Oct 12, 2005

Merrill Gardens

Paula Willems is vice president of human resources for Merrill Gardens. She will oversee team devlopment for 66 Merrill Gardens communities in more than a dozen states. Ron Haines is vice president of corporate real estate. Haines was an operations manager for a town center in Southern California. Merrill Gardens is based in Seattle, and owns and runs assisted-living communities.

Oct 06, 2005

Goodman Real Estate Inc.

Goodman Real Estate has named George Petrie president. He'll be responsible for day-to-day operations of the Seattle-based real estate investment company that owns and manages commercial and residential properties throughout the United States and Canada. Former president and company founder John A. Goodman is now chairman and responsible for strategic growth. Goodman also will devote more time to The Goodman Foundation, which funds organizations that support children and their families. Petrie joined Goodman in 1999 as an asset manager, and has overseen more than $400 million in acquisitions and dispositions.

Guardian Management LLC

Portland-based Guardian Management, a real estate investment and management company that focuses on multi-family, opened an office in downtown Seattle's Nordstrom Tower, 1700 Seventh Ave. Guardian executive Bradley W. Cribbins leads the office. The Seattle group's focus is increasing the company's visibility in Washington, Montana, Idaho and Alaska — markets it has operated in for many years — and growing the company's portfolio. Guardian has more than 200 properties and 500 employees in seven states.

Aboda

Corporate housing provider Northwest Suites & Housing Services has changed its name to Aboda and acquired two Boston companies: Corporate Housing Options and Suite Housewares Inc. Aboda CEO Dave Caple says the acquisitions launch an aggressive pattern of expansion and service diversification and gives the company an East Coast foothold. Gary Ciabotti, the owner of both Corporate Housing Options and Suite Housewares, will join Aboda whose clients include Microsoft, Amazon, Boeing and the Seattle Mariners.

Hendricks & Partners

Kenny Dudunakis of the brokerage Hendricks & Partners negotiated the $74 million sale of five Seattle-area apartment properties that total 1,057 units. The transaction includes three Everett properties: the Brentwood, Forest Park and Pacific Bay Club; the Kingsbrook in Lynnwood; and Jonathan's Landing in Kent. Dudunakis represented the seller, JL Washington Properties LLC of Los Angeles. The buyer was Holland Acquisitions Co. LLC of Vancouver, Wash.

S-J Management LLC

Seattle-based S-J Management, through its affiliate company, MonteViejo Associates LLC, bought the 480-unit MonteViejo Apartments in North Phoenix for $50.5 million. It's the sixth time since July 2003 that a limited liability company formed and managed by S-J has acquired a Class A, institutional core asset in Arizona. S-J forms LLCs that are made up of investors, pension plans, IRAs, profit sharing trusts and other mechanisms. The privately held company owns and manages 2,000 apartment units in Arizona and Washington.

Security Properties Inc.

Seattle-based Security Properties, in partnership with GMAC Institutional Advisors, paid $16 million for the 88-unit Ambassador Royal Apartments in Mountain View, Calif. It's close to Stanford University. Security Properties says it plans to immediately rehab the property that was built in 1968. Security owns 25,000 apartment units in 39 states.

Tour of Urban Living

Tacoma's annual Tour of Urban Living, which features condominiums, town homes and apartments, is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. There are 20 properties on the free, self-guided tour. Maps and other details are at downtowntacomaliving.info.

Allied Arts

Allied Arts will host a 7 p.m. Oct. 14 discussion of what could happen to the Alaskan Way Viaduct and the rest of Seattle's waterfront if voters approve Initiative 912 in November. David Dye of the state Department of Transportation, Cary Moon of the People's Waterfront Coalition, and David Spiker, chairman of the Seattle Design Commission, will participate. The event is at a private residence in Millennium Tower, 715 Second Ave. It's $15 for Allied Arts members, $25 to others and free for low-income people. RSVP by writing aarts@speakeasy.net or phoning (206) 624-0433.

Real Estate Investors Super Conference

REAPS is hosting the Real Estate Investors Super Conference Oct. 21-23 at the Doubletree Hotel in SeaTac. The Real Estate Association of Puget Sound says more than a dozen multimillionaires will share their strategies. Participants also can attend pre-conference workshops Oct. 20. Various packages ranging from $69 to $379 are available. Reservations are required; see reapsweb.com.