Casa de las Campanas in midst of $100M renovation
Work can progress on Casa de las Campanas’ expansion now that the City Council approved its permit application on Monday afternoon.
Over the next few years, the 27-year-old continuing care retirement community in Rancho Bernardo will be undertaking a more than $100 million improvement project, according to Mike Stelman, its board chairman.
The most noticeable to those driving past the almost 23-acre facility at 18655 W. Bernardo Drive will be its new 96,019-square-foot skilled nursing facility that will be constructed on the current employee parking lot along the road and across from Rancho Bernardo Community Park. That project is tentatively set to be complete by spring 2018, officials said.
The City Council voted 8-0 to approve the project, which required a conditional use permit amendment and rezoning. The new 72-bed facility on 2.4 acres of the property will replace Casa’s existing 99-bed, 33,320 square foot facility. The three-story building will have support services and parking on its ground level, with patient care rooms, rehabilitation spaces and offices on its second and third floors.
Even though it is going onto an existing parking lot, once completed Casa will have 538 off-street parking spaces throughout the property, more than the required 449 parking spaces.
Casa is building the new facility to adapt to the changing needs in its industry and it will be primarily used by those needing short-term rehabilitative care, such as that needed immediately after discharge from a hospital when the individual is not strong enough yet to go directly home, officials said.
Once completed, the existing skilled nursing facility will be demolished and replaced with a new building that can accommodate 60 independent and assisted living units plus some rooms for those needing dementia care, said Kimberly Dominy, Casa’s executive director. That will be Phase Three of Casa’s renovations.
Soon there will also be a new fitness/wellness center constructed at Casa. The 11,600-square-foot building within the complex is tentatively set for completion in late 2016. It will feature an indoor swimming pool — bringing the total number of pools at Casa to three — plus class exercise rooms and space for exercise equipment.
Currently under construction is Casa’s new 7,200-square-foot bistro, that will give another dining option and contrast in style from Casa’s two other dining rooms that are set up for buffet-style and sit-down dining.
Dominy said the more casual bistro will appeal to those who want to eat between meals or are not heavy eaters. There will also be a convenience store. Work on the bistro is set for completion by this April.
As for recently completed renovations to the facility that has more than 600 residents and 400 employees, Stelman said they include a new salon, administration office and marketing office.
The Sur Pool area was also renovated. That project included constructing a meeting room to replace the building destroyed by fire a couple years ago and relocating the spa, said Dr. Donald Gragg, the first resident in Casa’s history to join the board.
Stelman said the not-for-profit facility is doing very well financially. While the industry’s goal is for facilities to have a 365 days cash reserve to operate, Casa has a 1,165 days cash reserve.
“We’re in a very comfortable situation for residents,” he said. “Even in an economic downturn, we are healthy and have the financial wherewithal to take care of everybody.”