Assisted living center and retail
proposed for Main Street lot
Grand Oaks, a 95-unit assisted living and memory care facility is proposed for the city-owned 1.66-acre parcel at the west end of Main Street. The entrance to Grand Oaks will be off of Oak Street just before Main St. An additional 5,000 square feet of retail space will front Main. (Rendering courtesy of Fulcrum Development)
A Sausalito real estate developer is proposing an assisted living and memory care facility for the city-owned parcel at the west end of town. The project will include 5,000 square feet of retail space fronting Main Street.
David Ford of Fulcrum Development and Jason Reyes, owner of three Cornerstone Living Centers, and Transamerica Real Estate broker Ed Del Bacarro met with about two dozen Clayton residents at an informational meeting on April 4.
While Claytonians have long hoped for a Trader Joe’s on the downtown site, it isn’t going to happen, Del Bacarro said. There simply aren’t enough people to support the grocery retailer.
“Trader Joe’s wouldn’t even consider coming into Clayton if the city gave them the land for $1,” Del Bacarro said.
Nor did he have any success with Starbucks. “There isn’t enough density to support even a kiosk,” he said.
Cornerstone is purchasing the 1.66-acre parcel from the city for $2 million. Early on, they expressed an interest in also purchasing the adjacent Clayton Community Church property, but the church was not ready to sell.
The proposed Grand Oaks Assisted Living Community will have 95 residents and 45 staff members, not all on duty at the same time. Because most of the residents don’t own cars, 37 parking spaces will be adequate, Ford said.
Although much of the downtown commercial space is currently vacant, Ford says rents for the added 5,000 sq. ft. of retail space will be subsidized by Cornerstone, and will include “amenities” like a dry cleaners or a wine bar—none of which will be in competition with existing businesses, assured Ford.
“Grand Oaks will bring jobs and people to downtown,” he said. “This can only help existing businesses.”
The owners are also willing to use their parking area and open space for the Art and Wine Festival, Oktoberfest and the Tree Lighting and will either replace or relocate the town’s Christmas tree, Ford told the Pioneer.
Grand Oaks Assisted Living Community takes its name from the heritage oak on the property. The tree will become the “centerpiece” of the development, Ford said.
Fulcrum and Cornerstone have met once with the city planners for a pre-application discussion and are seeking additional input from residents. “We won’t go forward with the project without community support,” says Ford.
Clayton residents are invited to a second public meeting on May 23 at 7 p.m. at the Clayton Community Library, 6125 Clayton Rd. For more information on Cornerstone and to see other facilities, go to www.mycornerstoneliving.com