Home Care In Calabasas, CA

CALABASAS, CALIF. — Medical equipment manufacturer ResMed Motor Technologies has signed a 128,700-square-foot lease for an R&D industrial building in Calabasas.

The facility is located at 26801 Agoura Road. The company will relocate from nearby Chatsworth as it was seeking to expand into a larger facility with additional parking. RedMed also sought a location that was close to the labor market in the Conejo Valley area to take advantage of the highly skilled engineering talent in the area.

The relocation is slated for early 2024.

Mike Tingus and Grant Fulkerson of Lee & Associates – LA North/Ventura, represented the landlord, Cypress Land Co., while Cushman & Wakefield represented ResMed in the lease transaction.

PORTLAND, ORE. — Senior Living Investment Brokerage (SLIB) has arranged the sale of a 72-unit assisted living and memory care community in Portland.

The facility was built in 1961 with renovations in 2021. The property totals 52,217 square feet on approximately 4.22 acres.

The seller was a local owner-operator seeking to retire from the industry. The buyer was a private equity company based in Salt Lake City, with senior living communities throughout the country.

This is the buyer’s second community in the Portland market. The price was not disclosed.

Jason Punzel, Brad Goodsell, Vince Viverito and Jake Anderson of SLIB handled the transaction.

SAN CLEMENTE, CALIF. — CareTrust REIT Inc. (NYSE: CTRE), along with a regional investor in healthcare real estate, has acquired four skilled nursing facilities on the West Coast.

The four-property acquisition includes 450 skilled nursing beds and 20 assisted living units. Links Healthcare Group, a new operator relationship for CareTrust, will operate the facilities pursuant to a 15-year master lease with two five-year extension options. Links is an experienced operator founded by Toby Tilford and Curt Rodriguez and currently operates 16 skilled nursing and seniors housing communities.

CareTrust’s initial investment in the facilities, inclusive of transaction costs, was approximately $71.5 million. Aggregate annual cash rent for the first year is approximately $5.4 million, increasing to approximately $6.1 million in the second year, and increasing to approximately $7.1 million in the third year, with CPI-based annual escalators thereafter.

The acquisition of these facilities was funded using proceeds from San Clemente-based CareTrust’s $600 million unsecured revolving credit facility.

LAKEWOOD, COLO. — Ziegler, in partnership with M&T Realty Capital Corp., advised on a $105.6 million Freddie Mac refinancing on behalf of The Ridge Senior Living.

The loan is for The Ridge Pinehurst, a luxury independent living, assisted living and memory care community in Lakewood, a suburb of Denver. Ridge began opening the 371-unit community in phases starting in September 2020.

The original 10-year, fixed-rate loan was structured with five years of interest-only payments, followed by 30-year amortization. The refinancing provided The Ridge with a long-term, fixed-rate loan to replace the original floating-rate construction loan.

Eric Johnson of Ziegler arranged and negotiated the transaction. Matt Henning, Matthew Pipitone and Nick Gent led the transaction for M&T.

Southern California real estate developer Rick Caruso has announced plans for significant changes to The Commons shopping center, the crown jewel of dining and retail in Calabasas that opened to the public in 1998.

Although the past quarter-century has taken some of the shine off the popular commercial venue on Calabasas Road, The Commons remains an important piece of the Caruso multi-billion-dollar real estate portfolio, which includes 15 retail, residential, hotel and office properties from Marina Del Rey to Santa Barbara.

An application for the upgrades was submitted to the Calabasas Planning Division earlier this month. No timetable was given for final approval and start of construction.

“We have been delighted by the way Calabasas has embraced The Commons since we opened our doors 25 years ago, making it a familiar and beloved destination for guests of all ages,” said Chris Robertson, Caruso vice president.

But the time for change has come, she said.

The work calls for removal of the Regency Theatres—which began a downward slide during the pandemic and never fully recovered—and the construction of new stores, restaurants and up to 119 apartment homes at two different sites on the 25-acre property just east of the Calabasas civic center.

Out with the old, in with the new

The 33,000-square-foot theater was taken over by Regency last year when former owner Regal went bankrupt. Caruso retained ownership of the theater lease, and wants tear down the building and replace it with 2,000 square feet of store space and other features on the first floor, and five levels containing up to 101 apartments above. Residents will have access to underground parking and rooftop amenities that include a swimming pool.

The theater at The Commons, the only movie house in Calabasas, opened as an Edwards Cinema in 1998. Later branded as Regal Edwards, the theater closed in September 2022 following a bankruptcy by Cineworld, the parent company of Regal Cinemas. Independent operator Regency Theatres reopened the screens on Christmas weekend last year as the Regency Calabasas Commons, and the theater remains in operation. No closing date has been announced

A separate component of the makeover calls for the placement of four new structures in the parking lot in front of the theater tethered by a grassy open space and stroll-friendly walking paths. The buildings will be one-to-three stories high with 8-10 new boutique shops and three-to-five new restaurants on the first floor. A combined 18 apartments will be on top.

