Ever since the days its current residents were hardly 60 years old, the Jewish Home — average age: 88 — has hoped to branch out in to the South Peninsula.
Now, having suffered the slings and arrows of tight state regulation, Jewish Home CEO Daniel Ruth is finally ready to lay his cards on the table. And, as revealed by the watercolor image accompanying this story, the cards present an attractive future.
“This project really is the realization of a dream to provide Jewish senior living services in the South Peninsula,” he said.
“The South Peninsula is the largest and fastest-growing Jewishly identified community in the Bay Area. Everything points to the actual need, which has, in fact been validated … for Jewish sponsored senior living services.”
The project of which Ruth speaks is 899 Charleston, a 193-unit senior community planned for the Taube-Koret Campus for Jewish Life alongside the Oshman Family JCC. In the wake of the state Department of Social Services recently recent approval of the Home’s plans, Ruth has ramped up efforts to let the community know about the future community.
The Home has opened up a “preview center” at 366 Cambridge Ave. in Palo Alto. Prospective residents were permitted to put down a token $1,000 deposit before the DSS approval; now they can reserve a spot with a 10 percent deposit (units are expected to run between $400,000 to more than $1 million).
At the beginning of the year, 60 of the 193 units were reserved. By July, Ruth aims to have that number up to 135, as well as boosting the campus’ overall fundraising from its current mark of $113 million to $155 million. With that much financial capital raised and interest generated, the CJL will be able to obtain tax-free bonds and commence construction. It’s a goal Ruth summarizes as “achievable.”
As well as letting the community know what 899 Charleston is, Ruth also wants to talk about what it’s not. And the first thing it isn’t is Jewish Home South.
First off, the Palo Alto development is expected to house around 250 seniors compared to the roughly 430 at San Francisco’s Silver Ave. And the median age at 899 Charleston will likely be around a decade younger than the Jewish Home’s. The clientele will likely be heartier and more independent than San Francisco’s, though, if need be, Ruth notes that residents will be transferred to San Francisco or other Palo Alto skilled nursing providers in the event of a medical turn for the worse.
Finally, Ruth expects to employ 90 full-time staff (a $6 million payroll) compared to the 650 staffers overseeing the more dependant residents of the Jewish Home.
The Palo Alto home will be run by an administrator who works under Ruth; the Jewish Home CEO laughs when the metaphor is utilized of him advancing from captain of the ship to commodore of the fleet — but he agrees it is apt.
He also feels 899 Charleston could be distinctive from any other senior facility in the nation. While there are other senior homes in close proximity to Jewish community centers, only 899 Charleston will be synergistically intertwined with a JCC.
“What we’re creating at the Campus for Jewish Life is a village-like environment,” he said.
“This is really unlike any other senior living community.”
For more information about 899 Charleston, contact the preview center at (650) 681-4588.