Merrill Gardens buys senior housing in Orchards

Seattle-based senior housing company Merrill Gardens has entered the Clark County market with the $16 million acquisition of a senior living complex in Vancouver’s Orchards area.

The company has taken over management of the 115-unit independent- and assisted-living community at 10011 N.E. 118th Ave., on the northeast corner of the 117th Avenue and 99th Street intersection.

It was purchased from private investment group Orchards Village Investments LLC, which had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February 2009, due to slumping occupancy.

Merrill Gardens operates 56 communities in Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Nevada, Montana, Georgia, Florida. Texas and Alabama.

“The largest number of our communities are on the West Coast,” said Loree Wagner, a company spokeswoman.

She said Merrill Gardens does not expect ownership and management changes to affect residents or staff at the senior community in Orchards. About 81 percent, or 92 units, are occupied, and approximately 60 people report to work at the complex.

The new name will be Merrill Gardens at Orchards Village.

The community formerly was managed by Issaquah-based Regency Pacific Inc.