ABHOW breaks ground in 1965 for Grand Lake Gardens in Oakland, Calif.
American Baptist Homes of the West (ABHOW) started in 1949 as Pilgrim Haven Home Corporation with the establishment of Pilgrim Haven Retirement Community, now known as The Terraces at Los Altos, in Los Altos, Calif. The original purpose to provide quality housing and health care for retired American Baptist ministers and missionaries grew to include older persons regardless of occupation or religious affiliation.
From one community serving nine residents in 1949, ABHOW has expanded to 42 communities in four Western states. Our professional team has grown to over 2,000 and now serves more than 5,000 residents.
ABHOW communities offer a variety of services and programs for residents. The company was one of the first organizations in the U.S. to provide continuing care. Each of ABHOW’s 11 continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) provide at least three levels of care and services: residential living, assisted living and skilled nursing care. Six CCRCs offer the innovative memory support program, The Grove. All residents receive at least one meal a day, housekeeping and laundry services, social events and activities, transportation, and other supportive services as needed, such as occupational, speech and physical therapies. Residents pay an entrance fee upon admission to the community for the continuing care contract of services, and they pay a monthly fee that is based on the services they receive.
ABHOW is also one of the nation's most respected providers of affordable senior housing. In fact, ABHOW is the only company west of the Mississippi to receive the industry's most prestigious national designation. The company's 31 affordable senior communities are located in some of California and Washington's most desirable locales. Each offers safe, supportive residential living, social and recreational activities, transportation and, in some communities, meal programs. Bistro cafes, exercise rooms and outdoor entertaining spaces are some of the featured amenities offered at select communities.
A Foundation for Growth
The Rev. Harold E. Bottemiller was ABHOW’s first executive director. He brought sound management and building experience to the company, laying the foundation for its future growth. In 1965, American Baptist Homes and Hospitals of Northern California was formed to meet the increasing demand for the continuing care services developed by the former Pilgrim Haven Home Corporation. The company completed construction of San Joaquin Gardens in Fresno, Calif., and Grand Lake Gardens in Oakland, Calif., in 1966.
Beginning that same year, the company extended its ministry to Southern California, Arizona and Washington and built a corporate office in Oakland. In 1968, the company changed its name to American Baptist Homes of the West. Also that year, ABHOW leaders established the American Baptist Homes Foundation of the West as a separate entity to receive gifts and bequests to provide financial assistance to ABHOW residents. ABHOW built a second community in Oakland in 1969 – Piedmont Gardens.
A decision to enter the field of affordable senior housing led to co-sponsorship with local churches for three California retirement communities: Judson Terrace in San Luis Obispo opened in 1970; Mount Rubidoux Manor opened in Riverside in 1971; and Bellflower Friendship Manor opened in Bellflower in 1973.
Valle Verde in Santa Barbara, Calif., celebrates its 25th anniversary in 1991.
Major Expansion
In 1972, ABHOW assumed ownership of Valle Verde in Santa Barbara, Calif., and the management of Orangewood in Phoenix, Ariz. Dr. Richard E. Ice joined ABHOW as president that same year, bringing an expertise in financial management that continues to benefit the company to this day. As the company celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1974, two additional buildings were completed at Piedmont Gardens, while Rosewood Retirement Community opened in Bakersfield, Calif. Also that year, Judson Park Retirement Community in Des Moines, Wash., came under ABHOW’s management, leading to full ownership by ABHOW in 1982.
During the 1970s, ABHOW completed major expansions at The Terraces at Los Altos' Wisteria building, Piedmont Gardens, and the health centers at The Terraces at San Joaquin Gardens, Valle Verde and Rosewood.
Plymouth Village in Redlands, Calif., merged with ABHOW in 1981. Also that year, ABHOW assumed management of Allen Temple Arms, an affordable housing community in Oakland, Calif. Between 1980 and 1986, ABHOW expanded the campuses at Valle Verde, Rosewood, Plymouth Village, The Terraces at San Joaquin Gardens and Grand Lake Gardens.
A 51-apartment expansion at Allen Temple Arms opened to residents in 1987. That same year, Oak Knolls Haven, an affordable senior community in Santa Maria, Calif., joined ABHOW. Groundbreaking took place in April 1989 for Casa de la Vista, an affordable housing community in Redlands that would open in 1990.
