Perched on the side of the Conejo Mountains above the 101 freeway, Sage Mountain Senior Living in Newbury Park offers a perk that’s more in typical of a high-end resort hotel than an assisted living facility: sweeping views from the windows of every unit. “It was built so that every apartment has an enhanced view of the mountains and the valley,” Executive Director Ted Burgess told the Business Journal. “The residents who live here will be able to enjoy that for the rest of their lives.” The 130-unit complex is slated to open in midsummer. It offers studio, one-bedroom and “memory care” units for residents with dementia. While the cost of living in California makes it less of a haven for retirees than other states, the dearth of facilities also has to do with the lengthy entitlement process for building in the region, By HELEN FLOERSH Staff Reporter Perched on the side of the Conejo Mountains above the 101 freeway, Sage Mountain Senior Living in Newbury Park offers a perk that’s more in typical of a high-end resort hotel than an assisted living facility: sweeping views from the windows of every unit. “It was built so that every apartment has an enhanced view of the mountains and the valley,” Executive Director Ted Burgess told the Business Journal. “The residents who live here will be able to enjoy that for the rest of their lives.” The 130-unit complex is slated to open in midsummer. It offers studio, one-bedroom and “memory care” units for residents with dementia. While the cost of living in California makes it less of a haven for retirees than other states, the dearth of facilities also has to do with the lengthy entitlement process for building in the region, noted CBRE retirement home broker Bryan Lewitt. “We’re undersupplied because the entitlement process is so difficult in the Conejo Valley versus other cities, whereas in Texas they’re oversupplied,” Lewis said. “It’s not that the area is not development-friendly – it’s just that you have to check more boxes.” Resident input Developers can reap the rewards of high demand, which Lewis expects will continue to grow as people live longer. Sage Mountain has fielded well over 100 inquiries since it opened its sales office in early March and has already accepted some deposits, according to Director of Sales and Marketing Jill Waters. Rents for standard rooms at Sage range from $4,500 to $6,500 a month, depending on location within the building; the rate for memory care units is between $7,500 and $8,100. By comparison, the average monthly rent for other assisted living facilities in Ventura County is around $3,750 a month for a single-occupancy unit, according to senior living resource website SeniorHomes.com. Newer facilities are closer to $4,600 a month for one-bedroom units, according to NAI Capital commercial real estate broker and Moorpark City Councilman Ken Simons. “Conejo Valley is not saturated with (senior living facilities), and neither is L.A.,” Simons noted. While the children of potential residents are the most frequent callers, Sage Mountain also fields queries from individuals who are in nearby facilities, Waters noted. “(They) want to know how we’re different,” she said. To answer that question, Burgess and Waters point to Sage Mountain’s plan to offer a resident-driven culture. The company under which Sage Mountain operates – Vancouver, Wash.-based Milestone Retirement Communities – has built its business in such a way that its affiliated facilities can offer amenities however best serves the residents who live there, Burgess explained. In his three decades in the industry, Burgess has seen a need for eldercare homes where the programming is dictated by the residents, he said. “(Other facilities say,) ‘Here’s our program, hope it’s right for you,’” Burgess said. “We’re determined to be uniquely responsive to residents. You don’t see a lot of that in this business.” In keeping with that mission, the first 30 occupants will form the “Conejo Club,” a panel that will offer input on the types of leisure activities Sage Mountain offers. It already has on-site facilities for yoga, exercise and massage, along with a restaurant-style dining hall that has a menu of healthy, Mediterranean-style options. Residents will be able to dictate what other offerings the menu includes, Waters said. “We’re here to hear what they have to say and how they would like to build their community,” she explained. “This is their home.” Private location The picturesque site is remote from residential neighborhoods, which protected its development from the resistance of locals concerned about traffic and potential noise from ambulances – a problem that has surfaced in other areas, including Woodland Hills. Still, it’s best suited for residents who do not prefer to get around on foot, Simons noted. “(At this location) you can’t walk anywhere,” he said. “But it’s a great place for someone who is retired and who is used to the quiet.” Transportation is included in the lease, and there are local businesses downhill, Burgess said. “We’re at the top of everything, and we’re going to take advantage of that,” he added. For Burgess, Sage Mountain is something of the “crown jewel” of his career. After nearly 35 years working as executive director at several assisted living homes and the owner of a consulting business for eldercare facilities, he is excited to come in at the opening of a retirement community that he can run in keeping with his own vision. “This is an opportunity to start from the ground up, not just to build a beautiful building to serve residents, but to build a culture with staff that is service-oriented in a very deep way,” Burgess said. “I’m a servant-leader, so I’m going to get out there and do everything that needs to happen.”
