SAN DIEGO—Progress has finally been made on the development of the Glen at Scripps Ranch, a continuing-care retirement community, no thanks to CEQA regulations, Colliers International broker David Santistevan tells GlobeSt.com. Santistevan and Colliers broker Gunder Creager represented buyer the Glen at Scripps Ranch LLC, an affiliated entity of Continuing Life Communities, and seller Alliant Educational Foundation in the $18.5-million sale of a 53-acre land parcel in Scripps Ranch to the buyer for the development of the community. We spoke exclusively with Santistevan about the transaction, the planned development and the Scripps Ranch senior-housing market.

GlobeSt.com: How would you characterize the Scripps Ranch seniors-housing market?

Santistevan: There's a pent-up demand; the interest list for this project is off the charts. There are so many people who sign up and pay a deposit to be on the reservation list. This is the same developer as La Costa Glen, which is a phenomenal senior community in Carlsbad. The Baby Boomers are getting to be the age when it's time to start thinking of that. Auberge at Del Sur, an age-restricted community in Del Sur, was just released; they can't build them fast enough—they're flying off the shelves. This shows that we're not providing enough housing for seniors, and developers are looking for places to do senior-based projects. To find a 53-acre parcel is near impossible.

We started discussions with the buyer in 2008 and were under contract in early 2010. It took six years to get approvals; there was a lawsuit and environmental groups fighting it. This is a project that had the unanimous approval of the city council, a planning group supported it and all the neighbors were in favor of it. People use CEQA for no reason other than to hold up projects. Everyone wanted this project, but it still took six years to finalize the deal.

GlobeSt.com: Why is a retirement community the ideal use of this particular land parcel?

Santistevan: Alliant International University owned 120 acres. They still have a 70-acre campus after selling 53 acres. The challenge to development there was that Pomerado Rd. operates at level F; there's horrendous traffic. So how are you going to avoid or mitigate these measures? A senior community generates very little traffic; there's no impact on schools. A senior community is really a passive use for land.

GlobeSt.com: What do developers look for in a land parcel when planning a retirement community?

Santistevan: Like La Costa Glen, this is a great bedroom community with really high income levels. These are luxury projects that take a decent amount of money to get in there; you have to be in more of an upscale area to get in there like Laguna Beach, La Costa, Scripps Ranch and Del Sur. It's hard to provide this level of care in less-fortunate areas.

GlobeSt.com: What else should our readers know about the Scripps Ranch market?

Santistevan: Scripps Ranch is a great market, and the housing market is strong there. But the nice thing about a project like this is they never have to leave their community—you don't want to leave your friends. There's a sense of place and community, and there's a lot for residents to do.

GlobeSt.com: How would you characterize the Scripps Ranch seniors-housing market?

GlobeSt.com: Why is a retirement community the ideal use of this particular land parcel?

GlobeSt.com: What do developers look for in a land parcel when planning a retirement community?

GlobeSt.com: What else should our readers know about the Scripps Ranch market?

Instant Insights /

CEQA Delayed Much-Wanted Project for Six Years

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