FAQs

Life Plan Humboldt is the non-profit board of directors that founded Humboldt Commons. Several Life Plan Humboldt board members, volunteers, and ambassadors are active participants and future residents of Humboldt Commons.

The Kendal Corporation partnered with the Board of Directors of Life Plan Humboldt to develop and operate Humboldt Commons under an Affiliate agreement. Life Plan Humboldt remains an independent organization serving the needs of Humboldt Commons.

Humboldt Commons maintains a Future Residents Priority List (FRPL) for individuals interested in becoming part of the community.

This list determines the order in which prospective residents will be contacted to reserve a specific apartment or cottage once the reservation process begins. The list operates on a simple principle—the date of your $1,000 repayable deposit determines your priority position when homes become available for reservation.
Joining the Priority List also provides access to design and development updates, invitations to special events and informational sessions, opportunities to connect with future neighbors, and the ability to help shape aspects of the future community.

Because Humboldt Commons will include approximately 109 homes, joining early increases your chances of selecting your preferred home and location.

The first step now is joining the Future Residents Priority List.

The Reservation Deposit phase is expected to begin in late spring. During this phase, Priority List members will be invited to select their preferred apartment or cottage.

To reserve a home, a 10% deposit of the Entrance Fee will be placed in an escrow account. Your initial $1,000 Priority Deposit may be applied toward this reservation deposit. 10% Deposits will begin at around $37,500 and range based on the size and location of the home you choose at Humboldt Commons.

Yes. During the Reservation Deposit phase, deposits will be 100% repayable.

Early in the reservation phase, depositors will have the opportunity to secure an 80% repayable Entrance Fee contract, meaning 80% of the entry fee will be returned when the resident leaves the community and the home is occupied by a new resident. Later in the reservation phase, the available contract structure will shift to a 70% repayable Entrance Fee contract. The contract option will change depending on the velocity of reservation deposits starting in late spring of 2026.

Additional details about contract options will be provided during the reservation deposit events and your personal appointment, both scheduled for late spring.

Individuals interested in joining the Future Residents Priority List will receive a personal link to the online sign-up page. Starting on March 11, the link will be available on the Humboldt Commons website.

You will complete a short survey, review the Priority List agreement, and submit a fully refundable $1,000 deposit. Your deposit date establishes your priority position for selecting a residence.

The deposit is held in an escrow account in accordance with state regulations.

The Future Resident Priority List will continue after the community opens, and you can remain on the list indefinitely, but the best path to residency will be to convert your $1,000 Future Resident Priority List deposit to a 10% Reservation Deposit in late spring of 2026.

Yes. The $1,000 deposit is fully repayable and held in an escrow account as required by state regulations. You may request removal from the Priority List at any time.

Occasionally, homes become available again before the community opens if someone cancels their reservation or changes their plans. If that occurs, the next individuals on the Priority List will be contacted in order of their original deposit.

Construction of Humboldt Commons is expected to take approximately 2 years, with an anticipated start in early 2027 and an opening around 2029. Updates on development milestones will be shared with Priority List members and Reservation Depositors throughout the process.

Humboldt Commons will include approximately 109 independent living homes, including apartments and cottages. The community is expected to include roughly a 60/40 mix of apartments and cottages.

All homes are designed with comfort, accessibility, and aging-in-place in mind. Features will include wider doorways, open floor plans, zero‑barrier showers, comfort‑height toilets, and accessible layouts designed for long‑term independence.

Each residence will include a full kitchen with modern appliances, including a washer and dryer, a refrigerator with an ice maker, a dishwasher, a microwave, and an electric stove. Many homes also include a private balcony, patio, or deck.

Each home will have one dedicated parking space, and additional parking will be available throughout the community, including electric vehicle charging stations. To help keep overall community costs lower, covered parking and separate storage buildings are not planned for this phase of development.

The Entrance Fee is the cost of your home or apartment at Humboldt Commons.

Entrance Fees help fund the construction of the community and long‑term capital needs, supporting the community’s financial sustainability. Entrance Fees provide the rights to live in the apartment or home, but without the hassles of home ownership.

The Entrance Fee is the cost of your home or apartment at Humboldt Commons.

Entrance Fees help fund the construction of the community and long‑term capital needs, supporting the community’s financial sustainability. Entrance Fees provide the rights to live in the apartment or home, but without the hassles of home ownership.

Entrance Fees for a studio apartment are anticipated to start around $375,000, with fees increasing based on the size, style, and location of the residence you choose.

Early reservation depositors at Humboldt Commons will have the opportunity to select an 80% Repayable Entrance Fee contract. Under this contract structure, 80% of the Entrance Fee is repayable after the resident leaves the community, and the residence is reoccupied by a new resident.

Later reservation participants will receive the 70% Repayable Entrance Fee contract.

The Monthly Service Fee covers many of the ongoing costs associated with living at Humboldt Commons and supporting the community’s operations.

This fee simplifies daily living by bundling many common expenses into one predictable monthly payment.

The Monthly Service Fee is expected to cover services such as maintenance and repairs, landscaping and grounds maintenance, utilities for your residence and shared spaces, dining services, property taxes and insurance for community spaces, access to wellness programs, and access to shared amenities.

Specific Monthly Service Fee amounts will be determined once home designs and pricing are finalized and will vary depending on the size and type of residence selected.

There is a second person’s Monthly Service Fee, which will be around 30% of the total Monthly Service Fee.

The first phase of Humboldt Commons will focus on independent living and will not include licensed Assisted Living, Memory Care, or Skilled Nursing services.

Humboldt Commons will employ a full‑time Wellness Coordinator who will work with residents to develop individualized wellness plans and help residents maintain independence in their homes for as long as possible.

If additional support is needed, the Wellness Coordinator can assist with arranging services such as companion care, in‑home support services, coordination with healthcare providers, or transitions to off‑site care when necessary. These services would be arranged and paid for directly by the individual resident. This will help keep overall costs down for all residents.

Yes. Dining services will be available daily within the community, including breakfast options and at least one additional meal service each day.

A meal plan will be developed as planning progresses. Members of the Future Residents Priority List will have opportunities to share feedback and preferences as the dining program is developed. Future residents can expect the dining program to focus on the benefits of communal dining, emphasizing locally grown, simple foods – nothing too fussy or fancy.

Humboldt Commons is designed to encourage connection, wellness, and lifelong learning. Residents will enjoy shared indoor and outdoor spaces for dining, social gatherings, cultural events, wellness activities, walking paths, and other opportunities to engage with neighbors and the surrounding community. Residents will also enjoy a large, off-leash dog area. Being so close to the McKinleyville Town Center, the community has many stores and restaurants to meet daily needs.