A ribbon cutting was held Oct. 25 for The Hacienda Mission San Luis Rey. From left in front, Miss Oceanside, Rihanna Hawley; Mission San Luis Rey Father Anthony Garibaldi; Luiseño Tribe Captain Mel Vernon; Oceanside Mayor Esther Sánchez; The Hacienda Mission San Luis Rey Executive Director Mariano Pérez; Mission San Luis Rey Executive Director Gwyn Grimes; Watermark Managing Director Mike Hughes.
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OCEANSIDE —
A retirement community has opened in Oceanside at the historic-old Mission San Luis Rey, and older adults from across the county, along with some folks from other parts of the country, are moving in.
The 256,000-square-foot community, called Hacienda Mission San Luis Rey, has 213 apartments with independent living, assisted living and memory care. The eight-acre campus sits on the southwest corner of the 56-acre Mission San Luis Rey.
The community is billed as “luxury.” It has four restaurants. The dining areas range from casual to formal. Residents with cognitive, neuromuscular or physical challenges can sign up for Gourmet Bites Cuisine, which offers meals tailored to their needs.
The Taboon Dining Room at The Hacienda Mission San Luis Rey.
(Charlie Neuman/Courtesy of The Hacienda Mission San Luis Rey)
There is a heated outdoor pool and spa, pickleball court and fitness center along with several gardens, a dog park, library and chapel. The campus includes a movie theater, game room, library and hair salon, along with various lounges, including a virtual reality entertainment lounge.
Construction of the $108 million project at 4000 Mission Ave. began in September two years ago. The project is a partnership between Tucson-based Watermark Retirement Communities, Oppidan Investment Company, a property development firm based in Minneapolis, Minn., and Mission San Luis Rey. Watermark manages the property, among nearly 70 it runs nationwide. The project’s equity partner was Harrison Street, an investment management firm headquartered in Chicago.
“The Hacienda is unique among other Watermark communities in that it is nestled on the campus of the historic Mission San Luis Rey itself, allowing residents to soak in the serenity, history, and natural beauty of the area,” said Mariano Perez, executive director of The Hacienda Mission San Luis Rey.
The Hacienda was designed by Douglas Pancake Architects and built by W.E. O’Neil Construction. It mirrors the historic Mission in its Spanish Colonial Revival style, with arched entryways, tile roofs and soaring ceilings.
The community includes 103 independent living and 86 assisted living apartments, from studios to two-bedrooms, and 24 memory care residences. In addition, The Hacienda has reserved 10 rooms with reduced rates, where Mission San Luis Rey Friars can live.
The apartments can be rented on a monthly basis with no long-term commitment. The one bedroom units start at $4,620 per month and two bedrooms start at $6,145, including meals. The rates include 24/7 associate support, concierge services, catering and room service, housekeeping and various programs. Residents can move to other levels of care and do not have to relocate as their level of care changes, for example, from independent to assisted living or memory care.
The community offers a number of programs, such as the 360Well program, which involves four areas of wellness — mind, body, spirit and community. The Watermark University program, provides mentally stimulating classes, which can be created and led by residents, associates or subject matter experts from the local area.
Currently, 70 reservations have been made for residences. Folks started moving in Sept 1.
Mission San Luis Rey, known as the largest of the California missions, marks its 225th anniversary this year. It was designated a world heritage site in 1970. Franciscan friars founded the mission in 1798. It was built with the help of the Luiseño people.
A grand opening with ribbon cutting was held Oct. 25. Oceanside Mayor Esther Sanchez and The Hacienda’s founding residents, staff and community partners along with Mission friars and San Luis Rey Tribal Captain Mel Vernon were among those attending.
