Belmont Village Albany, the East Bay’s newest senior living community, is on track for a summer opening after years in the making. The project is the culmination of a collaboration with the UC Berkeley.
Belmont Village entered into a long-term ground lease with the University on their site at 1100 San Pablo Ave. in Albany in order to construct, own and operate what will be the company’s 26th senior living community. An official grand opening is planned for the first weekend in August.
“We’ve had so much interest in this project from the start and have formed some wonderful friendships in Albany and the surrounding area,” said Patricia Will, Belmont Village Founder and CEO. “We’re eager to open our doors later this summer and officially join our new community.”
Belmont Village has an affiliation agreement with the UC Berkeley Retirement Center that ensures that residents will be able to maintain an active campus connection and that the community will benefit from the relationship through enriching programs. A joint planning committee has been working over the past year to create programs that will embrace local and university art and culture, lifelong learning and intergenerational and community involvement opportunities for residents.
Belmont Village also worked closely with the City of Albany through the planning and development process to ensure that the project includes features and enhancements for area residents, such as a commissioned piece of public art by American abstract expressionist sculptor Bruce Beasley. The work, a part of the City of Albany’s Public Art Program, will be installed and officially dedicated to the Albany community at a special event in early July.
Belmont Village is also expanding public hike and bike trails to accompany the artwork. The trail enhancements will be easily accessible and will improve public access to local areas of interest.
When it opens later this summer, the 147,635-square-foot, four-story building will be licensed as a Residential Care Facility and will house 175 private residences for Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care.
Designed by HKIT Architects, the community was awarded the 2016 Gold Nugget Award of Merit for “Best Senior Housing Community — On the Boards” at the Pacific Coast Builders Conference. Belmont Village is also following Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria to achieve LEED Gold certification on the project.
A leader in developing university-led, research-based programs, Belmont Village will offer residents a range of programs to support a Whole Brain Fitness lifestyle. Independent residents can elect to participate in the company’s MBA (Mind, Body, Awareness) program, which focuses on seven elements of successful aging, including nutrition and physical exercise, mental workouts and lifelong learning,
stress reduction, a strong social network and a sense of purpose.
For residents who are experiencing some cognitive decline, Belmont Village has pioneered a comprehensive therapeutic program to specifically address the needs and abilities of residents with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and early stage memory loss. Circle of Friends provides 7-day-a-week, evidence-based group activities led by a dedicated, specially trained staff. The Circle of Friends program was honored with the “2016 Best of the Best Memory Care Award” at the 2016 Argentum Senior Living
Executive Conference and a George Mason University Healthcare Quality Improvement Award
in 2011.
Belmont Village communities are renowned for their distinctive design, innovative programs, high
standards for life safety, and reputation for quality. Residents enjoy chef-prepared meals, housekeeping
and transportation services, enrichment and social activities, and support from a well-trained staff, including a licensed nurse on-site 24/7. UC Berkeley and the UC Retirement Center are not financially or legally involved with Belmont Village Albany and have no responsibility or liability for its operation.
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