West Covina : Senior Citizen Facility OKd

The Planning Commission has unanimously approved construction of a senior citizens facility. The project will include a 3-story retirement home and 1-story convalescent home on the northeast corner of Grand and Holt avenues.

The plans for West Covina Convalescent Home and West Covina Royale--developed by Goldrich, Kest & Associates, a Sherman Oaks agency that develops retirement centers--received no opposition, but some residents raised concerns about the design.

Concerns include the location of the retirement home’s entrance on Grand Avenue, where some residents say traffic may be too fast for seniors, and the small number of parking spaces--49--for the retirement home. The convalescent home will have 80 parking spaces.

If the traffic poses a serious problem, said principal engineer Tom Mayer, the city will consider allowing use of the emergency access road on the east side of the retirement home, which will exit into Temple Way, a cul-de-sac.

Manny Aftergut, a partner of Goldrich, Kest & Associates, believes the parking space is ample for a retirement home, an employee said. The developers also believe there was careful consideration of placement of the entrance and that there is a stoplight nearby, Aftergut said.

The complex will cover 6 acres and house 340 people.