The new elements will introduce a total of 24,000 square feet of new retail space, plus the homes, to a segment of the shopping center collectively called Commons Lane. The north and south edges of The Commons will remain untouched.

PICTURE CITY–

The homes will count toward the 354 new units in the city’s housing element, a plan demanded by the California Department of Housing and Community Development to meet the growing need for homes across state. In a requirement of the city, 12 of the almost 120 new homes in the plan will be so-called inclusionary, or affordable units.

Although the project is still in the planning and approval stages, the idea of a theater take-down and the addition of new homes and shops in the parking lot came into focus following a series of visioning sessions over the past 18 months with members of the public that included residents, homeowner association presidents and other city leaders. The meetings were held at King’s Fish House at The Commons and at the Senior Center and Founders Hall at the Calabasas Civic Center.

Robertson said Calabasas residents “dedicated significant time and energy to share what they love about The Commons and their priorities for the future.”

Taken together, the changes will bring a series of fresh overtones to the aging shopping center that include an open play area amenable to relaxation, community events and summer outdoor movies for families, and curated small shops in a Euro-Mediterranean-like setting for fans of retail. New upscale restaurants will be part of the mix.

Caruso formula

The construction will remind Caruso aficionados of Palisades Village, where shoppers stroll among a variety of small stores, dine in quaint restaurants, and relax on family-friendly green open spaces in the forward-thinking retail center that opened in 2018. Think also of the Americana at Brand, a Caruso mixed-use center in Glendale, only on a much smaller scale.

“Commons Lane is drawn from the spirit of Calabasas, preserving the best of The Commons today while ensuring it remains vibrant for future generations,” Robertson said.

“I think it’s going to be a good improvement combining additional retail, more restaurants and even apartments,” said Joe De Tuno, president of the Avanti Homeowners Association, another newer development that is within walking distance of The Commons.

“I saw the plans. I think they’re good, I think it’s a good start,” De Tuno said.

A spokesperson said the project represents a “sizable investment” by Caruso, but would not give an exact cost.

More information about the project can be found here.

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The city is exploring how to best recognize an enormous oak tree that's stood strong for two centuries as the world has changed around it.

CALABASAS, CA — The tree is truly a magnificent sight. Its truck is as wide as an average human's height. It stretches four stories into the air with a 6,000-square-foot canopy. And city leaders estimate it first sprouted from an acorn decades before California even became a state and certainly before Calabasas was developed.

The approximately 200-year-old oak tree that serves as the centerpiece of a commercial plaza at 23556 Calabasas Road in Old Town has been the recent subject of a flurry of discussion among city officials who want to give the tree the recognition it deserves.

It's "something that in and of itself seems to be a giant monument," City Planner Tom Bartlett said at a recent Historic Preservation Commission Meeting. "The idea is to use the opportunity to portray, explain, inform persons about more than just the tree itself — what it really represents as something that's been there over a period of time, what it's 'witnessed,' per se."

The commission will meet again on Wednesday to discuss what that might look like. One front-running idea is installing an interpretive panel — like the ones seen at state parks and historic sites — that would serve as a graphical and written testament to the tree's life. Another possibility is seeking historical recognition from the state, which could be achieved due to the significance of the landscape to the indigenous inhabitants of the area, according to city documents.

The tree is a valley oak, a species native to California that's the largest of the North American oaks. The trees typically range from 30 to 75 feet in heigh with a trunk diameter of around 2 feet. They can live to be 500 years old, according to the USDA.

Find out what's happening in Calabasaswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The 200-year-old Calabasas tree is estimated to be 60 to 65 feet tall with a girth of 5 1⁄2 feet.

While the tree is remarkable at its current age and size, if cared for it could grow to astonishing proportions. One valley oak in the Carmel Valley was measured at 138 feet tall and one in Butte County measured 9 feet in diameter, according to the USDA.

As a so-called heritage oak, the tree is subject to Calabasas' strictest arboreal protections: Modifications to any oak with a diameter of 2 feet or greater are subject to City Council approval, according to Bartlett.

The Historic Preservation Commission will discuss the tree at its meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday at City Hall, which will also be broadcast live online and on CTV.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued the advisory that is in effect July 14-18.

CALABASAS, CA — Air quality is likely to reach "Unhealthy" levels in inland areas of Southern California, including in Calabasas, over the weekend, the South Coast Air Quality Management District said in an Ozone Advisory issued Thursday.

