More than 100 apartments for older adults and a medical facility could be coming to Sunnyvale within the next few years.
The Sunnyvale Planning Commission unanimously approved plans for a six-story senior living site and 72,000-square-foot convalescent hospital at 1027-1035 West El Camino Real during its Monday meeting. It will have 36 assisted-living homes and 113 independent-living homes, with 17 set aside for low and very low income residents.
Health care real estate developer PMB is working on the project and hopes to start construction in November, with the goal of opening by the end of 2026. The project doesn’t need to go before the Sunnyvale City Council after receiving the planning commission’s approval, unless it’s appealed within 15 days.
Commissioners are enthusiastic about the project’s amenities, especially the neighboring 52-bed convalescent hospital. Commissioner Neela Shukla said it’s the “gold standard” and will greatly benefit Sunnyvale’s older adult community.
“It’s a beautiful addition to the community,” Commission Chair Nathan Igelsias said at the meeting. “It’s going to help enrich the community and offer opportunities for Sunnyvale residents to age in place, which is certainly a community benefit.”
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Watermark Retirement Communities will operate the living site for older adults, and El Camino Health will run the convalescent hospital. The convalescent hospital is designed to support patients discharged from an acute care hospital who require further support during their recovery for needs, such as hip or knee replacements or a stroke.
The entire project sits on 2.42 acres with plans to set aside about 12,000 square feet of retail space in the residential building’s ground floor.
Commissioners also approved a special permit to allow for less retail space and parking. They pointed to how it’s still an increase from the site’s existing retail and creates more medical resources in Sunnyvale, which commissioners said are lacking.
Nolan Weinberg, vice president of development at PMB, said the retail space will be occupied by a fitness center and a cafe, both of which will be opened to the public. Weinberg also spoke about amenities for residents, including a golf simulator and art room, as well as programming run by Watermark Retirement Communities.
“We really view it as critical social infrastructure,” Weinberg said at the meeting.
Only two people spoke about the plans during public comment, and both were supportive.
Sunnyvale Community Services Executive Director Marie Bernard said older adults who are on Medicare and need acute inpatient rehabilitation after being discharged from El Camino Hospital need to travel to another El Camino Health location in Los Gatos. Being closer makes transportation easier, she said. She also supported plans to have a shuttle.
“It’s positive that a community-minded health care provider will have this new facility here,” Bernard said. “We see this new facility in Sunnyvale (as being) much more convenient.”
Contact B. Sakura Cannestra at sakura@sanjosespotlight.com or @SakuCannestra on X, formerly known as Twitter.
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