Tutera Group Reacts to Pressure From Community

Photo  courtesy of the PV Post.

The Tutera Group, the sole owner of the Mission Valley property off of Mission Rd., has recently altered its plans to build a continuing care retirement community (CCRC).

“Our plan was to always build a CCRC,” a Tutera Group representative said. “Any changes we’ve made have been from input from the surroundings.”

When the middle school was closed and purchased, the surrounding neighborhoods protested and the Mission Valley Neighbors Association was created.

“It is a large group of concerned residents whose mission is to make sure that the development on the Mission Valley site is appropriate for the surrounding community,” East mom and treasurer of the group Brenda Satterlee said. “We’re opposed to the plans. It’s too dense for the 18 acres.”

In response to the public’s concerns, the Tutera Group has altered its construction plans of the CCRC, which they have named Mission Chateau. Some of the plans include reducing the  building height and drawing in more villas. The delivery locations have been moved to the northern portion of the property and the entrance to the property doesn’t circulate the southern perimeter.

The Tutera Group announced the alterations at a public meeting on March 5, where approximately 80 neighbors, including Satterlee, attended.

“We have been very vocal about how much we do not like the plan,” Satterlee said. “The large development does not fit the character of the surrounding neighborhoods. We are concerned about flooding, extra traffic, parking overflow into neighborhoods and crime.  This would be the fifth senior living center in a two and a half mile stretch of Mission Rd. Clearly our community is becoming overbuilt for senior living centers.”

Owner Joe Tutera is aware of how hurt the community felt when Mission Valley closed.

“A lot of…anger was directed at us,” Tutera said. “However, we have a ton of support.”

Though compromises are still being discussed, construction of the Mission Chateau is scheduled to begin in 2015.

“We’re really just excited to build a place for the senior citizens to continue to live in,” Tutera said. “We want them to be able to live in their city and community.”