Morgan Hill’s newest senior community threw a grand opening bash April 30, and the apartments are filling up quickly.
Residents began moving into Loma Clara Senior Living, located at 16515 Butterfield Blvd., in February. San Jose-based SBI Builders broke ground on the 62,000-square-foot project in late 2017.
The two-story, Craftsman-style building was designed by HPI Architecture. It consists of 67 residential units, 25 of which are for residents with memory care needs, and include studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units.
Residents have access to amenities such as a cafe bistro, library, movie theater, fitness center, and an outdoor courtyard with barbecue.
Loma Clara is owned by Irvine-based Steadfast Companies, and managed by Integral Senior Living, which is headquartered in Carlsbad, where it manages 80 properties in 18 states.
Monthly rates for assisted living units range from $3,995 for a studio to $6,795 for a two-bedroom apartment.
Tim Batton, senior executive director of Integral Senior Living, said the demand for senior living facilities is increasing as baby boomers age.
“Morgan Hill has a significant senior population that was underserved,” he said.
Loma Clara offers a number of activities for residents through the Vibrant Life program, as well as a memory support program called Generations.
“What really sets us apart are our programs and offerings,” Batton said.
He added that many residents have moved in from not only Morgan Hill but Gilroy, Hollister and San Jose.
Nancy Taylor moved into Loma Clara in March after living in Northern California for most of her life. She said she found Morgan Hill to be a “charming” town, and praised the staff that work at the property.
“I think it’s very oriented to the residents,” she said. “It gives me a sense of safety and belonging. I’m able to do what I want to do. It’s a beautiful, beautiful building.”
Collette Gray, CEO and COO of Integral Senior Living, said Loma Clara has already established a small, tight-knit community that hosts frequent get-togethers.
“It is an honor to join the vibrant Morgan Hill community, and we’re grateful for the warm reception,” she said.
In a surprise announcement, Tres Pinos resident Stephanie Arriaga, who works as a server at Loma Clara, received a $1,000 scholarship from the Edward Boss Prado Foundation during the ceremony.
Cecelia Ponzini, co-founder of the foundation, said her mother-in-law is a resident at Loma Clara. While having lunch there, the two were waited on by Arriaga, and were so impressed by her service that Ponzini said she wanted to give back to her through the foundation.
Arriaga is a student at Gavilan College, where she is studying cosmetology.
