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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZMA201600015 Other 2016-10-14 ght, et Bork ntc I http://nyti.ms/2e3kLdj YOUR MONEY The Future of Retirement Communities: Walkable and Urban Retiring By JOHN F. WASIK OCT. 14, 2o16 FEW people in America walk to work. Most of us drive to the supermarket. But more older people these days are looking for a community where they can enjoy a full life without a car. Ben Brown and his wife, Christine, say they weren't thinking about retirement when they moved to Franklin, N.C., a small, lovely town nestled in the Smoky Mountains near Asheville, a haven for many East Coast and Midwest retirees. "We loved the idea of living in a small town in a rural mountain area," Mr. Brown recalled. "And we converted a summer house to a year-round home to suit our tastes." Yet Mr. Brown, a 70-year-old writer, and his 66-year-old wife said they had second thoughts as they made the transition toward retirement. "We realized`aging in place' means a lot more than just a comfortable house," Mr. Brown said. "So we began thinking more about `aging in community.'That means an urban neighborhood where you can walk or take transit to just about everything you need." Then they discovered West Asheville, a vibrant, urban neighborhood that is brimming with trendy new restaurants, inviting shops and a number of bus routes into the larger city next door. Nearly every place they wanted to go was within walking distance, a major benefit for those who don't want to drive everywhere as they get older. "We always thought we'd end up in an urban environment," Mr. Brown added. "We're in one of the few places where you can comfortably live without a car in a growing, mixed-use neighborhood." In the age of the Fitbit and a growing cohort of active, engaged retirees eager to take their daily 10,00o steps, retirement communities have been slow to change. Eighty percent of retirees still live in car-dependent suburbs and rural areas, according to a Brookings Institution study. Developments for independent retirees typically come in two flavors: isolated, gated subdivisions or large homes on golf courses, often in the same bland package of multiple cul-de-sacs. Both require driving everywhere, which is a problem for those who either don't want to drive or can't. Enter a new paradigm: the walkable, urban space. It may range from existing neighborhoods in places like Brooklyn or San Francisco to newly built housing within city and suburban cores from coast to coast. Though not primarily for retirees, places like Reston,Va., and Seaside, Fla.,were early examples of the new urbanism built from the ground up. Among senior housing projects, examples include Waterstone at Wellesley along the Charles River in the Boston area and The Lofts at McKinley in downtown Phoenix. The theme is simple: Get out and walk to basic services. Walkability, though, is much more than a hip marketing pitch. It's linked to better health, social engagement and higher property values. The researchers Philippa Clarke and Linda George found that walkable, mixed- use environments could possibly reduce disabilities many face as they age. Pedestrian-friendly communities promote walking to a grocery store, cafe or other services like a dry cleaner or library. Although there is clearly a growing demand for walkable, urban retirement communities, they are difficult to build within cities, said Christopher Leinberger, a developer based in Washington and a professor at the George Washington University School of Business. Mr. Leinberger noted that most mainstream retirement developers had traditionally favored suburban or exurban sites that involve sprawling "greenfield" building on relatively cheap farmland. The new approach, by contrast, is for dense, urban or town-centered sites that are accessible for services and socially vibrant. "The model used to be to isolate old people on cul-de-sacs backing up to a golf course," Mr. Leinberger said. "The new model just beginning to rise is for walkable urban places." But there are many obstacles. Age-friendly communities within cities may, require extensive infrastructure improvements, including wider sidewalks, bike lanes, more public transportation options and longer pedestrian signal walk times. Local officials may not want to rezone or invest in the improvements or even permit them. Michael Glynn, a vice president with National Development in Boston, who has built walkable communities primarily for homeowners 75 and older, said he had faced many roadblocks in pursuing his projects. "Towns are frightened by density," Mr. Glynn said, referring to clustering housing units in downtown areas. "But if you build in the right, walkable location, it could do a lot of good for an 85-year-old." Walkable areas in mature cities, though, may be unaffordable for retirees who are interested in paring their overall housing costs. Some of the most walkable cities are among the most expensive: New York, San Francisco and Boston top the list compiled by Walkscore.com, which also rates individual neighborhoods. New York's Little Italy and Flatiron Districts; Chinatowns in Boston, San Francisco, New York and Washington; Philadelphia's Rittenhouse Square; and Chicago's Near North and West Loop all scored well. . - Although the price tags for these neighborhoods can be lofty, there is a financial upside. They promise higher home equity down the road, if you can afford to buy there. Mr. Leinberger, in a G.W.U. study, found that the walkability factor added more than 72 percent in increased housing value compared with car-dominated developments, where he says prices will fall over time as America ages. The affordability issue may be a roadblock to many retirees looking to cut housing expenses, but it shouldn't be a high barrier to those already living in a city. They may be able to stay put if the neighborhood where they live can accommodate their changing needs. How do you rate a neighborhood's walkability?You can start with the WalkScore