Frequently Asked Questions

Safety is BCHD’s primary concern. The former South Bay Hospital building does not meet current seismic standards, and retrofitting it is not financially feasible. The building at 514 N. Prospect Avenue on our Redondo Beach campus opened in 1960 and used non-ductile concrete construction, a type that has not fared well in prior seismic events in Southern California (Sylmar, 1971 and Northridge, 1994). Now is the time for BCHD to address its aging infrastructure, rising maintenance needs & costs and seismic issues identified by experts. Moving forward with a new project provides a responsible way to address safety, strengthen the continuum of care through modern RCFE services, and create stable revenue to sustain BCHD’s free and low-cost community health programs. 

The Sunrise proposal includes: 

• A new Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (RCFE) with up to 217 memory care, assisted living, and independent living units 
• Publicly accessible green space and a walking loop 
• Wellness programming 
• A shared multipurpose community room  
• Ground lease revenue that will support BCHD’s free and low-cost health programs 

At their May 2026 meeting, the BCHD Board of Directors, with the intent of prioritizing safety, made the difficult decision to approve the early termination of BCHD’s lease agreement with Silverado Beach Cities, a memory care facility located on the BCHD Campus in Redondo Beach. As a condition of the termination notice and in accordance with the current lease, Silverado will not make any lease payments to BCHD for a period of one year.

A: When the BCHD Board of Directors initiated negotiations for our project with the project team that included Silverado Senior Living, we were optimistic that our longstanding partnership with Silverado would continue into the next phase of the campus. At that time, Silverado requested that BCHD help reassure families during this process. Silverado drafted a letter for BCHD to send to Silverado families and prospective residents, and BCHD shared that letter on December 23, 2025.

Our intent was to reassure families and prospective residents that access to care remains at the forefront of BCHD’s efforts. At that time, we expected negotiations would progress with Silverado, and all our communications reflected that good-faith expectation.

Since December 2025, however, circumstances have changed. After evaluating the full scope of the redevelopment project, assessing the status of negotiations, and consulting with a citizen working group, BCHD chose to sign a Letter of Intent with Sunrise Senior Living, who will likely be the redevelopment partner and operator of the campus. This decision reflects our responsibility to ensure safety, long-term sustainability for the District, and our ongoing ability to serve the needs of our community well into the future.

We recognize that this decision reflects a change since last year’s letter, and we want to acknowledge that openly. Our original message was based on the most accurate information available at the time, and our intentions were sincere.

We understand that families eventually will need to move loved ones, and that may cause uncertainty. BCHD will continue working closely with Silverado to support its residents and families with compassion during times of transition.

A: The Older Adult Care industry is highly regulated in California, including standards for noticing and patient care plans during a transition such as this. For instance, care providers are required to provide a 60-day written notice to the resident, their agent or legal representative, and create an individualized transition plan for all patients at their facility.

BCHD understands that this is a challenging transition and we are committed to supporting Silverado residents, their families, and staff. The BCHD–Silverado lease includes a pre-agreed, one-year, rent-free transition period, allowing Silverado to remain on-site while helping residents relocate before the 514 Building is demolished.

Silverado operates 11 other facilities within 60 miles – their Rolling Hills facility is five miles away – and additional memory care options exist in the region.

BCHD’s Community Services team and social workers are working with Silverado to support families during this transition. For assistance, contact Emily Brosius, Director of Community Services at emily.brosius@bchd.org or 310-374-3426 ext. 8134.

Silverado will have a minimum of 365 days to transition residents to new locations. This period is provided through the rent-free clause included in the current lease agreement.

During the redevelopment partner search, BCHD initially entered negotiations with MarVentures/Continental, whose plan included a new Silverado facility. As negotiations progressed, that plan became complex. At the same time, Sunrise submitted a revised proposal with strong community benefits, including memory care. After evaluating both options, BCHD determined the Sunrise proposal best aligned with community priorities and long-term campus goals.

A: Correct. In either development scenario, residents of Silverado Memory Care would have been moved to a new facility.

Under the Sunrise plan, Silverado’s clients will be relocated by May 2027. Residents wanting to return to the Prospect Ave. Campus can do so once Sunrise opens its facility, which is expected in the first half of 2030.

The other proposal would have left Silverado residents in their current location for an additional 18-24 months, while construction of their new facility was taking place. After their relocation, they would have then been subject to the demolition of the old hospital building and an additional two years (or more) of construction on the Campus.

Because Sunrise provides its own assisted living and memory care services, its proposal did not incorporate a second operator. Sunrise submitted its own plan, while Silverado chose to partner separately with MarVentures/Continental.    

BCHD is committed to working closely with Silverado throughout the transition process. 

