Local Resident Support

My wife Kathy and I have been residents of Rancho Santa Fe for more than 36 years. Our now-adult children attended the Ranch school, and now live close by in Carmel Valley. Kathy and I are in strong support of the Silvergate RSF project, which will be a wonderful addition to our community.

We are actively interested in having a beautiful senior residence like this project will add an important new resource to our community. We, and a number of our friends, will be interested in residing one day in a well run community like those developed and managed by Americare Health & Retirement. The members of the organized opposition group “Neighbors in the Ranch” do not represent our point of view. A beautiful seniors residence home would generate a minimum of traffic or noise. It will enable us, and many other long term RSF residents, to stay in the area when it comes time to leave the family home.

Please give this project fair and objective consideration, and do not be convinced to deny approval by the local NIMBY opposition group. They have opposed every project ever proposed on that gateway corner in Rancho. They do not own the property. Their point of view should be given due consideration, but their voice does NOT represent the will of the entire Ranch community. Their voice of opposition should be weighed against the needs of many, many less vocal residents. This project as proposed will enhance the visual appeal of this Rancho Santa Fe entry, and provide an important resource for the more elder among us residents.

It would provide a more objective and proper perspective of this project to the Board and Art Jury if you could distribute an unbiased survey of Ranch residents opinion on the project. Given the obstructive and unfair opposition of the more organized opposition group, a simple survey could shed some light on the real opinion of the entire Ranch Santa Fe community. Any survey would fairly include an unbiased project description, and perhaps a reasonable list of Pros and Cons, fairly summarized by the Board and Art Jury members.Mark M., RSF Covenant Resident for 36+ years

I was the Petree family’s banker for many years. I saw how efficient and successful they were throughout the years in all of their business endeavors.
One of the things that I think is most important to know, especially if I were looking for a home to transition to that’s smaller with specific services provided, would be to find a company that wasn’t planning to sell its property eventually to someone from out of the area. You don’t want the eventual corporate-style community operator because that generally means services are reduced and people come and go.

One of the great things about Silvergate’s model is the continuity of ownership. They’re a family run business which means they’re not building the property simply to make it valuable enough to sell it down the road. Those of us who have lived in RSF a long time don’t want a retirement community to be built, filled with seniors, and then flipped to a different owner. Local ownership makes the operation of a property like this 1000% better. I think that if they take what they’ve done over at their community in Rancho Bernardo and expand that concept here in the Ranch, well…that’s exactly what we need here.

In Carlsbad, there’s a big retirement community that we’ve visited, and we have friends who have gone there, but it’s exactly what I wouldn’t want. That contrived, theme-park feeling, and huge population of residents doesn’t have the warm and friendly atmosphere that would make it feel like a home. I’ve experienced Silvergate’s other communities, they have a strong family-friendly feeling. That’s what would be nice to have here in the Ranch. I want to know my friends and neighbors, and you can’t get that when you’re in an environment with hundreds upon hundreds of people. It just doesn’t work. Jim B., Former President of RSF National Bank

I’ve been following Silvergate’s proposed project, which I view as a real asset to our community. I hope Silvergate prevails with the Art Jury and the county. We look forward to this needed addition to the Ranch.Wanda G.

I have lived in the Covenant for more than 30 years. I’ve heard the saying ‘You can do everything in the Ranch, EXCEPT grow old here’ to describe life in Rancho Santa Fe. I am getting older, and it gets more and more challenging to maintain my four acres of land. Downsizing, yet remaining near my friends in our community would be a fabulous long-term option. There are very limited options for downsizing and staying in the community that many of us have called home for decades. I hope Silvergate can change that.Kathy M., RSF Covenant Resident for 30+ years

I have been a Realtor for nearly 38 years. My husband and l have lived in the Covenant for 34 years. I have held a real estate designation, Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES) for more than 24 years, during which time I have worked mostly with our senior neighbors in the Ranch as they transition to the next chapter in their lives.
The biggest issue has been finding them suitable downsizing options. There were no available nearby senior residences immediately available. Silvergate RSF would answer that problem quite nicely.

Silvergate would be a wonderful financial benefit to the Covenant, as well. For Realtors, it means they would be able to sell their elderly clients’ homes as they move into Silvergate, thus earning a commission. Realtors would then bring buyers to buy these homes (more income flowing into the Ranch), thus revitalizing the Covenant with new new homeowners and new members.

This would bring a two-fold income to the Association because those homes would be reassessed based on their new sale price. Also, the Association would reassess the Silvergate RSF property, bringing in added income, allowing those additional funds to be put towards other projects in the Covenant which would benefit new homeowners and all of our residents.

