The San Francisco Zen Center, a landmark of American Zen practice, together with The Kendal Corporation, a provider of communities, programs, and services founded on Quaker principles, have announced plans for a revolutionary new life-plan community called Enso Verde, set to open in Simi Valley in 2027. Like its sister community, Enso Village, which opened in Healdsburg, CA, in October, the essence of Enso Verde lies in its embodiment of kindness, compassion, inclusion, mindful aging, and connection with the environment. Enso Verde will be a vibrant, active community for mature adults 60 and over, offering an exceptional and mindful living experience while maintaining a commitment to “living lightly on the land.”
“Los Angeles seemed like the perfect place to settle after Healdsburg, thanks to the city’s vibrant, open-minded approach to wellness, diversity, and sustainability,” says Susan O’Connell, founder and spiritual director of Enso Verde. “It will also be a bit of a homecoming for me since I spent many years in LA as a film producer and part of the creative entertainment community. I think Enso Verde is going to fit in nicely.”
“Kendal is excited to bring decades of experience to this planned development of a community that will offer another transformative option to older adults seeking meaningful experiences as they age,” says Steve Bailey, chief strategy officer of The Kendal Corporation. “This second collaboration of Quaker and Zen-inspired values will ultimately provide a unique option for older adults who desire a different type of retirement in the nation’s second-largest metropolitan area.”
Enso Verde reads like a picturesque California resort, with simple, high-quality natural finishes and an indoor-outdoor design sensibility. Members of the 240 residences on the expansive 21-acre property will have access to several live-in spiritual teachers of various traditions, gardens and walking paths spread across the dry creek bed that runs through the property, a meditation hall, yoga and tai chi classes, along with farm-to-table restaurants, including one inspired by the Zen Center’s own iconic Greens Restaurant in San Francisco.
