September 14, 2005

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Palo Alto Online

Channing House plans new health center

by Jocelyn Dong

Channing House, the soaring 11-story retirement community in downtown Palo Alto, is hoping to grow a bit bigger.

Its plans to build a new health center will not result in it getting taller, however, but wider -- by placing a new two-story skilled-nursing and assisted-living center on top of an existing parking lot at 850 Webster St.

Though administrators and residents say the development won't happen for two years, they are well aware they will have some hurdles to clear -- namely, opposition from residents who fear the $27 million project will raise their monthly rates and from neighbors of Channing House who claim that the structure will block their views.

The 41-year-old life-care community is unusual in that its 260 residents pay a monthly fee that includes some medical care should they become ill. The 11-story "behemoth," as Channing House Executive Director Carl Braginsky fondly calls it, contains apartments, skilled-nursing facilities and assisted-living quarters.

Yet the building is run down and not up to modern standards, Braginsky said. Some residents agree.

Barbara Gordon volunteers as a patient advocate on the second floor. "I think it's badly needed," she said of the proposed health center.

Beds in the skilled nursing area are currently squeezed three to a 455-square-foot room. "Especially when someone is dying, there's no place for the family to have some privacy," she said.

In the new facility, two people would bunk in a 550 square foot room. For those desiring privacy, one person could have a 371-square-foot space.

The plans call for increasing the number of skilled-nursing rooms, while decreasing the assisted-living areas, which residents say better matches the need.

The two-story structure would house assisted-living quarters on one floor and skilled-nursing facilities on the other. An underground garage would be built below.

Herbert Hamerslough, president of the residents' council, said that competition from other retirement communities and people's rising expectations are putting the pressure on Channing House to update its infrastructure.

"You've got the new Classic Residence by Hyatt, brand new and beautiful," he said. "It's a question of keeping up with the Joneses. People on the waiting list, they want to look at something they can be happy with."

Braginsky acknowledged the construction would cost residents more, but said a bond, and fundraising efforts would pay for part of it. Already, residents have donated $300,000 toward the health-center development -- a sign of their support, Braginsky said.

Hamerslough downplayed residents' fears that the costs would increase prohibitively. No resident would be asked to leave for lack of ability to pay, he said, explaining that the organization has a reserve fund for those in financial need.

Hamerslough admitted Channing House denizens have had heated discussion over the project, but a vote showed residents were "overwhelmingly" in favor of going ahead with it.

Others oppose the new health facility because they are tired of construction, having recently endured three years of seismic upgrades that involved construction workers jack-hammering concrete in the basement. But residents who favor the project expect the noise would be quieter than what occurred during the seismic work, since the new construction would take place outside of the tower.

"You've got to move forward. You can't die in the bush," Hamerslough said. "The risks of going forward outweigh the risks of staying still."

The construction will affect neighbors of Channing House, however. Administrators and residents began their public-relations efforts by holding two meetings this summer with neighbors, the first of which drew 11 attendees and the second of which drew one person.

Neighbors shared their concerns that the new building would block the views from their condominiums, according to Hamerslough.

Braginsky acknowledged the building would have an impact, but said that Channing House's intent is to be able to modernize while being "minimally intrusive to the community as possible. It would not be appropriate to build a three- to four-story building."

Today, some 260 residents call Channing House home. The waiting time to get into the retirement community ranges from six months for a studio to six to eight years for a two-bedroom apartment.

"Channing House is a very desirable place to live," Hamerslough said, citing the mix of retired professionals among the 200 women and 60 men who reside there, along with amenities ranging from the art workshop to the fitness center and concerts.

The health center has a close relationship with the Palo Alto Medical Foundation and is supervised by its staff. Physicians visit Channing House four days a week. The retirement community was founded by Dr. Russel V.A. Lee, who also co-founded the Palo Alto Medical Foundation. Back then, the price tag for building the entire structure was just $9 million.

The building plans call for converting the second floor to 14 apartments much like those in the rest of the tower. A drop-in medical clinic would still occupy some space on the second floor.

By Braginsky's estimate, the project could take two to three years to complete, which includes the time required to receive approvals from both the city and the state. A state building permit will be required because health facilities are regulated at that level.

Senior Staff Writer Jocelyn Dong can be reached at jdong@paweekly.com.

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