As part of an overall plan to stabilize debt service costs, ABHOW completed a major refinancing in 1988. The company committed $14 million of the refinancing to upgrades of its California CCRCs. Significant expansions at Plymouth Village and The Terraces at San Joaquin Gardens occurred in 1989.
Judson Park in Des Moines, Wash., enjoys renovations in the mid-1990s.
Innovations in Senior Living
ABHOW continued its pioneering ways in the 1990s. Pacific Meadows in Carmel, Calif., opened in 1991 to serve seniors with a variety of income levels. The community was one of the first in the U.S. to use tax-credit financing. Upon Dr. Ice’s retirement, David B. Ferguson became president. His extensive experience in the senior living industry enabled ABHOW to remain competitive while expanding its core services and programs. The Terraces of Los Gatos, a CCRC in Los Gatos, Calif., opened in December 1992.
Refinancing the debt for Judson Park in Des Moines, Wash., made it possible to complete extensive construction and expansion of this CCRC. ABHOW became the sole member of American Baptist Homes of Washington in April 1995.
ABHOW entered into a contract in August 1996 to manage Harbor View Manor, a 170-apartment affordable housing community in Tacoma, Wash. The first stand-alone memory support program opened in July 1996 at Plymouth Village. Called The Grove, the program provides assisted living-level services for those with mid-stage Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia.
In 1997, ABHOW created two subsidiaries to implement a corporate reorganization plan: American Baptist Properties, Inc., a holding company formed to hold title to all ABHOW property; and Seniority, Inc., a for-profit entity to manage all ABHOW sales programs and provide these and other services to communities outside ABHOW.
Moving into the state of New Mexico, ABHOW signed a management agreement in 1997 with La Vida Llena, a 399-apartment life care community in Albuquerque. ABHOW obtained a management contract in 1998 with Baptist Senior Adult Ministries of Washington, D.C., and in 1999 ABHOW became the sole member of this organization, which operated a CCRC, Thomas House, plus senior adult day care centers in the wider community.
ABHOW moved its corporate office from Oakland to Pleasanton, Calif., in March 1999.
The company’s affordable housing communities grew significantly during the next several years. In 1999, ABHOW assumed management of Bellflower Oak Street Manor in Bellflower, Calif., and completed construction of Tahoe Senior Plaza in South Lake Tahoe, Calif. Fern Lodge in Redlands opened in 2000. Also that year, ABHOW took on management contracts for Casa de Redwood in Redwood City, Calif., and E. E. Cleveland Manor in Oakland. In 2001, Allen Temple Manor opened in Oakland. This community is ABHOW’s first non-senior community, providing affordable housing for disabled persons with a preference for individuals disabled by HIV or AIDS. Allen Temple Gardens, an affordable senior housing community, also opened in 2001 in Oakland.
In response to growth challenges and opportunities, ABHOW created Cornerstone Affiliates in 2003. Cornerstone provides an organizational structure that facilitates acquisition, development and affiliation of communities while protecting ABHOW’s core credit position and furthering the company’s mission.
Building on Strength
The year 2004 was one of looking back to build on the experiences of the past. It was also a time of looking ahead to see things as they might be in the decades to come. Under Cornerstone, comprehensive redevelopment of The Terraces of Phoenix (formerly Orangewood Retirement Community) began with a $62 million bond offering. The redevelopment consisted of reconstruction of the majority of the 22-acre campus.
Two new affordable housing communities opened in 2004: Judson Terrace Lodge in San Luis Obispo, Calif., and Broadmoor Plaza in San Leandro, Calif.
Under Seniority’s direction, Holly Creek, a new CCRC outside Denver, Colo., achieved its pre-sales goals and obtained financing for 180 residential and 54 assisted living apartments. Seniority opened two new communities during 2004: Kokoro Assisted Living in San Francisco and Pacific Gardens, an assisted living and memory support community in Santa Clara, Calif.
Rosewood, Grand Lake Gardens, Piedmont Gardens and Judson Park began developing repositioning plans. Campus planning continued at Valle Verde, The Terraces at San Joaquin Gardens, and The Terraces at Los Altos as these communities sought to meet market needs well beyond current capacity.
