NEW YORK CITY-Maplewood Communities is growing in the tri-state area, thanks in part to financing from Aviv REIT, Inc., which has recently provided a first wave of $60 million to facilitate the opening of assisted living communities here.

“The relationship started several years ago and its really a platform for us to grow our portfolio into a regional operator but it will also allow us to have a real local touch,” Maplewood chairman and CEO Gregory Smith tells GlobeSt.com. “Our geographical expansion is basically in the tri-state area, including Fairfield, Westchester County and Manhattan, as well as Bergen County and northern New Jersey.”

Smith says that Maplewood currently has multiple projects in the pipeline--totaling upwards of $200 million. The Manhattan projects alone, should they proceed, would cost $40 to $50 million to develop. If all goes according to plan, this first wave of financing will mark the beginning of a long-term relationship with Aviv. It’s one that Aviv’s chairman, president and CEO Craig Bernfield looks forward to developing as well.