Humboldt Commons Opens Priority List for McKinleyville Senior Living Community

Enrollment for the Future Residents Priority List at Humboldt Commons, the nonprofit senior living community taking shape on 14.6 acres south of Hiller Road in the McKinleyville Town Center, officially opened to the public on March 12, with organizers warning that cottages and apartments are expected to fill quickly following what they describe as early strong interest.

The project, developed by local nonprofit Life Plan Humboldt in partnership with the Kendal Corporation, is designed for active adults aged 62 and older and will feature cottages, apartments, and shared community spaces. Promotional materials describe a community of only 100 homes, a figure developers say will be reserved quickly.

Placing on the priority list is currently free. Life Plan Humboldt says it will begin accepting fully repayable $1,000 deposits in 2026 to allow prospective residents to secure specific residences, though no precise date has been announced.

The project has been years in the making. Life Plan Humboldt closed escrow on the Hiller Road property in June 2025 after working under a purchase option agreement, and the organization has filed the first application to obtain approval from the State of California to open a senior living community. The state confirmed receipt of that application, though no approval has been announced. More than 300 supporters contributed input to select the Humboldt Commons name, and the organization hired its first full-time employee, Kyle Salamon, after opening a Welcome Center at 1585 Heartwood Drive, Suite B in McKinleyville. Staff are available by appointment to meet with prospective residents.

As a Kendal Affiliate in Development, Humboldt Commons draws on the Pennsylvania-based Kendal Corporation's experience running nonprofit senior communities while Life Plan Humboldt retains local governance. The project's stated values include independence, community, stewardship of the land, and equality, principles the organization says align with the Quaker values that guide Kendal nationally.

Plans also include steps to split off a portion of the property so a separate nonprofit can build and manage up to 50 homes for low-income seniors, though details on timing, funding, and governance of that effort have not been released.

Monthly information sessions are scheduled both online and in person. Dr. Ann Lindsay, who has been presenting project updates through Cal Poly Humboldt's OLLI Brown Bag Lunch series, is among those fielding questions about the development timeline, architect plans, and the priority list. The full event schedule is posted at humboldt.kendal.org/events.