Retirement Community Takes Reservations

By Nicole Zaro Stahl, Hacienda Network Staff Writer

Already a community that boasts an extensive menu of senior services, Pleasanton has just become even more attractive to those who want to age gracefully. Stoneridge Creek, the new continuing-care retirement community (CCRC) planned for 46 acres of the former Staples Ranch, has opened an information center in Hacienda Business Park and has started taking reservations for its portfolio of housing options.

Designed for an ultimate population approaching 800 residents, Stoneridge Creek is reputed to be the first new CCRC of this scale to be built in the East Bay in several decades. It will also be the first in the area built in a campus configuration. That's an important feature for many retirees, who are often hesitant to migrate from the traditional family home to the more "urban" environment of the high-rise facility, says vice president Troy Bourne. "Seniors prefer the single-family-home setting, and that's what our campus arrangement offers, with its open spaces and walking trails. The villas look much like the homes they're leaving, so the neighborhood has a very familiar feel."

What distinguishes the community is the wide range of amenities and services, not the least of which is unlimited access to the skilled nursing, assisted living, and memory support facilities with virtually no increase in the monthly fee. "Think of Stoneridge Creek as a master-planned neighborhood for people who happen to be 62 and over that provides beautiful homes, helpful services, and, if needed, long-term care," Bourne suggests. "It's a combination that leads to freedom, security, and peace of mind."

The villas single-story dwellings with two or three bedrooms, fully-equipped kitchens, and attached garages - are just one of the housing choices. Seniors can also opt for a one-, two-, or three-bedroom apartment, also with full kitchen and state-of-the-art appliances. Groundbreaking is expected near the end of this year, with construction taking 18 to 24 months.

In California, continuing care retirement communities are regulated business enterprises with mandatory State certification and rules for the protection of residents. Stoneridge Creek's owner/operator is Continuing Life Communities, which, under the chairmanship of Ned Spieker, a prominent Menlo Park real estate developer, also developed and now runs three award-winning CCRCs in southern California: La Costa Glen Carlsbad, Morningside in Fullerton, and University Village Thousand Oaks. As evidence of CLC's success in the sector, the company has enjoyed full occupancy and extensive wait lists at all its communities.

CCL believes the project will be a win for Pleasanton. "This is a wonderful city, and we really wanted to be here," says Bourne. "As they've learned about the project, residents have come to see Stoneridge Creek as a way of enriching the senior experience without taking on any extra burdens, so it has received widespread support." For more information, stop by the information center at 5698 Stoneridge Drive, call (800) 849-0023, or visit www.stoneridgecreek.com.

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