rankings and sort cities based on affordability, location and amenities. Also keep in mind that the most walkable communities may need other services to fit your needs. Do they have quality health care institutions nearby? Is public transportation adequate? Will you need barrier-free sidewalks and retail establishments? How easy is it to leave and visit other parts of a city or its metropolitan region?Will you need to rent or share a car? What about local colleges for cultural amenities and lifelong learning programs? Picking the right community also should involve your family. If you want to be close to children and grandchildren, you should consider a place accessible to them as well. A version of this article appears in print on October 15, 2016, on page B4 of the New York edition with the headline: Choosing a Place to Settle Down in the Age of Fitbit. ©2016 The New York Times Company Region adapting to retirement revolution • BY BRYAN MCKENZIE 10/6/16 Hiking the Appalachian Trail, hammering homers over the left-field fence and sweating for pleasure at the gym, baby boomers are proving that they are not their grandfather's senior citizens As the estimated 70 million babies born between 1946 and 1964 slowly ease into retirement, they are changing what it means to be old. More boomers are retiring only to re-enter the labor market. They are healthier and living longer. They are staying physically and socially active longer than their parents or grandparents. "Boomers have been transformation agents since the beginning, in music and politics, civil rights and relationships," said Richmond researcher John W. Martin, of the Southeastern Institute of Research, noting that Gerber baby food and Cap'n Crunch cereal were created for and marketed to boomers. "What used to be a linear process of aging, where you only lived five or 10 years after retirement, has changed dramatically," said Peter Thompson, executive director of The Senior Center Inc. "People are going back to school at any age, getting married and recoupling Those of us in our 50s should_be thankful for that change." The center caters to those 50 to 100 years old, offering a variety of programs and services such as travel, taxes, crafts and aerobics. "There are programs that are within the center, but we see a lot more external programs such as hiking in the Shenandoah National Park," Thompson said. "We've replaced the shuffleboard court in the basement with a stage for tap dancers. That says something." On the softball field at Darden Towe Park, a slew of seniors, members of the Charlottesville Retreads Senior Softball team, played a Thursday morning doubleheader against a senior team from Lynchburg while two other teams of Retreads battled on a nearby diamond. There are 85 Retreads on the league roster, with as many as 30 showing up on Tuesdays and Thursdays for games. "We have men and women who play. We have a couple of players in their upper 50s and one player who's 85," said Larry Stremikis, Retreads manager "We're about being healthy and active, but it's also about friendship. When you get old, stuff happens to you and you need support now and then. You always know your fellow players are there for you." The 55-plus age group is the fastest growing segment in the workplace. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicted that the age group would increase nearly 30 percent between 2012 and 2022. The figures are impressive. The 2010 U.S. Census Bureau recorded more than 40.2 million people over the age of 65, or 13 percent of the total population. In 2013, the Census estimated that 16 percent of Albemarle's total population was over 65, compared with 9 percent in Charlottesville. The Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia expects Albemarle's over-65 demographic to be 22 percent of population by 2040. rThis area is growing faster than the nation iin number-of seriiors,Bsaid 1Marta-Keene;executive €�diirector, tthe_Jefferson_Ar_eaBoard.for_Aging"We know'that by 2024, 25 percent of the population in the [Thomas Jefferson Planning District] —which includes Charlottesville, Albemarle, Fluvanna, Nelson, Greene and Louisa counties —will be 65 or older." Martin said the aging boomers will likely change society to meet their needs. They will eschew nursing homes for long-term, in-home care in their own neighborhoods. They will also tax existing resources for home care, bus and public transportation and change the way homes and houses are designed. "People choose to age in place because they want to stay in their communities and others choose to retire here. It is important that the local communities work toward a goal of being age-friendly," Keene said. Not all seniors are from the same generation, however. As boomers turn 65 and 70, their parents from the Silent Generation are turning 80 and 85 and their grandparents from the Greatest Generation are in their 90s. Keene said that makes for a wide variety of ages, abilities, disabilities and preferences in the senior demographic. "A 65-year-old does not always feel like a senior, but there are 85-year-olds who probably, do," she said The age span has caused JABA, the Senior Center and other organizations and businesses to evolve in the past few years. The Senior Center has added more fitness and education programs; JABA has focused on addressing chronic diseases, transportation and housing, and businesses focusing on in- home care have opened doors. Keene said being age-friendly does not mean catering to senior citizens but changing services to meet all age groups. "The good news is that many factors that are important for seniors are also important for millennials That means housing that is located near social activities, health care, food and does not always require transportation," she said "The aging of our community is both a challenge and an opportunity If we invest in opportunities, the challenges will be easier to address," Thompson said "We are social beings and we need more places for multiple generations to come together in community settings "