REDEVELOPMENT: Neighbors organizing informational meeting for 5252 California senior-living project

| Development | West Seattle news

(Massing rendering of Option 3 for 5252 California SW, by Ankrom Moisan)

The Aegis Living plan for 5252 California SW is midway through the Design Review process, after “early design guidance” approval three months ago (WSB coverage here). The project is proposed to include 100 units – one-third memory care, the rest assisted living – plus 750 sf of commercial space, and offstreet parking for 40 cars. The project site currently holds three commercial buildings that were vacated several years ago while previous ownership pursued other plans for the property. Neighbors with questions are organizing an informational meeting with project-team members next week, and they’re inviting everyone in the community who wants to find out more. Here’s the announcement sent to us:

Aegis & Architect re: 5252 California Ave SW
May 4 @ 7:00 – 8:00 pm

If you live near 5252 California Ave SW (corner of Brandon and California) or are just interested in the development of this large, senior living complex — please join Aegis, its Architect, and neighbors to discuss this project and its impact on the neighborhood.

Location: West Seattle Senior Center (Nucor Room), 4217 SW Oregon

The organizers also have set up a website with project information. Meantime, the second and potentially final Southwest Design Review Board meeting about the project is not yet on the schedule. Aegis Living has more than three dozen locations in three states, including one in Admiral.

Kristina April 26, 2023 (12:33 pm)

I am really excited to see that dismal property turned into usable space, and even though retirement is many years off for me I love the idea of retiring so near to my current home!

Also John April 26, 2023 (9:33 pm)

I hope you have $15,000/month (today’s cost) ready to stay there.
- RayWest April 27, 2023 (7:58 pm)
  
  Unfortunately, some people are under the mistaken assumption that this is going to be like a SHAG senior housing that offers lower rent. It will be far from that, and few will be able to afford living here.

jayspeidell April 26, 2023 (2:53 pm)

And it’s got plenty of parking as well as commercial space at ground
level. This is a great example of the type of projects we need to
sustainably support a growing population. >2 residential floors
over 1 floor commercial buildings with underground parking near existing
transit. I’d like to see this for all the new buildings going in.

Urbanhiker April 26, 2023 (6:23 pm)

Normally, I would completely agree with you. My chief concern is from speaking with a neighbor to the project who is under the impression that these will be five or six stories and will be built practically to the lot line and will block sunlight of nearby properties. I’d like to attend this meeting to see what the project details actually are in order to weigh in and make sure it suits the spirit and character of our neighborhood.
Also John April 26, 2023 (9:35 pm)

It’s only 750 sq/ft of commercial space. That’s less than my backyard cottage.

Al King April 26, 2023 (3:17 pm)

Having seen what prices 6 years were ago here in WS for mom I can only cringe as to what they’ll be charging once it’s built. All I can do is urge people to investigate what they’ll actually need to live in one of these places. It will be an eye opener!

RW April 26, 2023 (4:51 pm)

Al King – Exactly what I was thinking. My mother passed a little over ten years ago. At that time cost for cheaper assisted living facilities was around $5,000/month. That’s just for basic, independent living. The more care needed, the higher the price. From the looks of Aegis Living facility on Admiral, which looks nice, I’m sure the price will be double that. How many can afford that? For most, elder care is financial nightmare.
West Sea Virgo April 26, 2023 (5:34 pm)

Recent price was $10 k per month. Terribly understaffed but they still charge for all services, even when they neglected to do those services. I would not recommend Aegis to anyone.
- Also John April 26, 2023 (9:37 pm)
  
  My family was paying $15,000/month for my mom at the Admiral Aegis Living in 2019.
  - Josh April 27, 2023 (6:02 am)
    
    While still quite high the average cost to live in an Aegis facility in Seattle is around 6K a month. Your family must have chosen a whole bunch of add ons that your family must have been able to afford (and honestly even with all the add ons I suspect the number you are using is bloated).That being said: Senior care is immensely expensive. Save up, marry up, or treat your kids well.
  - Kristina April 27, 2023 (9:28 am)
    
    Uhhh, what?! Under no circumstances will I be retiring with that kind of money. Sigh.
Oh Seattle April 26, 2023 (5:57 pm)

I would add that many people don’t know that Medicare pays exactly $0 for long-term care. You need to have a LOT of retirement money to afford a place like this because one person would easily go through $100k per year.

J April 26, 2023 (6:05 pm)

This project should not be halted or encumbered by a few, anonymous nearby property owners trying to change the massing and viability of the project.

