The Kendal Corporation is moving forward with the planning and marketing of Enso Verde, a new Zen-inspired Life Plan community located in Simi Valley, California. This new community is an extension of the Zen-inspired concept pioneered by Enso Village, a Kendal affiliate community set to open in Sonoma County, California later this year. This new community will be the first of its kind in the dynamic and diverse Los Angeles area, providing a unique and different retirement option for the nation’s second-largest metropolitan area.
Southern California Feeling
Enso Verde is the second collaboration between Kendal and San Francisco Zen Center. The community will meet the needs of the local market as a Life Plan Community with a focus on mindful aging, environmental stewardship and healthy life choices for adults ages 60 and older. Current plans for the community feature approximately 300 contemporary senior living residences on a 21-acre campus, including independent living, assisted living and memory support. These options would be available to provide a continuum of care as the needs of residents change as they age.
Quaker and Zen-inspired Values
“We at Kendal are excited to explore a development that will offer another transformative option to older adults seeking meaningful experiences as they age,” said Amy Harrison, Interim CEO of The Kendal Corporation. “Enso Verde’s Quaker and Zen-inspired values of kindness and compassion, inclusion, mindful aging, and connection with the environment will help build a community where residents feel empowered to live an active and mindful life.”
The community will be designed, built and operated to high sustainability standards, with a goal to achieve net zero energy status. Enso Verde will offer 20 affordable apartments for retired Zen and Quaker teachers and up to 24 apartments of workforce housing. A vegetarian dining venue will offer a menu inspired by Greens Restaurant, a landmark restaurant operated by San Francisco Zen Center. The project recently secured $29 million in bond financing and funds will be used for land acquisition, marketing and predevelopment activities.
Model Solution: A Different Type of Retirement
“We saw tremendous interest in the first Zen-inspired community in northern California, illustrating the market’s appetite for this unique lifestyle-oriented retirement option. As we work to strategically grow the Kendal System, we look to build partnerships with universities and other non-profits like the Zen Center to expand Kendal’s mission and support the needs of older adults. Enso Verde is a model of this type of collaboration that will ultimately provide a needed solution for older adults who desire a different type of retirement,” added Steve Bailey, Chief Strategy Officer of The Kendal Corporation.