• BCHD recognizes this change may be challenging for residents, families and staff. 
• BCHD’s Community Services team and social workers will connect with Silverado to understand needs and provide support where appropriate. 
• Ensuring continuity of care and sensitivity to resident needs is a top priority. 
• Silverado families that would like to speak to BCHD about BCHD’s support for Silverado during this time of transition are encouraged to reach out to Emily Brosius, Director of Community Services at emily.brosius@bchd.org or 310-374-3426 ext. 8134 for assistance.   

A: BCHD’s Community Services team and social workers have connected with Silverado to provide support where appropriate, and BCHD will continue to work with Silverado during this transition.

BCHD CEO Tom Bakaly provided a letter to Silverado President and CEO for distribution to residents’ families. The letter outlined the BCHD Board’s action, expressed BCHD’s commitment to supporting residents and families during the transition, and provided direct contact information for the Director of Community Services for questions or assistance.

Community Services staff connected with Silverado’s Senior Community Ambassador, a longtime community partner, to reinforce BCHD’s commitment to supporting residents and families.

Staff corresponded with the Vice President of Ombudsman Services at WISE (Wellness Initiative for Senior Education) & Healthy Aging to inform the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program of the Board’s action and express BCHD’s willingness to participate in a multidisciplinary effort to support residents throughout the relocation process.

During negotiations with the Mar Ventures/Continental team, their plan became more complex and could not meet the relocation timeline for tenants. Sunrise remained consistent, strengthened its proposal, and better aligned with community priorities and long-term campus goals, including the need to address seismic concerns sooner. 

The Sunrise proposal – one that has been vetted and was presented to the BCHD Board in May – incorporated feedback from the community by:

• Reduced building height and massing 
• Increased community benefits 
• Aligned with community feedback 
• Created a cohesive campus vision in harmony with existing BCHD facilities 

Planned community benefits include: 

• Publicly accessible green space 
• A walking loop 
• Aquatics classes for Sunrise residents and CHF members 
• Wellness programming 
• Shared access to a multipurpose community room 
• Program partnerships with allcove Beach Cities 
• Ground lease revenue to support BCHD programs 

Once BCHD and Sunrise agree to enter into the ground lease, a 90-day due diligence period will begin. Sunrise will then initiate the Conditional Use Permit process in summer/fall 2026, and demolition and construction activities could begin during the second half of 2027. The ground lease will begin once Sunrise receives its building permit for the project from the City of Redondo Beach.

The BCHD Board reviewed a land lease agreement with Sunrise at its May 27, 2026 Board meeting, and approved a motion authorizing BCHD CEO Tom Bakaly to execute an Agreement to Enter into a Ground Lease with Sunrise Senior Living.

Following the Board’s approval of the ground lease: 

• BCHD has issued Silverado a one-year notice to vacate, as required by the current lease. That deadline is May 29, 2027.
• The one-year, rent-free period began May 29, 2026. 
• Sunrise is preparing its Conditional Use Permit (CUP) application for submission to the City of Redondo Beach in Summer 2026.

Demolition of the 514 Building is anticipated in 2027, after Silverado has completed its transition period.

Construction of any kind comes with some disruptions, and BCHD recognizes the importance of keeping neighbors informed and engaged as the project progresses. Our goal is to provide clear, consistent communication and ensure that community members have multiple opportunities to learn about the project, ask questions, and share feedback.

A dedicated construction page, phone number and email is available to residents. On this page, residents can sign up for our neighborhood construction e-mail list to receive regular communications about construction.

Our intent is to provide neighbors with reliable information in advance of major construction activities and to make it easy for community members to stay informed and provide feedback. A Neighborhood Construction Meeting was held on April 16, 2026.  Neighbors in the areas immediately surrounding the campus, including Torrance, were notified via doorhangers and flyers distributed to more than 300 residences. Additional notifications were made via BCHD’s e-mail newsletters and social media channels (Facebook, Instagram).

In April 2025, the BCHD Board voted to direct staff to enter into a lease agreement that will move CHF to the 510 N. Prospect Avenue building, which has an expected lifespan through 2055.

This action keeps the fitness center on the BCHD Campus, requires just one move of CHF (a prior plan included two moves), and keeps the facility near its current location, which has more than 3,000 members. The new CHF lease also makes the 510 N. Prospect Ave. building part of the Healthy Living Campus project, a positive outcome for neighbors on Diamond Street, who had concerns over the loss of green space and impending construction adjacent to their properties.

Plans call for the relocation to take place by early 2027.

The new lease will go until mid-2030, when BCHD takes ownership of the 510 N. Prospect Avenue building.

A Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, or PACE, is a Medicare and Medicaid program that helps people meet their health care needs while aging gracefully in their home/community instead of moving into a nursing home or other care facility.

With PACE, a team of healthcare professionals works with patients and their families to ensure that properly coordinated care is provided. The healthcare teams typically work with a small number of older adults, so they really get to know their patients while providing medical care, medication management, and adult health care services.

BCHD has partnered with allcove, a program developing an innovative network of integrated youth mental health centers across California. allcove centers are designed to destigmatize mental health issues for youth (ages 12 – 25) and provide a network of free/low-cost mental health centers. The Center offers mental and physical health resources, education, employment, peer and family support, and substance use prevention programs.

Taking a regional approach, BCHD was able to apply and receive a $2 million grant from the State, bringing needed professional mental health resources to our youth. Our young people are facing a mental health crisis – 50% of all lifetime cases of mental illness start by age 14; 79% do not have access to care; and in the Beach Cities, 18% of our Beach Cities 11th graders reported seriously considering attempting suicide within the past 12 months.

allcove Beach Cities operations are funded through the state’s Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, in partnership with Stanford University’s Center for Youth Mental Health & Wellbeing, to provide more access to mental health services for young people ages 12-25. It is located in the heart of Redondo Beach, both in its temporary locations and in the future Healthy Living Campus.

In March, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion by Supervisors Holly J. Mitchell and Janice Hahn to invest a total of $4.5 million – $1.5 million over three years – to sustain mental health services provided by allcove Beach Cities youth center. 

A: Safety is BCHD’s primary concern. The former South Bay Hospital building does not meet current seismic standards, and retrofitting it is not financially feasible. The building at 514 N. Prospect Avenue on our Redondo Beach campus opened in 1960 and used non-ductile concrete construction, a type that has not fared well in prior seismic events in Southern California (Sylmar, 1971 and Northridge, 1994). (Los Angeles Times)

Now is the time for BCHD to address its aging infrastructure, rising maintenance needs & costs and seismic issues identified by experts. Moving forward with a new project provides a responsible way to address safety, strengthen the continuum of care through modern Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFE) services, and create stable revenue to sustain BCHD’s free and low-cost community health programs (including BCHD’s Care Management program, which serves 430+ Beach Cities older adults and adults with disabilities (many of whom are Medi-CAL and Medicaid recipients) with services to help them age in place.).

While a seismic upgrade is not required by law for the 514 Building, the BCHD board gave direction to vacate that building in 2027 as part of its Campus revitalization project – a proactive step toward addressing future seismic events and resulting damage or injury.

A: Yes. When complete, the new campus will serve our community by expanding access to services and support healthy living for residents, including:

• Sunrise Senior Living’s redevelopment of the 514 building and parking lot (pending due diligence) will include Assisted Living, Memory Care and Independent Living units
• Community Spaces & Amenities – Provided by Sunrise Senior Living
  • Indoor and Outdoor Community Commons
  • Wellness Path – accessible loop around the campus
  • Shared Pool for CHF Aquatic Classes
• Medical Offices and Health Services – 510 and 520 buildings, Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), Medical Offices and Pharmacy
• allcove Beach Cities – BCHD’s wellness center for young people ages 12-25
• Center for Health & Fitness – BCHD’s medically accredited fitness center

The Sunrise Residential Care Facility for the Elderly will include a mix of assisted living, independent living and memory care units. This model allows couples or individuals to transition through the Continuum of Care for older adults together and not be separated.

A: Yes. When complete, the new campus will serve our community by expanding access to services and support healthy living for residents, including:

• Sunrise Senior Living’s redevelopment of the 514 building and parking lot (pending due diligence) will include Assisted Living, Memory Care and Independent Living units
• Community Spaces & Amenities – Provided by Sunrise Senior Living
  • Indoor and Outdoor Community Commons
  • Wellness Path – accessible loop around the campus
  • Shared Pool for CHF Aquatic Classes
• Medical Offices and Health Services – 510 and 520 buildings, Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), Medical Offices and Pharmacy
• allcove Beach Cities – BCHD’s wellness center for young people ages 12-25
• Center for Health & Fitness – BCHD’s medically accredited fitness center

The Sunrise Residential Care Facility for the Elderly will include a mix of assisted living, independent living and memory care units. This model allows couples or individuals to transition through the Continuum of Care for older adults together and not be separated.