Numerous concessions toward the neighborhood desires have already been made including the California Ave presence, the step back of the floors and set backs.

I’l bet the some of the concerned are homeowners along the 5200 block of 42nd Ave SW.

jl April 27, 2023 (6:56 am)

40 parking spaces is not enough for all the staff and visitorsThis drawing looks cute with trees etc but does not reveal the true aesthetic

Rick April 27, 2023 (6:57 am)

Why so many parking spaces for old people? Everybody knows they can’t (or shouldn’t) drive and that cars are evil and destroying our society. That space could be put to more productive use. Like a Starbucks.

T Rex April 27, 2023 (1:42 pm)

Could you be more disrespectful? OLD PEOPLE? Be careful my friend, your day is coming.
- CKathes April 28, 2023 (4:49 pm)
  
  Personally I find “old people” less offensive than “seniors,” a term of mid-20th-century bureaucratic origin that positively reeks of condescension and officiousness. (It also begs the question: When was I ever a “junior”?) I can tolerate “elder” in certain contexts but lean strongly toward just plain “older adult.” But you do you.
WS Res April 28, 2023 (10:39 am)

Um, staff? Visitors?

Scarlett April 27, 2023 (8:17 am)

Unfortunately, many people are going to be shocked at what it costs to retire when that time rolls around and have no clue what Medicare pays for and more importantly, what it doesn’t pay for (long term care). Most are too late to buy long term care insurance because the premiums are astronomical. My advice? Better brush up on those family ties and swallow your pride because you’ll be relying on each other more than you’ll care to admit.

Jeff April 27, 2023 (8:54 am)

This is such an awful location for a senior center! This should be multi-purpose apartments with retail on the ground level, a vibrant area with some night life. I oppose this and will speak out about it as I live down the block!

Randy April 27, 2023 (12:15 pm)

Jeff, what do you perceive as the difference between an assisted living facility and an apartment building? Both house people, so what is it about one or the other that would make it more or less desirable? Thanks!
Kristina April 27, 2023 (12:40 pm)

I live down the block too, and the last thing I want is some “vibrant nightlife” where I might hear loud music late at night because I get up early to go to work. I think it’s a great location for a senior living place – on a flat street, walking distance to the Junction or Morgan Junction and all of the grocery stores, restaurants, etc. If I can afford it, it’s where I’d like to live when I can’t handle my home anymore. I love this community, and the location of where I live means I can walk to a farmers market or the beach, and to me that’s pure perfection. Staying in my community as I age would be a gift.

April April 27, 2023 (9:49 am)

As someone who lives near this, there is no way there is 40 off street parking spaces. Its already crazy on the weekends with everyone trying to get to the nursery. They are crazy to think this. And will this be affordable? I highly doubt it. Just making more of a mess for West Seattle. There are already to many people here.

John April 27, 2023 (11:15 am)

The 40 off street parking spots will be part of the new construction. They’ll have underground parking similar to their Admiral facility

D-Ridge April 28, 2023 (9:13 am)

So many people in West Seattle would rather have an and abandoned, blighted block vs. new housing, neighbors, customers for local businesses. Drives me crazy.

Leonette April 28, 2023 (11:08 am)

My high school friend and her husband were both at Aegis on Admiral. I don’t know what his cost was. This was two years ago. The children took her out when the monthly cost for just her got up to $17,000.

Carol April 28, 2023 (6:27 pm)

I have a friend who just went into Aegis in Queen Anne: A one time $12K community fee, and then $12,800K per month. She is quite old with many health issues and dementia…. but I have to say, that price tag was a bit shocking .

cw May 8, 2023 (3:33 pm)

I am not a fan of this plan. In West Seattle alone, we have ~15 care facilities. West Seattle is about 8.33 square miles big. I say phoo on all the ‘affordable housing’ (developer $$ kickbacks) and ‘green pilot programs’ (an additional 12.8 feet in monstrosity height of 56.6′ high allowed in this case). How is that program possibly logical? Add the high resident costs in W. Sea anyway. This location is smack in the middle of residential neighborhoods that don’t want to be ‘Alaska Junction style’ residents. The average age in West Seattle is 43.1 years old….43.1 — the population requiring this kind of housing does not support the upset to these neighborhoods and our community (all of west seattle houses 62K residents). It’s a ‘greed’ thing — go ahead and keep within the 3 story code limit (oh, except that new program allowance set by whom? Voted by whom?) and don’t get greedy about developer income as a result. Not a fan of this plan as a 30 year West Seattle resident.

Sorry, comment time is over.