Clairemont Welcomes New Senior Residence and Wellness Center

Paul Downey Senior Residence and Judith L. Seltz Opens January 30

In one of the most exciting developments Serving Seniors has been involved with in its 55 year history of supporting older adults in San Diego County, elected and civic leaders formally cut the ribbon opening the new Paul Downey Senior Residence and Judith L. Seltz Senior Wellness Center in Clairemont on Thursday, January 30.

The development is northwest of the major intersection of Balboa Avenue and Genesee Avenue in Clairemont at 5257 Mt. Etna Drive, where the county crime lab and the former community hospital once stood.

GRAND OPENING PHOTOS

Paul Downey Senior Residence

The Paul Downey Senior Residence, named to honor the organization’s longtime President and CEO by the board of directors, offers 79 units for low-income older adults ages 62 and up. Residents will move in beginning in mid-February, with a community open house scheduled in early March.

The Serving Seniors Board of Directors initiated a naming campaign in summer 2024 after longtime President/CEO Paul Downey announced his retirement, effective in May 2025 after 30 years in this role.

Board chairperson Mary Gendron said the board wanted to honor Downey’s extraordinary leadership and service to the seniors in our community. The board achieved its goal of raising $500,000 in support of the naming project by December 31, 2024.

“We tried our best to keep the naming a secret as a surprise to Paul, but he’s simply too smart and well connected, and he found out after about four months,” said Gendron. “We enjoyed Paul being in on the anticipation of seeing this long-awaited project completed and help put final touches on a facility that will provide a legacy for his family for years to come.”

“I never imagined seeing my name on a building. I’m overwhelmed by this honor,” said Downey. “It represents a lifetime of effort to deliver the high quality affordable housing our older adult neighbors deserve in San Diego. It is vital to our overall quality of life. I don’t intend to stop, as the need remains great.”

Judith L. Seltz Senior Wellness Center

Modeled after our downtown Gary and Mary West Senior Wellness Center, Serving Seniors will provide a wide array of services at the new Judith L. Seltz Wellness Center in a breathtaking space with floor to ceiling windows, including meals, health services, workshops and classes, case management, and social activities. It replaces a center that closed in Clairemont over a decade ago.

The Judith L. Seltz Senior Wellness Center includes a commercial kitchen where Serving Seniors will prepare meals daily, including hot lunches and to-go bags for breakfast the next day. The Center will be open Monday through Friday.

The complex is within walking distance of existing public transportation, shopping, and services, including a new Aldi grocery store steps from the entrance. The Judith L. Seltz Wellness Center will be open to the public daily. Volunteer opportunities will allow members of the community to get to know and support their neighbors.

After Serving Seniors began its fundraising campaign supporting naming opportunities, Judith L. Seltz Trust administrator Roy Katzen learned about the new Clairemont senior housing project. Seltz is Roy’s cousin, and he runs the trust in his late cousin’s name.

After thoughtful conversations how best to honor his cousin, the Judith L. Seltz Senior Wellness Center was named through the support of the Seltz Trust. Roy Katzen lives in the Clairemont neighborhood not far from this project. He has watched the entire progress of the project from the ground up and will be a regular visitor to the center after it opens.

“When we first met with community leaders and residents in the planning stages for this project, one concern we heard repeatedly was the need for more community space, especially a public senior center,” said Downey. “Our downtown center 12 miles to the south was the closest existing senior center. This was not adequate to meet the needs of area residents.”

Community Open House Planned in March

When residents have moved in and the Judith L. Seltz Senior Wellness Center is fully operational, Clairemont residents will be invited to join Serving Seniors for a community open house and tours to celebrate the addition to the neighborhood in early March. Details to come.

“As we watched the Clairemont project come to life this year, we hope the community feels the same sense of anticipation. We heard their call for a senior center, and we agree it was sorely needed. Their input made a significant different in this project,” said Downey.

“Roy Katzen and I both feel a sense of responsibility in being good neighbors and keeping the promises we made to the Clairemont community for delivering something we can be proud of for decades to come,” said Downey.

Serving Seniors partnered with its long-time collaborator, Chelsea Investment Corporation (Chelsea), in developing the housing and center. Emerson Construction is building the housing and senior center. Serving Seniors will provide onsite resident services.

Two additional residential buildings for all ages are scheduled for completion in 2026. The campus will have a total of 404 apartments with 58 set aside for tenants with disabilities.

Paul Downey Senior Residence and Judith L. Seltz Senior Wellness Center

Project Team

AGP – Chelsea Investment Corporation

MGP –Serving Seniors

Service Provider – Serving Seniors

General Contractor –Emmerson Construction, Inc.

Architect – The McKinley Associates, Inc.

Landscape Architect – GMP Landscape Architecture

Civil Engineer – Fuscoe Engineering, Inc.

Financing Sources

County of San Diego – Land Acquisition Value Contribution

San Diego Housing Commission – Capital Funding