Page 49 - Southern Oregon Magazine Fall 2021

BRIAN MCLEMORE

ROGUE VALLEY MANOR

southern oregon’s community on a hill

steve boyarsky
jerry hagstrom

Q: WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF THE ROGUE VALLEY Q: HASN’T THE MANOR ALSO DEVELOPED AFFORDABLE
MANOR? WHO ANTICIPATED THAT RETIREMENT HOUSING FOR SENIORS?
LIVING IN ROGUE VALLEY WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT
COMPONENT OF THE REGION? BRIAN: I joined the company in 1986, to develop our first low-
income housing. The Manor has developed 25 affordable housing com-
BRIAN: The Manor was incorporated in 1955, even before Interstate munities, 1,100 units, most of them here in Southern Oregon. They’re
5. The main original tower opened in 1961. Paul Harvey (national all developed and financed through the Department of Housing and
radio personality) came for the grand opening, and he did a wonderful Urban Development (HUD). They’re subsidized, most of the residents
talk about the whole Rogue Valley. It was his first trip here and he was pay less than $200 a month for a one-bedroom apartment of about 510
amazed by the beauty and the pear orchards. The Manor was started square feet. Health care and dining don’t come with it, but it’s a great
by three local churches. The United Methodist, Presbyterian, and place to live. These housing communities are well kept and maintained.
Episcopal churches determined that, “We don’t have a place for people
to retire in the valley who need care and services into the future.” A
lot of churches had started retirement communities, but these are big
businesses with employment and legal issues that are hard for churches Q: WHEN DID PACIFIC RETIREMENT SERVICES DEVELOP?
to run.
BRIAN: Pacific Retirement Services (PRS) was formed in 1991,
The Manor started buying land, building cottages and other ameni- out of the Manor. A lot of people who came to see the Manor said,
ties that were attractive to people from outside the valley. That really “Well, we love this concept, but we want to stay near our home.” So,
unleashed the potential of the Manor. In the mid 80s, the first cottages we grew over the years from Rogue Valley Manor into ownership of
were built. The cottages attracted people from all over the country. The 11 retirement communities like the Manor. We also developed a man-
Manor is such a unique campus, 215 acres on top of a hill overlook- agement company, to manage retirement communities for other not-
ing the valley with cottages and every amenity you could think of. We for-profits. PRS manages two retirement communities in California
have great healthcare programs, and we just built a new memory care for the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. They built a campus in
center. The Manor has an indoor pool and fitness center and all kinds Saratoga, right in the heart of Silicon Valley in 1912. About 20 years
of recreational and social opportunities. ago, PRS redeveloped their whole campus for $123 million. We just
finished a $90-million redevelopment of another campus for them in
Napa. A tiny seed three churches planted here grew into the Rogue
Valley Manor and now to this whole system of retirement care. A little
company in Medford grew to $1.5 billion in assets. Amazing!

Q: HOW HAVE THE DESIRES OF RETIRED PEOPLE CHANGED?

BRIAN: It’s changed a lot. People want more choice. Years ago,
retirement was seen as “going to the home”. Now, people want the
social experience of living with people who have similar interests. But
people also want the security if anything happens, to be taken care
of for the rest of their lives. They don’t want to burden their family
to decide, “Okay, we’ve got to separate mom and dad. Mom has to
go over here and dad needs these services.” The beauty of the Manor
concept is, you’re taken care of for the rest of your life. We have the
amenities and services to take care of you as your needs change. People

fall 2021 | www.southernoregonmagazine.com 47