FAQs

Life Plan Humboldt is the nonprofit corporation, run by a local Board of Directors, that founded Humboldt Commons. Several Life Plan Humboldt board members, volunteers, and ambassadors are active participants and future residents. The Kendal Corporation partnered with Life Plan Humboldt to develop and operate Humboldt Commons under an Affiliate agreement. Life Plan Humboldt remains an independent organization serving the needs of the community.

The Kendal Corporation is a nonprofit organization that develops and operates life plan communities across the country. Kendal provides operational expertise, financial stewardship, and a national network of peer communities. Humboldt Commons benefits from that experience while remaining shaped by the people, culture, and values of the North Coast.

Humboldt Commons maintains a Future Residents Priority List (FRPL) for individuals interested in becoming part of the community. Your $1,000 fully refundable deposit date establishes your priority position when homes become available for reservation. Joining early increases your chances of selecting your preferred home and location.

Priority List membership also provides access to design and development updates, invitations to special events and information sessions, opportunities to connect with future neighbors, and a voice in shaping aspects of the future community.

The Reservation Deposit phase is expected to begin in late spring 2026. 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 is placed in an escrow account. Your initial $1,000 Priority Deposit may be applied toward this amount. 10% Reservation Deposits start around $37,500 and range based on the size and location of the home selected.

Yes. During the Reservation Deposit phase, deposits will be 100% repayable until constructions starts. Once construction starts, 10% deposits are fully refundable after someone else reserves the home with their 10% Reservation Deposit.

You’ll complete a short survey, review the Priority List agreement, and submit a fully refundable $1,000 deposit. Your deposit date establishes your priority position. The deposit is held in an escrow account in accordance with California 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 in 2029. Priority List members and Reservation Depositors will receive updates on development milestones throughout the process.

Humboldt Commons will include approximately 109 independent living homes: apartments and cottages in roughly a 60/40 mix. All homes are designed with comfort, accessibility, and aging-in-place in mind. Features include wider doorways, open floor plans, zero-barrier showers, comfort-height toilets, and accessible layouts. Each residence includes a full kitchen, washer and dryer, refrigerator with ice maker, dishwasher, microwave, and electric stove. Many homes include a private balcony, patio, or deck.

Humboldt Commons will include approximately 109 independent living homes: apartments and cottages in roughly a 60/40 mix. All homes are designed with comfort, accessibility, and aging-in-place in mind. Features include wider doorways, open floor plans, zero-barrier showers, comfort-height toilets, and accessible layouts. Each residence includes a full kitchen, washer and dryer, refrigerator with ice maker, dishwasher, microwave, and electric stove. Many homes include a private balcony, patio, or deck.

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 at Humboldt Commons. It helps fund the construction of the community and long-term capital needs. It gives you the right to live in the residence 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.

Early reservation depositors may select an 80% Repayable Entrance Fee contract: 80% is returned after the resident leaves and the home is reoccupied. Later reservation participants receive the 70% Repayable Entrance Fee contract. Entrance Fees are expected to increase over time, so the earlier a customer can lock in the Entrance Fee, the better. Typically Entrance Fees increase 4-5% each year. The second person Entrance Fee is $30,000.

The Monthly Service Fee bundles many common expenses into one predictable payment. It is expected to cover maintenance and repairs, landscaping and grounds, utilities for residences and shared spaces, dining services, property taxes and insurance for community spaces, wellness programs, and shared amenities.

Specific amounts will be finalized once home designs and pricing are complete. A second person’s Monthly Service Fee will be $850. Monthly Service Fees increase 3-5% each year based on community expenses and year-over-year inflation. Monthly Service Fees that are provided in 2026 are in 2026 dollars, and customers should expect an increase annually that will be reflected when they move in 2029. This increase is described in the draft Residency Agreement.

The first phase of Humboldt Commons focuses on independent living and will not include licensed Assisted Living, Memory Care, or Skilled Nursing services. Humboldt Commons will employ a full-time Care Coordinator to work with residents on individualized wellness plans and help maintain independence at home for as long as possible.

If additional support is needed, the Care Coordinator can help arrange companion care, in-home support services, telehealth video conferencing for remote medical appointments, coordination with healthcare providers, and advocacy during transitions to off-site care when necessary. These services are arranged and paid for directly by the individual resident, which helps keep overall costs down for everyone.

Dining services will be available daily, including Continental breakfast options and at least one additional meal service each day. Future residents can expect the dining program to focus on the benefits of communal dining, emphasizing locally grown, simple foods. A meal plan is being developed. Priority List members will have opportunities to share feedback as it takes shape.

Humboldt Commons is designed to encourage connection, wellness, and lifelong learning. Residents will enjoy shared indoor and outdoor spaces for dining, social gatherings, cultural programs, wellness activities, and walking paths. A large off-leash dog area is planned. The community is steps from the McKinleyville Town Center, with shops, restaurants, a senior center, library, gyms, a farmers market, walking trails, and volunteer opportunities to support an active, connected life.