BCHD is implementing components of its Campus plan. The BCHD Board recently approved a motion authorizing BCHD CEO Tom Bakaly to execute an Agreement to Enter into a Ground Lease with Sunrise Senior Living. In 2025, the Board OK’d the relocation of the Center for Health & Fitness (CHF) from 514 N. Prospect Avenue to 510 N. Prospect, keeping the fitness center on the BCHD Campus. A well-recognized Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) operator is currently renovating space in the 510 Prospect building. BCHD continues to raise funds for a permanent home for allcove Beach Cities, which broke ground in May 2026 at the corner of Beryl Street and Flagler Lane.

A ground lease agreement will allow Sunrise Senior Living to move forward with its plans for redeveloping the former South Bay Hospital site. Sunrise’s proposal centers on residential care facilities for the elderly, offering memory care, assisted living, and independent living, along with a range of community‑focused amenities, including publicly accessible green space, a walking loop, wellness programming, a multipurpose community room, and more.

As mentioned above, in May, the BCHD Board approved a motion authorizing the BCHD CEO to execute an Agreement to Enter into a Ground Lease with Sunrise Senior Living to redevelop the old South Bay Hospital building.

Safety is BCHD’s primary concern, and since the cost of retrofitting the former hospital building is not financially feasible for the District, BCHD plans to demolish the building in 2027.

In 2018, Youssef & Associates concluded that demolition of the 514 N. Prospect Avenue building is prudent due to its vulnerability and poor performance of buildings that used non-ductile concrete construction in past earthquakes. While not required, seismic updates are recommended. The Redondo Beach General Plan suggests buildings with non-ductile concrete construction be “upgraded, relocated, or phased out.” The building also faces escalating maintenance costs, diminishing revenue used to fund programs and services.

As of now, seismic updates are not required, but are a prudent move given the performance of non-ductile concrete buildings in recent earthquakes. A seismic report of the building can be found here: Nabih Youssef Seismic Evaluation

The Redondo Beach General Plan suggests non-ductile concrete frame buildings, such as 514 Prospect, should ultimately be “upgraded, relocated or phased out.”

Related to this, on February 28, 2023, Los Angeles County supervisors took the first step toward approving mandatory earthquake retrofitting on certain older concrete buildings that include a defect discovered in the 1971 Sylmar earthquake that can lead to a catastrophic collapse. The measure targets “non-ductile” concrete buildings owned by the county and those located in unincorporated areas and calls upon officials to prepare new rules for such a mandate. The city of Los Angeles approved a similar retrofit requirement in 2015.

In Southern California, earthquakes are a fact of life – we must be prepared. Seismic experts determined the 65-year-old hospital building (514 N. Prospect Ave.) on the campus has seismic and structural issues common with structures built in the 1950s and ’60s. Non-ductile concrete construction has not fared well in seismic events dating back to the Sylmar earthquake in 1971. While a seismic upgrade is not required by law at this time, the BCHD Board of Directors opted to take a proactive approach to address these seismic issues in consideration of the building’s residents, employees and visitors.

Yes. As outlined in Section 32121(j) of the California Health and Safety Code, healthcare districts are empowered under state law to establish, maintain and operate healthcare facilities, including retirement programs, services and facilities. A conditional use permit already exists, allowing a memory care to operate on the BCHD Campus, and all elements of the Healthy Living Campus will comply with local zoning regulations.

On the Healthy Living Campus, RCFE could consist of memory care, assisted living and independent living units.

Memory care currently exists on the BCHD campus, with Silverado operating 60 units (120 beds) of specialized care for people living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

Assisted Living, designed to be “home-like” with private or semi-private apartment-style rooms, provides a continuum of long-term care services, including housing, personal care services, and healthcare for individuals who need assistance with normal daily activities (bathing, meals, etc.). Assisted living residents often receive help with meal preparation, laundry and medication management, and in general, the care provided is at a lower acuity and residents have a higher level of independence than the patients in skilled nursing facilities.

RCFE is a critical need considering 61 million Baby Boomers (born from 1946 – 1964) will be at least 66 years old by 2030. According to the peer-reviewed journal Health Affairs, one of the most important public health discoveries in recent years is the degree to which one’s physical environment (home) influences health status and premature mortality. This is especially true for the more vulnerable senior population.

The main campus is zoned P-CF (Community Facility) and the vacant lot located on Flagler Lane is zoned C-2 (Commercial).

A conditional use permit (CUP) is already in place for the 514 Prospect Ave. building, addressing the 120 memory care residents. The proposed project – like other improvements made in the past – would require a CUP under existing code. Also, a CUP does not require a vote of the people.

By certifying the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the District’s Healthy Living Campus Master Plan, the BCHD Board of Directors verified the document complies with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The vote was taken Sept. 8, 2021 and the Board was 5-0 in favor of certification following two and a half hours of presentations, board deliberations and public comments. More than 300 public comments and responses were included in the 1,778-page Final EIR.