What Is Mixed-Used Development?

You may have heard the phrase “mixed-use development” before, but what does it exactly mean? Fast becoming the norm in urban and suburban areas, it refers to a pedestrian-friendly development blending two or more residential, commercial, cultural, industrial, or institutional uses.

It is important, however, to sift through the confusion. Mixed-use is not just limited to a multi-story development incorporating commercial use on the ground level with residential uses on its upper floors. It also provides three or more significant revenue-generating uses such as retail and entertainment; fosters integration, density, and compatibility of land uses; and promotes a walkable community with uninterrupted pedestrian links.

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Mixed-used developments can be vertical, or a single building (such as a skyscraper or terrace building) accommodating multiple uses, or horizontal, where a range of different building on the same site assume a specific purpose such as office, residential, or civic use.

In recent years, mixed-use developments have become a prominent feature of planning policy, seeking to revitalize urban centers and generate gains for the community such as reduced need for transport, more local jobs, and enhanced property values. Retailers, for instance, benefit from the traffic flow of customers living so close to their establishments, while the latter enjoy the proximity to so many choices.

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The goal of progressive development, after all, is to maximize the use of land while offering a high-quality lifestyle to those in and around a given development.

Alan Naul is a specialist developer and sponsor for commercial real estate. For more real estate reads, subscribe to this blog.

Creating The Perfect Hotel

Hotels are considered people’s home away from home. If people travel to another place whether for business or pleasure, there’s a huge chance they will stay in hotels. Hoteliers and investors create the perfect establishments through the following considerations:

Take the interiors for example. No other part of the hotel plays a bigger role on the guest’s mood. Hotel interiors have to be relaxing. They have to be comfortable, but at the same time not sleepy, or worse, boring.

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Staying with the interiors, the floor map of the hotel should be designed in such a way that guests can move from place to place easily. Locations such as hotel bars, pools, restaurants, and fitness centers should all be easily accessible to guests. This is a big deal because having these places far from each other defeats the purpose of the hotel being devoted to relaxation.

It should also be noted that a huge factor in whether or not a guest returns lies in both the food and the service. Food should be better than good. In fact, it should be worth every penny the guests spend. The hotel staff have to be well-trained, competent, and friendly at all times.

The Javelin Group was founded by Alan Naul. The company has helped develop commercial real estate in senior living and the hospitality sectors for over a decade. Go to this website for more information on the company and Alan Naul.

Deciding on a neighborhood that best caters to your work and lifestyle

Choosing where to move or live is a balancing act, as it requires keeping in mind, not just the home itself, but the community that surrounds it. Hereunder are some important things to consider as you look for that perfect, little nook of the world to move into. 

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Proximity to work: One of the main reasons that people transfer to a new place is work. It’s assumed that, whether you have a car or will commute, the new neighborhood provides easy access and good travel time to and from your job. 

Easy access to hospitals, markets, and entertainment: Accidents are unavoidable, so make sure that there’s a nearby hospital. For your food needs, that there’s a variety of places to do groceries and to eat out. And, for leisure, check for how close the place is to the cinema, concert halls, and sports venues. 

Social life: You don’t want to be branded the new town hermit, so you’d want to go out and mingle with people. Check out the local bars and the nightlife, as well as popular restaurants, lounges, and coffee shops. 

Fitness: Your new neighborhood must be conducive to your health. For your lifestyle and exercise needs, make sure that there’s a local gym and that scenic jogging, hiking, and biking trails are present. 

Education: If you’ve children, it’s crucial that there’s access to good, respected schools near your new abode. Take time to research on their reputation and history. 

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Alan Naul and his company, the Javelin Group, LLC, make strategic investments in commercial real estate for the senior living and hospitality sectors, as well as in mixed-use healthcare districts and lifestyle-oriented neighborhoods. Learn more about the company and its affiliates by visiting this website.

Art attack: Benefits of art projects for seniors

In Munich, Germany, one of the city’s largest senior care providers ran an intercultural awareness program for its residents. In cooperation with artists from Munich, the program curated an exhibition that presented artworks that emphasized fabrics, a material that is synonymous with care and comfort.

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The artworks, which included photographic wall collages and a digital video frame that presented an animated slide show, had served two purposes: to allow the viewers to reflect on their culture and the past and to create an environment where residents, staff, and visitors can easily discuss insights and stories. 

This is just an example of how art projects can help seniors cope better with their current situation and to age well.

