Insights
Replacing and repositioning aging skilled nursing facilities
Build for the future: Replacing and repositioning aging skilled nursing facilities Across the Upper Midwest and beyond, many skilled nursing facilities built between the 1960s and 1990s are reaching the limits of their useful life. Long double-loaded corridors, shared bathrooms, aging HVAC systems, challenges in complying with current regulations, and institutional finishes no longer meet…
Turning lower interest rates into new development opportunities
With borrowing costs beginning to ease, it’s time to re-evaluate paused projects — and plan strategically for growth The Federal Reserve recently lowered interest rates again, cutting its benchmark rate by a quarter point. The move is designed to ease borrowing costs and boost growth — and for commercial developers and senior living operators alike,…
Land contracts: Making deals happen when capital is tight
The growing appeal of land contracts in the Upper Midwest Business owners, developers, brokers, and landowners across Wisconsin and Minnesota face a familiar question: How do we keep projects moving forward in today’s market? One answer gaining renewed attention is the land contract — also known as a contract for deed or seller financing. Though…
Balancing revenue engines with resident appeal in senior living
When dollars meet dignity Senior living operators across Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa know this tension well. You need services and amenities that make residents feel at home and provide the appropriate level of care — yet you also need revenue streams that sustain your organization. Lean too far toward cost-cutting or revenue maximization, and you…
How 1031 exchanges can work for new construction
Across the Upper Midwest, there’s an overlooked way to keep deals alive: using a 1031 exchange for new construction projects — a powerful way to keep projects moving forward when capital is tight. Most investors know the basics of a 1031 exchange — sell an investment property, reinvest in another, and defer capital gains taxes.…
DBS Group’s Chris Walters Named to Wisconsin Titan 100
DBS Group President and CEO Chris Walters has been named as a 2026 Wisconsin Titan 100 honoree, recognizing the state’s top CEOs and C-level executives for exceptional leadership, vision, and passion. Under Walters’ leadership, DBS Group has grown from a small start-up in 2015 into an organization with over 65 team members operating in five…
Jake Morey joins DBS Group as project superintendent
Design-build construction manager and general contractor DBS Group has added Jake Morey to its growing team. Morey will serve as a project superintendent, overseeing daily site operations for commercial construction projects to ensure they are completed safely, efficiently, and in line with DBS Group’s commitment to quality and client satisfaction. A 20-year veteran of the…
DBS Group welcomes four new team members
With steady growth in its design-build work, DBS Group has added four additional professionals to its team. The recent additions bring expertise in project management, preconstruction, and field operations — strengthening DBS Group’s capacity to take on complex projects and deliver for clients in diverse markets. Kyle Cavanaugh joined DBS Group as a project engineer.…
Goddard School hires DBS Group for expansion project
The Goddard School has hired DBS Group to expand its facility in Blaine, Minnesota. As part of the project DBS Group will design and build an 8716-square-foot expansion and associated site improvements, along with select interior renovations of the existing facility. DBS Group designed and built the original structure in 2020. Construction is scheduled for…
DBS Group under contract for Dash Park expansion
Dave and Barb Skogen have hired DBS Group to design and build an expansion of Dash Park in Onalaska, WI. The expansion will incorporate a large splash pad, a restroom/mechanical building, a large canopy/shade structure and beautiful site improvements to complement the existing Dash Park. Construction is underway with completion scheduled for spring 2026. The…