Contra Costa County is in the process of reviewing plans for a new retirement community on Seven Hills Ranch Road, just west of Heather Farm Park, about 800 feet outside of the Walnut Creek city limits.
The proposed Spieker Senior Continuing Care Community includes development of a self-contained continuing care retirement community, or CCRC, offering continuing care contracts that provide for housing, resident services, and long-term care.
The Project Site consists of two existing parcels containing approximately 30.4 total acres.
The CCRC will include two main components: (a) Up to 360 Independent Living Units and amenities for residents capable of residing in the community without daily assistance; and (b) a Health Care Center for residents requiring daily assistance or daily medical attention, including up to 100 total skilled nursing, memory care, and assisted living units. Support staff for the entire CCRC is expected to represent a full-time equivalent of up to 225 employees.
The total area of all buildings will be approximately 755,000 square feet.
The following is a summary of the Project:
1. Independent Living Units: A maximum of 360 total units with a projected stable occupancy of 460 people, including:
- Cottage Residences: Approximately 55 single-story units ranging from approximately 1,400 to 2,700 square feet in size with an aggregate gross floor area of approximately 100,000 square feet.
- Courtyard Apartments: Approximately 305 units ranging from 1- to 3-bedrooms (120 1-bedroom, 143 2-bedroom, and 42 3-bedroom), and from 800 to 1,600 square feet, arranged in buildings of 3 stories over parking and 4 stories at grade, and with an aggregate gross floor area of approximately 550,000 square feet (including the Clubhouse and Recreation Building).
2. Health Care Center: Houses a total of approximately 100 units from 300-530 square feet, with an aggregate floor area of approximately 85,000 square feet and a projected stable occupancy of 100 people. The building will be one- and two-stories in height, with Skilled Nursing housed within a one-story area, and Assisted Living/Memory Care (north end of building) in a two-story area. The Center will be accessible to Independent Living residents and the general public via the internal community roadway. Services will be available to the CCRC residents on a priority basis, and to non-residents as space permits.
The Health Care Center Units include the following approximate totals:
- Skilled Nursing: 33 beds
- Memory Care: 23 units
- Assisted Living: 44 units
The plans also call for 353 trees will be removed. Developers say they will plant 193 trees.
To learn more about the project, please visit the Contra Costa County’s website.
And why not?
While they’re at it they should widen the roads & install traffic lights too….jam all the buildings and parking lots they can around the nice suburban park full of tame multi colored ducks & geese muddling up the water… let the little kids & grandmas throw ’em bread.
The place is a far cry from the pond where us oldsters used to romp around when we were kids… but that’s progress…they should go ahead & add a Starbuck’s while they’re at it.
All those seniors in one location? I guess the Covid will be long gone prior to construction. Another disaster in the making by greedy county government.The current care facilities haven’t fared to well in CoCo.
In Rossmoor where I live, there has only been one case, and that was an employee. No new cases to my knowledge. We have 10,000 very responsible careful folks. We always are masked up and practice social distancing. Probably because we know the risks are greater for older folks. I am considered a youngster here as I am younger than most of my neighbors. They shut down all of our amenities except the golf courses and the outdoor pools.
My mom lives in a senior complex in PH and they have had no problems. Precautions are taken and there are not people going in and out of their individual apartments.
if they build this, can we have the miniature golf course back? Or maybe just the polar bear statue?
I loved that polar bear statue! I wonder if it’s in one piece somewhere or if it was sadly demolished?
They will have a hard time getting this one approved. After all, the residents won’t spend money downtown, and WC only wants resident who spend here and generate tax revenue.
Further, now that we have seen what happens to the elderly in similar properties during a pandemic, wouldn’t it make more sense to make existing properties safer?
Since it’s county land, WC won’t be making the decision. Don’t know if they can provide input to the county, since the access will be within city limits.
..I bet it will get the green light as it will provide more revenue – it’s all about more $$ to the county, city, state, etc…. now have they planned for infrastructure for it? gas, electrcity, sewer, etc? nooooooo ..just more drain on the existing… traffic impact – probably more from employees but that means more vehicles on Treat & YVR… bet the EIR will come back as negligible impact on all that… but add it all up and that’s the mess we’re in..
The 4-5 story warehouse in the Orchards development behind the new Safeway on Ygnacio Valley and Oak Grove hasn’t opened yet. It will have about 193 units. At least they have a grocery store, just like Rossmoor.
A thoroughfare to Treat Blvd might be needed to ease the traffic on Ygnacio Valley, much to the joy of residents along Candelero Dr.
Put on your thinking caps!
The Orchards warehouse is called Viamonte. Hopefully this new development will not be as expensive. Attended the Viamonte orientation and was rewarded with a massive binder of information. Some of the following details will not be found on their website at https://viamonteliving.org/
– Units cannot be rented. They must be purchased with cash. No financing is allowed.
– The units are condo style. One bedroom units start at around $600,000 and range up to $1.6 million for a two bedroom with den.
– There is an additional entrance fee of many thousands of dollars depending on unit selected.
– Parking space is optional and must be purchased for several thousand dollars.
– All residents must also pay a monthly fee based on the number of occupants and units with one occupant must pay around $4,000 per month. This does include two meals per day and use of the facilities.
The complex itself and the life style it affords sounds really, really nice and expensive. Sadly.