In 2003-2004, ABHOW opened The Grove memory support program at La Vida Llena, The Terraces at San Joaquin Gardens, Thomas House and Valle Verde. During 2005, a beautiful new memory support program opened as part of the redevelopment at The Terraces of Phoenix. In 2006, at the 10th anniversary of the first Grove at Plymouth Village, ABHOW recommitted itself to developing new memory support programs at its other communities.
ABHOW made a difficult decision to sell Thomas House in 2005 after expending considerable resources to strengthen the financially troubled community. After eight years, the management contract for La Vida Llena was not renewed.
Two beautiful communities rose in the West under Cornerstone Affiliates: Las Ventanas at Summerlin, the only life care community in Las Vegas, and The Terraces of Phoenix, the newest CCRC in one of the nation’s most popular retirement destinations. Las Ventanas offers spacious apartments and villa homes, lush gardens and courtyards on 17 acres. The Terraces of Phoenix development added 124 new apartment homes plus 49 assisted living, 64 skilled nursing, and 25 memory support suites. Major renovations were also completed for existing common areas, and the way was paved for further redevelopment of the remaining residences.
ABHOW continued its tradition of excellence in affordable housing. During 2005, project planning and partnership development raised more than $6 million in local government funding for two new communities. ABHOW partnered with the city of South Lake Tahoe and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency to develop an additional 33 apartments. In Daly City, Calif., the company partnered with the city, San Mateo County, and Broadmoor Presbyterian Church to build a 40-apartment community. ABHOW obtained a new management contract with Manila Terrace in Los Angeles’ historic Filipino Town.
Recognizing that new growth must be balanced with reinvestment in existing communities, ABHOW embarked upon an ambitious multi-year plan to begin redevelopment activities at a majority of ABHOW’s California campuses. At the close of fiscal year 2006, $50 million was borrowed for these efforts – the first “new money” for redevelopment since 1988.
In 2007, Judson Park refinanced its existing debt and borrowed an additional $28 million to finance a 64-apartment expansion. Offering beautiful views of the Puget Sound, the expansion at Judson Park enjoyed broad support and the community welcomed its newest residents in 2008.
Affordable housing continued to enjoy new opportunities with the 2008 opening of Hillcrest Gardens in Daly City, Calif., and the acquisition of land for affordable housing communities in South Lake Tahoe, Calif., San Ramon, Calif., and Lynnwood, Wash.
Ruth Buneman takes a walk at ABHOW's first community, The Terraces at Los Altos in Los Altos, Calif.
A Commitment to Excellence
Even in the midst of a prolonged economic recession and recovery, the years 2009-2010 were a time of strategic growth that saw ABHOW push into new frontiers in senior living – both at its CCRCs and affordable housing communities.
Under the umbrella of Cornerstone Affiliates, the company is developing The Terraces at Harris Ranch in Boise, Idaho. When it opens in 2013, it will be Idaho's first full-service life care community. The Terraces at Harris Ranch continues the branding started by ABHOW in 1992 with The Terraces of Los Gatos and continued by Cornerstone with The Terraces of Phoenix and The Terraces at San Joaquin Gardens in Fresno, Calif.
A multi-phase redevelopment at The Terraces at San Joaquin Gardens brought a touch of Tuscany to the heart of Fresno. The project included construction of 47 new apartment homes, a Mediterranean-inspired Bistro, spa and exercise room, along with the remodeling of 12 residential cottages. Meanwhile, ABHOW's first retirement community, The Terraces at Los Altos, prepared to break ground on one of the company's largest redevelopments to date.
2010 saw the company expand innovative programming and leading-edge services at its CCRCs. Residents enjoyed the freedom to dine where and when they pleased with the My Choice program, and discovered joyful new journeys with the company's adoption of Masterpiece Living. Meanwhile, ABHOW reached a major milestone with the opening of its fifth and sixth Grove memory support communities at Judson Park in Des Moines, Wash., and Piedmont Gardens in Oakland, Calif.
By 2011, ABHOW's affordable housing communities had grown to 26. Today, more than three-quarters hold the National Affordable Housing Management Association's (NAHMA) highest standard of excellence.
