The 234 Apartment

WATERLOO — A second fire in nine months extensively damaged an abandoned city- owned greystone apartment building in the 900 block of Commercial Street Sunday morning , renewing concerns about its ongoing safety and structural integrity. Firefighters were called to 925 Commercial St. about 5 a.m. and remained on the scene at least three hours later, working through the structures. The building was still smoldering at 8 a.m. Smoke was emanating from a top-floor window at that time. Fire Battalion Chief Mike Moore said this fire resulted in more extensive damage than the November blaze, including floor damage to the upper levels. A cause has not yet been determined. While the building has been abandoned, Moore said, it has been known to have been used periodically by “squatters” who take shelter there though they have no tenancy or ownership. Moore said firefighters were doing their best to work through the structure Sunday to make sure the fire is completely out. “We’re just trying...

NEW YORK – Aug. 22, 2017 – With all the talk about aging baby boomers and life- extending health care advances , it might be a bit bewildering deciding which seniors housing assets are best primed for success. Lee Everett, managing consultant at research firm CoStar Portfolio Strategy , might be able to provide some clarity. Two product types – active adult communities and continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs – will be the winners in the seniors housing race both in the short and the long term, Everett says. Everett and his CoStar colleagues are bullish about active adult communities , which are age-restricted developments that offer an independent lifestyle and relatively maintenance-free housing. Growth in this segment is "just around the corner," with more baby boomers getting older and seeking alternatives to traditional homes and apartments. "We're looking at a period where there's going to be a lot of fast and explosive growth in active a...