, active senior living, Alzheimer's Care, Chicago estate planning, chicago retirement community, Phase II

Excavation is nearing completion. To date we've moved over 211,680,000 pounds of dirt to clear the way for this bold new addition to our upscale retirement community. We're also building 110 parking spaces in a heated garage for Phase II residents--fit's all in an effort to enhance what we call The Garlands Lifestyle!

Labels: active senior living, Midwest retirement home, Phase II, senior living facility, upscale retirement community