With sterling new developments like Kelly Ridge in South Lake Tahoe, Calif., Shepherd's Garden in Lynnwood, Wash., Salishan Gardens in Tacoma, Wash., and Valley Vista in San Ramon, Calif, the company signaled its intention to redefine affordable housing for seniors. These communities combined high-end construction design, the latest amenities, and stylish settings to deliver uncompromising quality. Meanwhile, the company redeveloped Pacific Meadows, its premiere affordable senior community in Carmel, and assumed management of several handsome, well-maintained communities, including Three Rivers Village in Richland, Wash., Pleasanton Gardens in Pleasanton, Calif., and San Rafael Rotary Manor in San Rafael, Calif.
Seniority, too, has enjoyed continued growth in management, sales, and development consulting. By serving clients in more than 25 states, Seniority plays an important role in sharing ABHOW’s mission with other organizations and consumers. Seniority helps senior living providers succeed while generating revenue for ABHOW to capitalize new retirement communities.
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| Samuel and Maria Rosalinda Estrada now call ABHOW's Valley Vista home |
Progress and Promise in an Uncertain Economy
Throughout 2011, the senior living profession continued to struggle with the ripples left by the national housing crisis and the resulting stagnation in sales, particularly in areas of the West in which ABHOW has its roots. This, combined with a 13 percent cut in Medicare reimbursements for skilled nursing, challenged many providers.
Yet, ABHOW’s 2011-13 Strategic Plan and history of sound fiscal management have helped the company maintain consistent growth and financial stability in an unfavorable economy.
Two Cornerstone Affiliates communities – Las Ventanas in Las Vegas and The Terraces of Phoenix – enjoyed growth and success. The Terraces of Phoenix had one of its strongest years ever in 2011, continuing to benefit from extensive renovations in 2008 and coming closer to reaching its occupancy goals.
Las Ventanas’ seventh year brought new highs in occupancy and the second-highest rate of team member satisfaction and engagement among all of ABHOW’s continuing care retirement communities.
Set to open in 2013, The Terraces at Harris Ranch in Boise, Idaho, has embarked on its mission to be the leader in senior living in Boise through a flexible development structure that will allow the community to adapt easily to new market demands.
Three of ABHOW’s other CCRCs in California – Valle Verde in Santa Barbara, Pilgrim Haven now The Terraces at Los Altos and The Terraces of Los Gatos – ranked in the top 10 percent nationally in several areas of resident satisfaction. The company also moved forward with redevelopment plans at all three campuses, and opened its sixth Grove memory support program — at Piedmont Gardens in Oakland.
At The Terraces at San Joaquin Gardens in Fresno, Calif., ABHOW was granted state approval for an innovative, neighborhood-style plan for skilled nursing care that will help serve as a model for similar redevelopment efforts in 2012 and beyond.
Meanwhile, the dining options at a number of communities grew with the addition of on-campus fine-dining events, bistro-style cafes and seasonal tasting menus.
It was a busy and successful year for ABHOW’s 26 affordable housing communities, with the grand openings of Valley Vista in San Ramon, Calif., and Salishan Gardens in Tacoma, Wash. At Pacific Meadows in Carmel, Calif., residents no longer pay electric bills, thanks to the addition of new solar panels, making it an environmental standout in the affordable housing world. And Harbor View Manor in Tacoma, Wash., received a Community of Quality award from the National Affordable Housing Management Association (NAHMA).
Sloan Bentley, president of Seniority, ABHOW’s management, sales and development consulting arm, celebrated the publication of her book “Believing in Senior Living,” which aims to help executives and sales leaders renew their passion for serving older adults.
Today, ABHOW’s annual revenue exceeds $148 million, and the company manages assets of more than $500 million. The ABHOW Foundation maintains more than $38 million in assets.
In line with the company’s dual mission to serve its own residents and seniors everywhere, ABHOW leaders regularly share their expertise with regional, state and national trade associations engaged in senior housing and health care. ABHOW is a founding member of LeadingAge, the organization formally known as AAHSA, and is actively involved in professional associations in California, Arizona, and Washington. On the national level, ABHOW leaders advocate on issues that affect seniors, including reforming the financing of health care and long-term care.
All of these efforts spring from ABHOW’s heritage. The same spirit that inspired a group of leaders in 1949 continues to guide ABHOW today. The company’s growth can be traced through its acquisition of property, construction of new communities, and expansion of programs for residents, team members and neighbors. A lot has changed over the years, but one thing remains the same: ABHOW's care, commitment and compassion for seniors is unparalleled.
