Bespoke

Fit Story

Helping an Autism Center Find Its Forever Home

Client Profile

  • Facility serving children and adolescents with autism
  • Experienced continuous growth since its inception in 2004

Perfect Fit Criteria

  • Twice the space
  • Lower fixed occupancy costs
  • Professional image

The Challenge

ALCA helps children with autism and the people who love them thrive. Every five years, ALCA has doubled its space requirement, and the school set a goal to expand from 15,000 square feet to 30,000 square feet. ALCA asked for our help finding the best possible real estate fit.

The Solution

Over the course of four years, we evaluated several potential properties in McHenry County. Because the region is rural, it offered fewer viable real estate options than more populated areas. Nonetheless, we continued looking until we found several buildings that weren’t an obvious fit but could be adapted to meet ALCA’s needs.

The Outcome

We leveraged relationships with contractors and lending institutions to help ALCA acquire a three-story, 41,000 square-foot building (exceeding ALCA’s space requirements) within a campus setting less than 4 miles from the existing school. This was a major accomplishment considering the limited inventory in the area. Through our extensive brokerage network, we were also able to negotiate a deal that was significantly less than the listing price, thus lowering the client’s fixed occupancy costs. The new ALCA facility gives the school ample room to grow its programs and enhance its image. A superb fit.

“Bespoke was a perfect fit for us. From our initial conversations through closing and beyond, they have been committed to our project. The level of guidance, resources, accessibility, and engagement of Bill and the team greatly exceeded our expectations. Their understanding of the nonpublic school income structure and the needs of our special population is unlike any other firm and allowed us to target specific properties that made sense specifically for our school. The Bespoke experience was so much more than buying a property. It was a partnership in finding our forever home.”

Kelly Weaver

Executive Director and Founder, Alexander Leigh Center for Autism (ALCA)

Let’s Get You Fitted

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