Case Studies

Riverside Cat Hospital

Okemos, MI
From cramped quarters to a purpose-built feline hospital—Dr. Lewis’s vision comes to life.

The Situation

 

Dr. Kerry Lewis had outgrown her existing veterinary clinic, which operated out of an old house retrofitted for medical use.

 

  • The building’s inefficient layout and limited parking were major constraints on both patient experience and practice growth.
  • Her vision was to create a state-of-the-art, feline-only hospital that matched the level of care she provides her patients.
  • While the initial focus was on buying a new building, we encouraged her to stay open to leasing opportunities—a pivotal decision.

The Process

  • After defining her ideal size, location, and timeline, we conducted a thorough search of all viable properties for both purchase and lease within a 3-mile radius of her current location, as well as nearby communities.
  • Dr. Lewis toured and evaluated multiple properties before narrowing her options to two final candidates.
  • We connected her with a veterinary-specific commercial lender who understood the nuances of her profession and could offer financing tailored to her goals.
  • Working in lockstep with a skilled architect and trusted general contractor, we created test fits and construction budgets for both final options.

The Solution

  • Dr. Lewis ultimately chose a standalone building for lease, which offered:
    • Excellent visibility on a main thoroughfare
    • Abundant natural light and accessible parking
    • A footprint that was 2.5x larger than her previous clinic

With the support of a collaborative landlord and design team, we successfully navigated the additional hurdle of obtaining a special use permit from the municipality—an essential step in making her vision possible.

The Result

  • Dr. Lewis is now operating from a beautifully transformed facility built specifically for feline care.
  • The new Riverside Cat Hospital gives her the platform to grow, serve more clients, and fully realize her long-term goals for the practice.
  • The combination of flexible lease terms, professional partners, and thoughtful planning helped make this dream a reality—on time, and on budget.

Congratulations, Dr. Lewis!

Dr. Lewis and the Riverside Cat Hospital team have been thriving at their new location. Okemos is lucky to have you.

Remy Isdaner and Nick Zagar were super helpful in guiding me through all the steps of locating a suitable property, negotiating a lease, finding a contractor, and working with an equipment vendor. They were also available and helpful throughout the renovation process and followed up after our opening. I cannot recommend them highly enough! -Dr. Kerry Lewis, DVM | Riverside Cat Hospital

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What Our Clients Are Saying

Remy was very helpful and straight forward with me about the challenges of starting a practice. He kept me well informed and was very proactive, a professional in every aspect of the real estate business. I could not have navigated this process without him; I will definitely use Remy for our future growth needs.

Dr. Kevin Semma, OD

Remy has been an indispensable part of my journey to build a veterinary practice. I had another commercial realtor that was not familiar with veterinary profession when Remy reached out to me. When I decided to stay with my previous realtor, Remy was willing to answer any questions I had or help in any way, even though I was not signing with him. I felt he genuinely wanted my business to succeed and wanted to help. Soon I realized the importance of having a realtor who has special knowledge of the healthcare field when choosing a space and decided to reach out to him. Remy is very professional, relaxed, and inviting. He brings his own expertise as well as others to consult about different aspects of building a practice. Remy is available, thoughtful, supportive, and assists in problem solving concerns that arise. The process was less stressful, because he was a partner in the process, not just a realtor. I have and will continue to recommend him for any commercial real estate needs.

Dr. Katie Boatman, DVM

Working with Mirlo Real Estate Partners was a great experience, and I could not be more impressed with the level of service I received. From the very beginning, Nick and Remy helped me establish my preferences and outlined the best strategy for my specific situation. Not only werethey able to find the PERFECT space for me in a brand new medical office building, but due to the tight deadline, they were also able to find me an OUTSTANDING temporary space to occupy during the construction period to minimize downtime for my practice. Their hard work and dedication really made the transition seamless. Their knowledge of my needs and the market was STRONG and helped me achieve VERY FAVORABLE terms. I would highly recommend them to any healthcare provider for their commercial real estate needs.

Dr. Alon Kahana, MD, PhD

We are incredibly grateful to Remy Isdaner for guiding us through the challenging journey of starting our veterinary practice. Remy’s knowledge was deemed invaluable from the outset, assisting us in every aspect of the startup process. Remy found just the right building, and it wasn’t even on the market. He contacted the owners and successfully negotiated a favorable deal, making our dream of owning a practice a reality. Remy’s professionalism, persistence, and genuine care for our success truly set him apart. We highly recommend Remy to any business owner needing support with their business endeavors!

Dr. Krysten Andrews, DVM & Dr. TJ Vernaci, DVM

As an established oral surgeon, I can wholeheartedly recommend Remy Isdaner and Mirlo Real Estate Partners to any medical professional seeking to start or expand their practice. Not only did Remy advocate and fight for my best interest, but he also demonstrated an unparalleled understanding of my industry, exceeding my expectations and making the process as smooth as possible. With Remy taking so much off my plate I was able to focus on building and marketing my business, allowing me to open my doors with a full schedule of patients. I could not be more satisfied with my experience working with Remy and my new, state-of-the-art oral surgery practice.

Dr. Robert John, DDS, MD

I am thrilled to share my experience with Mirlo Real Estate Partners. As an oral surgeon, the thought of handling a commercial real estate transaction and the subsequent buildout of my new office was daunting. However, Mirlo made the entire process seamless and efficient. From the outset, they were attentive to every detail of my requirements. Their knowledge and professionalism were evident as they guided us through each step, ensuring that every aspect of the deal was executed at the highest level. Nick and Remy worked hard to advocate for us and were committed partners in our success. Thanks to their exceptional service, I am now operating in a state-of-the-art facility, perfectly suited for my patients and staff. I wholeheartedly recommend Mirlo Real Estate Partners to anyone looking for a reliable and highly competent commercial real estate partner.

Dr. Jeffrey Wasielewski, DDS, MD, MBA