In a study presented in the Journal of Aging Studies, it was determined that six factors contribute to successful aging, namely, a “sense of purpose, interactions with others, personal growth, self-acceptance, autonomy, and health.” Arts and similar creative pursuits can help seniors achieve all six of them. Thus, retirement communities and senior housings should create art projects that their residents can participate and enjoy in. There are options other than setting up art exhibits or displays, such as painting, crafts, art therapy, listening to music, and dancing. 

Image source: beauforthallnursinghome.co.uk

Southern Methodist University alumna Alan Naul established Javelin Group LLC in 2004. The company and its affiliates develop, sponsor, and invest in commercial real estate projects, focusing on the senior living and the hospitality sectors. Visit this website to read more information about the company.

The Basics Of Buying Commercial Real Estate

When investors consider buying commercial real estate, they take their time. Purchasing commercial real estate should be approached very much like a marriage. The whole process has to be well thought out and well researched before taking the plunge. Let’s take a look at a few things potential investors need to know.

Potential investors need to have perfect timing. Newer investors would balk at the idea of buying commercial real estate with a down market. This shouldn’t be the case. A market in crisis presents the best opportunities for investments, since all prices are lowered. This is something long-time investors know. Speaking of which…

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Younger investors with limited experience should learn from veterans in the field. This mindset gives them the confidence to face big decisions head on. Being too hesitant can cause younger investors to lose golden opportunities.

It’s also important for investors to have an encyclopedic knowledge of the differences between commercial and residential real estate. These two kinds of real estate, though sometimes connected, are worlds apart – from how the area is used and how it costs, to the cash flow. It’s best to know all that.

Alan Naul is the founder of the Javelin Group, LLC, a company that aids those who plan to invest in commercial real estate. For more on Naul and Javelin, log on to this website.

Withstanding The Challenges Of Loneliness In Old Age

Regardless of age, loneliness can become a serious force to reckon with for any person. But for senior citizens, this becomes worse.

The challenges are obvious. To begin with, there’s a serious lack of mobility in old age. Weaker bones and muscles account for a lot of depression, and this form of sadness creates a lonely frustration towards oneself.

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Typically, seniors get to spend less time with their own families, provoking a lack of the sense belongingness. Even with fewer friends to spend meaningful times with, the appetite to be around significant people does not necessarily go away.

Loneliness is the cause of many physical diseases, which makes things doubly hard. And so for most of our elderly community members, withstanding loneliness in senior homes is managed through a number of strategies.

The best senior homes provide the most popular creature comforts. They have a complete offering of lots of moving space around the house, kitchens whose cupboards are filled with supplies, and access to open spaces in the outdoors.

These homes also create an opportunity for seniors to make friends with other members and write new chapters in their lives. Easily, they can relate with each other because they generally are of the same era, and they certainly have many stories to share within new circles.

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Thanks to well-planned activities, seniors get the chance to socialize while getting into some interesting hobbies ranging from low-impact sports like swimming, to creative activities like crochet.

Senior homes provide all these and more for the elderly members of the community, and maybe they could even turn out to be the place to live the best times of their lives.

Alan Naul is the founder of the Javelin Group, LLC, a company which specializes in real estate projects within the senior living industry. For more information on senior living, please visit this website.

Some Practical Living Amenities For Senior Citizens

With the heightened concern about how senior citizens are living in retirement today, there has been a fixed set of amenities that many believe to be staples in assisted living. Here is a list of practical must-haves for our seniors:

On-site assistance: Seniors need to be provided with human assistance for their various needs. This can mean having an able body to guide them in going to the bathroom, or perhaps having someone to simply remind them to take their medication.

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Complete housekeeping and utility services: When people get older, they tend to be more physically sensitive to nature’s elements. This is why regular housekeeping goes a long way in assisted living. Senior homes today have responsive handymen to manage issues on plumbing and electricity.

Transportation: With so much unpredictability in the life of a senior citizen, transportation should always be ready for them. The degree of urgency there is in the trip hardly matters. It’s true that seniors need to have easy transport to the hospital if needed. But if they need to go to the grocery or some other leisure place, they also need to be served accordingly.

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Wellness programs: The objective of assisted living is the fulfilment of the overall well-being of a senior citizen. If they are not healthy, this affects every aspect of their lives. They need to have a venue for group exercises to be held and they need a facilitator for this. Assisted living is not complete without a health professional in the area.

Recreational activities: Recreation makes senior citizens feel alive and happy. Assisted living facilities should include simple parks as well as libraries. These need to be furnished with places where seniors can read, play chess, play cards, or even simple sports.

Alan Naul leads the Javelin Group, which specializes in building, sponsoring, and investing in commercial real estate in the senior living and hospitality sectors. A fuller scale of the company’s services can be viewed on their website.