The region is set to see a "multi-day extreme ozone (smog) event," with a warning in effect from 2 p.m. Friday through 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Much of inland Southern California will be effected with "Unhealthy" levels, while Lake Arrowhead, the San Bernardino Valley and nearby areas could see the worst air, with smog levels reaching "Very Unhealthy," the agency reported.

"The persistently high ozone levels are in part caused by high temperatures that increase ozone formation rates and emissions of chemicals leading to ozone formation," according to the SCAQMD.

Temperatures will be highest over the weekend, with the mercury rising nearly to 100 degrees in parts of the west San Fernando Valley. The hottest temps will be in the Coachella Valley, which is expected to see temperatures of over 120 degrees.

Find out what's happening in Calabasaswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The National Weather Service issued an Excessive Heat Warning for the region that is in effect through 8 p.m. Tuesday.

The poor air quality across the region is worrisome.

"Ozone air pollution can cause respiratory health problems, including trouble breathing, asthma attacks, and lung damage," according to the SCAQMD. "Research also indicates that ozone exposure can increase the risk of premature death. Children, older adults, pregnant people, and people with preexisting lung problems such as asthma may be more sensitive to the health effects of ozone."

When smog levels reach SCAQMD's "Unhealthy" level, "everyone may begin to experience some adverse health effects, and members of the sensitive groups may experience more serious effects. People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion. Everyone else should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion," according to the agency.

When levels reach the "Very Unhealthy" level, "everyone may experience more serious health effects," according to the agency. "People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should avoid all physical activity outdoors. Everyone else should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion."

Thursday's SCAQMD announcement falls on the heels of an advisory by the agency last week warning of high pollution due to July 4 fireworks.

The SCAQMD is the air pollution control agency for the South Coast Air basin. The basin includes California's largest metropolitan region, including the western portions of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, the southern two-thirds of Los Angeles County, and all of Orange County.

To view current air quality in your neighborhood, download the South Coast AQMDapp or visit www.aqmd.gov/AQImap.

The path to a light-filled holiday experience is wide open in Calabasas with the return of the Holiday Road walk-thru event at King Gillette Ranch.

The nearly one mile trail is an Instagram-worthy holiday destination with photo ops that include stops at the North Pole, a Christmas tree forest, Gingerbread Lane, a Polar bear hang out spot and an elf village.

Holiday Road, which is now in its third year, started as a drive-thru experience during the pandemic and switched to a walk-thru attraction last year. It’s also turned into quite a celebrity hangout with stars like Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Jamie Foxx and all of the Kardashian and Jenner families sharing photos of their experiences on social media.

On a recent visit last week, even tough guy and MMA great Chuck Liddell and “Band of Brothers” and “Suits” actor Neal McDonough were spotted strolling through with their kids.

Here are three of the best spots to talk selfies or family photos inside Holiday Road’s picture-worthy winter wonderland.

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Natural Christmas trees

There are several traditional Christmas trees on display at Holiday Road and they’re all fun to look at, but the more spectacular displays are hung on the real oak trees along the path. Several of these trees, which stand about 30-50 feet tall with branches spreading out like tangled overgrown reindeer antlers, are completely covered in bold strings of lights. The first tree is at the start of the path and it’s all wrapped in colorful green, yellow, blue and red lights. Just past that selfie stop are a handful of trees blanketed in all white lights with a white, fluffy blanket of faux snow carpeting the floor underneath the bright canopies. It’s like a living postcard; the perfect place to take a portrait for your family holiday card.

The North Pole

Just past the elf village, visitors will notice the signs for the North Pole. Straight ahead are life-size figures of Santa in his sleigh. Next to that, Mr. and Mrs. Claus are sitting by a warm fire with a giant bag of gifts next to them. Snag a photo with the lovely couple and turn around to check out the towering pole behind them with a string of lights falling from the very top. Beneath it is a sea of colorful lights that dance along to the music. That’s Santa’s Christmas tree. And it’s probably better than the one you’ve got at home, so it’s worth of a few snaps, too.

Let it snow

As you round the corner near the end of the road, there’s the Gingerbread Village, which is lined with cute and tasty looking little houses and gingerbread men. When you cruise through this area, have your phone in hand because you’ll start to feel something gently falling from overhead. Yes, it’s snowing! Well, it’s actually foam, but as close as we can get in Los Angeles county. Take in the moment, twirl around in it and try to capture the perfect selfie to make it look as if you’re standing in the middle of an actual winter wonderland. But we don’t recommend that you stick your tongue out and try to catch the little foamy flakes; they taste like soap.

When: 5-10 p.m. daily (except Dec. 25) through Dec. 30

Where: King Gillette Ranch, 26800 Mulholland Highway, Calabasas

Tickets: Tickets to various time slots are $24.99-$64.99 at holidayroadusa.com.