By Sarah Lombardo
It's a new name and a new look for the Odd Fellows Retirement Home of California.
As of today, the facility will be called the Saratoga Retirement Community. The change in name coincides with the beginning of the expansion and renovation of the facilities.
"The [original] name is held near and dear to many hearts," said Deborah Rice, owner of Concept, an advertising and public relations company, and a spokesperson for the home. "With the demolition beginning, the time seemed right."
Charles Gascoigne, the center's executive administrator, said the name change was also made to reflect the home's open policy. "We think that [the new name] better identifies who we are, what we do and where we're located," Gascoigne said.
The Saratoga Retirement Community will still be operated by the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Rebekahs, but membership in the order is not necessary to live at the home.
Plans for the SRC include a new skilled nursing facility, renovation of the existing 85-year-old main building and the construction of new duplex cottages on the grounds. The beginning of demolition at the home comes about a year after the proposal first went before the Saratoga Planning Commission.
The proposal was held up by concerns from Saratoga residents and planning commissioners about traffic, density and the length of construction and by threats from Measure G, Saratoga's growth-control initiative passed in March.
An agreement signed in February between the city of Saratoga and IOOF exempted the planned expansion from Measure G and allows the IOOF to take up to 10 years to finish the project. Planning commissioners had requested the two-phase project be combined and finished in five years, but officials for the home argued that the project's timeline depended on financing.
But Gascoigne said the five-year idea seems feasible.
"It looks like the opportunity to complete it in five years will not only be a goal, but something we will be able to accomplish," he said.
Rice said the center is renovating and expanding to reflect the new market senior citizens are asking for in a retirement community.
"The home was originally built at a time when the whole concept of housing seniors was more of a college dorm approach," said Rice. "Things have changed since that time. Now, [the rooms] will be more like apartments."
The retirement community has been in operation since 1912 and comprises residential facility, offering assisted and independent living, and a health center, offering skilled nursing care.
According to Gascoigne, the renovation is needed.
"Basically, I have a campus that was built in 1912. The buildings were state-of-the-art in 1912," Gascoigne said. "I have to replace buildings."
This article appeared in the Saratoga News, January 1, 1997.
©1997 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.