To me, this is such a Win-Win situation – elderly home sellers get to stay in their beloved community, and new blood (incoming buyers) would revitalize the town. For all these reasons and more, I strongly support the forward thinking of this family-owned organization to become part of the Covenant.Nancy W., RSF Covenant Resident for 34 years

I am writing in support of Silvergate Rancho Santa Fe being part of the covenant and community.  Silvergate already runs two very successful and beautiful retirement communities in San Diego County, and their designs for the Rancho Santa Fe property are stunning. The last two former owners did nothing to beautify or improve the property, and what is being proposed is something that our community could very much use.  My self and several of my friends who live in the covenant would love if this was open TODAY.Marion D., Property Owner in the RSF Covenant

As a long-time resident and active participant in the life of the Ranch, I would like nothing more than to be able to continue residing here in Rancho Santa Fe in a quality senior living community. The proposed location for this new project at Via de la Valle and Avenida Del Bosque would give me continued access to the people and the organizations that have been a part of my life since moving here in the 1970’s. I hope the Silvergate community comes to fruition and offers me that opportunity sometime down the road.Kathy S., RSF Covenant Resident for 40+ years

As you look at Silvergate’s proposed plans, you see that it is unlike anything that is available or has been previously proposed for retirement living anywhere in Southern California. The units are larger, the density is lower and the buildings similar to existing neighboring homes. With the standard of quality apparent in the developer’s previous projects, this project will provide a new, valuable amenity to everyone living in the Ranch.Pertti V., RSF Covenant Resident

I want to live at Silvergate RSF to be in a vibrant community with my friends, stay close to the golf course and have access to exercise and art classes, onsite dining, and the many activities they’ll plan.Margaret M., RSF Covenant Resident

I truly admire the renderings of Silvergate as it looks like a welcoming community with fine design. I’m in full support of welcoming this added benefit to the Ranch.Bill M., RSF Covenant Resident

I’m writing to tell the Art Jurt, the Association and Silvergate that I am sincerely interested in having this project approved and completed. I put my name on the Wait List because I can see myself moving there in a few years.Ellen G., RSF Covenant Resident

My wife and I recommend approval of the Silvergate project by the Art Jury and Association without reservation. We love the Ranch and staying here would be the best option. In addition, having this new exclusive community in the covenant would be a win-win not only for the residents but also for the Association.Mark S., RSF Covenant Resident

My husband and I are at the age where many of our peers are downsizing. The happiest of those are the ones who moved close to home where they could still be near friends and continue to participate in community activities. We have lived in RSF for over 30 years and have deep roots here. Silvergate has planned the perfect spot for exactly what we and many of our neighbors are looking for. Please support this incredible opportunity.Fran J., RSF Covenant Resident

Silvergate is a wonderful solution for a property that has been an eyesore in our community for decades. It promises to be a well-run, family-owned business that fills a basic need in our community and will add to our revenues, and property values, over time. I’ve met the Petrees several times and know they will be “hands on” managers, responsive neighbors, and above all, great stewards of the property. Exactly the kind of people we should have as partners.Bill J., RSF Covenant Resident

To the Art Jury and RSF Association Board, thank you for considering the Silvergate project seriously.Michael C., RSF Covenant Resident since 1987

My home and love for Rancho Santa Fe is in my heart and soul. To be able to live out the last chapter of my life in my happy place would be heaven!Stacy S., RSF Covenant Resident for 35 years

Silvergate is just what our community needs. It will keep our aging members close, free up their larger homes and allow those homes to sell to other families.Shelby S., RSF Covenant Resident since 1987

We need an effective alternative for senior living here in the ranch. People have complained for years that residents have had to find senior living options away from the home we love.Ken W., RSF Covenant Resident since 1988

As a former project manager of luxury condo project in Palm Desert, I am totally in flavor of this project. It is a phenomenal use of this property which has been standing still for over 25 years. The people who will love on this site are current covenant members. This is the covenants chance to make sure these individuals will remain in the covenant versus moving somewhere else.John S., RSF Covenant Resident since 1988

This project will allow hundreds of single seniors (after living in the ranch for more than 30 years) who have lost a spouse to downsize and even be able to walk to Chino Farms for fresh produce!Bill C., RSF Covenant Resident since 1991

Please, let’s go for it. Time is precious.Sandy Y., RSF Covenant Resident since 1986

I strongly lend my support for this development. It is a very critical need for the aging population who deserve to be able to stay in the community we love.Peggy B., RSF Covenant Resident since 2000

My wife has visited retirement communities in San Diego county, and the most impactful visit was with a resident at Silvergate Rancho Bernardo, who said it is owned by a family and not a corporation and every week one of the sons is here checking in on us.David W., RSF Covenant Resident since 1989

A community such as what Silvergate proposes is something that the Covenant sorely needs. An active, vital lifestyle is something we want to continue. We love the Covenant, its beauty and history and have delighted in living here for decades.Ellen and Don R., RSF Covenant Residents since 1991

You can count on the Petree family. They are long-time contributors to our community and will be here for the long haul.Mark S., RSF Covenant Resident since 1992

Our neighborhood really needs a quality project like Silvergate… a place to go if and when we need it. We hope it’s approved!John and Allegra E., RSF Covenant Residents since 1987

Better health care means many older age citizens. When the Covenant was founded, humans only lived to age 55 – 60 years. Now it is age 70 – 80 years. Rancho Santa Fe needs to accommodate our older citizens and also needs to free up our current houses for the next generation.Dennis and Kathy W., RSF Covenant Residents since 1984

A healthy community has elements across the spectrum of life… good education and recreation. We need investments in infrastructure that allow living and working in the community. We need options for people as they age to remain in Rancho Santa Fe. We are missing that here in the Ranch, and Silvergate is a great option for us!John G., RSF Covenant Residents since 1997