Senior Citizen Housing
Senior citizen housing is popping up everywhere these days and that’s great! What’s great about it is the shopping aspect to it.
It’s not necessarily an urban renewal trend but it is creative. At least some of the newest senior citizen housing developments are being proposed as add-ons to commercial shopping plazas. As a senior citizen housing theory it’s really a political strategy – dove-tail appropriate housing to desired development to gather public support and expedite the permit process.
Yes, profit is the motive but in this case it makes sense. Seniors get to live near shopping, get access to transportation and also get a very social senior citizen housing setting. Good company is often times one of the major requirements for seniors and they can get this at such a housing scheme.
Who Wins?
Of course, pricing of units is a factor but the positioning of so many seniors in proximity to shopping also has a spill-over effect on restaurants, cafes and professional offices. And in this time of high fuel prices it also makes sense! A little initial planning is required to have this work, but not much more than would be required anyway. A friendly shopping plaza is entertainment enough for most seniors.
Next comes the hotel chain that wants in on the action. Why not? Placed correctly within or next to this new senior citizen housing micro-community, hotels also thrive. You’d be surprised how many would choose an option that allows them to visit the folks and let the folks spend time with the grandkids this way – like day camp without the commuting.
Is this the Future of Senior Citizen Housing?
Probably not, but that’s ok too. Like other new concepts this too will find its place. After all we are a niche society.
It’s good to see that alternatives in senior citizen housing are at least getting some attention in the media and are being examined at the level of local governments. Americans have always been slow to muster a national will to move in any one direction, especially when considering how people should live. Sure, there is a vague notion or idea of a free society where people work toward their dreams. Translating these dreams into what constitutes senior citizen housing, well, that’s a different subject.
It’s good to see that alternatives in senior citizen housing are getting some press. Let’s just see what happens next.