Will Childs Moderates Development Panel at InterFace Seniors Housing Southeast
Will Childs moderated a candid discussion on when senior housing development will return more broadly—and what will separate the projects that move forward from those that remain on the sidelines.
· Article published
Featured in Seniors Housing Business
Seniors Housing Business featured Will Childs in its October 14, 2026 coverage of the development panel he moderated at InterFace Seniors Housing Southeast in Atlanta.
The article, “Development Is Back…Selectively, Says Panel,” examines how developers are weighing demand against construction costs, financing and project feasibility. It also notes Will’s observation that new entrants are contributing to higher acquisition prices for existing assets.
For owners and investors, the discussion points to a practical question: how do local market conditions and realistic execution options affect the next decision? SHS brings that transaction perspective to valuation, positioning and investment sales.
Senior Housing Services' Will Childs was invited to moderate the development market panel at the 13th Annual InterFace Seniors Housing Southeast Conference in Atlanta.
Drawing on nearly two decades of senior housing valuation, market-study, advisory and investment-sales experience, Will led a discussion focused on the projects moving forward today and the factors likely to shape the next development cycle.
Key themes from the panel
Construction costs have stabilized, but they have not meaningfully declined. Feasibility increasingly depends on land basis, design efficiency and disciplined selection of the development and operating team.
Middle-market development needs its own model. A successful middle-market project is not simply a less-expensive version of Class A senior housing. It requires a purpose-built operating, design and capital structure aligned with the resident profile and achievable rents.
Incremental development may offer some of the best near-term opportunities. Campus expansions, cottage additions and entitled or previously shelved sites can provide a more compelling path than starting from scratch in markets where full replacement-cost economics remain difficult.
The next development cycle is already beginning selectively. The projects most likely to move forward will combine experienced sponsorship, patient capital, disciplined market selection and early alignment among operators, developers and capital partners.
A selective return—not a broad reopening
The broader takeaway was that development is returning, but not evenly. Strong demand fundamentals alone are not enough. Successful projects still require the right basis, realistic revenue assumptions, operating discipline and a capital structure that can withstand today's cost environment.
The panel included Charlie Jennings, David Coster, Tod Petty, Kevin King and Dan Marinko. Senior Housing Services thanks InterFace Conference Group and Seniors Housing Business for bringing the industry together for the discussion.