Fastest growing demographic group in America, pre virus, was the +65 group. And we have a huge group of +90 folks. So this kind of facility makes sense… for people looking to downsize from Alamo or Blackhawk. Those “cottages” are larger than my house, and I’ll bet the rates will make sure that this isn’t a diverse community.
well lets hope unlike NYC and Cumo, when one gets sick they won’t get sent back to the home and infect everyone else…
The only access to this is going to be through the residential area above Heather Farm Park, which is off Ygnacio Valley Rd.
This project is just too big for this space of 30 acres. There are existing regulated wetlands that they say will be protected. Will remove some Valley Oak trees as well. The largest impact is the incredible amount of grading that is needed along with retaining walls to protect the townhomes above. They are going to flatten the hills and widen it out to make a fake valley for building.
Don’t get fooled here. The comparison project is the one on 580 in Pleasanton that is all walled off from the freeway.
If you are concerned best to reach out to Karen Mitchoff the County Supervisor…….
My aunt lived in a beautiful community like this in Marin Co for several years. It was expensive to buy into & monthly rent wasn’t cheap either. I didn’t have to worry about her when she hurt her back because she was well taken care of for 2 months in the nursing center. She was involved in many activities, made lots of friends. As a widow with no kids, this was a great option for her and me, her closest relative. I hope I can live in such a nice place someday as I’m 70 with no kids to help. You people who don’t want this type of housing near you, 😆 Just wait until you can no longer handle a house. You’ll change your tune.
Agree. Same.
A friend lives in such a community in Marin. Great place with great care. Walnut Creek is building similar called Viamonte.
AnimalLover mentions it above. Expensive but hopefully will provide what folks like us really need.
Bummer – I was hoping that land would be left empty though wondered at times who owned it. It’s an active wildlife habitat with access to water, many trees, etc. and has not been open to the public for at least a decade.
Vehicle access will be a problem. At present there are two ways to get there. The first is Seven Hills Ranch Road which ends at a beautiful gate for the original ranch. The road is a nearly one lane wide winding road. It connects to Homestead Ave which is a private road. As people were using Homestead as a shortcut from the main John Muir campus on Ygnacio Valley Road to the John Muir offices at the corner of Cherry Lane and Treat Blvd a homeowner on Homestead put a gate across the road and provides the code to neighbors that live on the lane. Thus, to get to the Seven Hills Ranch property you need use Cherry Lane or Walnut Blvd neither of which is set up for a lot of vehicle traffic.
There is also some possible vehicle access to this parcel from North San Carlos which winds through Heather Farm Park and ends at the gate for the Seven Hills school. At the moment you are up against a steep hillside which is also a nesting site for the Canada geese. I assume the bulldozers will remove that hill to provide access from N. San Carlos.
@WC Resident I encourage you to go look at the plans on the county website. Access is one entrance off Kinross which is currently dead ended off Marchbanks. Emergency gates on San Carlos. The plans call for lowering elevations by 10 feet in some areas with a third of the cut material exported. Big retaining walls. Removing lots of trees including Valley Oaks. They have to protect the small creek and wetlands as it is a Corps of Engineers flood stream.
A very large project that is better suited for flatlands like Sun Valley Mall!
“Reviewing plans” = entertaining kickback offers
That’s real smart being we are always up in smoke, have little water and our electricity gets cut off. My husband has an interview next week and if he gets the job then outta of CA we go and I can’t wait!
How in the world can people afford this? I really hate to see the land destroyed for this or any other kind of development. We have too few places left for the wildlife.
This proposed project bears a strong resemblance to the comfortable, emergency, and progressive care which Rossmoor provides.
I think it is badly needed and would be nicely located.
Such a facility is not suitable for the retail, commercial stimulus needed in the SunValley mall area.
In view of CV-19 airborne spread, CoCo County needs to step up and require an upgraded HVAC for both resident and service areas. An both systems need to be independent and residential system having positive pressure.
No need to worry about local elementary schools having the capacity to hold more students for this development.
Or the ‘choice’ of Walnut Creek School District or MDUSD.
And Seven Hills’ students can just climb over the fence and stay with Gramma until Mom and Dad get home.
Looks like a lot of staff will be parked on Marchbanks.
There are lots of owls, foxes, and other wildlife in this area. The previous owner (RIP) would be horrified to see what has been proposed for his land.. So much development will ruin the area and hurt many animals..
We need this open space!
Sadly wildlife have been killed on Ygnacio Valley many times. ☹️
That area is not safe for wildlife.
Heather Farm Park is more a sports park than an animal preserve. Signs all over say do not feed the Canada geese, but people ignore the signs.
I agree with you, this area is lacking these kind of facilities.
Wow the experts are at it again. And I do mean EX
Excuse me ON DA…. but I am still “Pert” ( attractively lively & cheeky ).
And since it will be senior housing, I’m sure it will ALL be affordable, right???
You can expect plenty of Paramedic traffic when this thing opens. That “Bring out your dead” scene from Monte Python was no joke.
Join a citizen group that feels this is a misplaced project. Email msherner20@gmail.com for more information. The continuing care concept is fantastic, but this is a poor choice for the location of this massive development. It is the the most beautiful property with a magnificent view of Mt. Diablo. Can we save it? The first step is to keep Contra Costa County from changing the land’s density approval. We can do this, but you have to get on the list as a supporter. Please email today. msherner20@gmail.com
Good luck. You’re gonna need it.
I’ve been a WC resident over 35 years.
If the property has already been sold to the developers, well…
And it’s County.