NEW URBANISM
Step it up
When downgrading in size, many boomers will hope to make up for it in community. Connecting with neighbors is a way of life within a New Urbanist design. When walkability is at the core, how could you not run into your neighbor as you head to the store, your favorite restaurant, or the lake nearby? Communities like Parkview Living in Los Angeles, embrace an active senior living environment that overlooks the downtown and is built around Echo Park and Lake, as well as nearby restaurants, shops, churches, and hospitals for a pedestrian-friendly experience.
As walkability is becoming a way of living, it’ s quickly becoming a staple of senior living developments; one that embraces the the new urbanist values. With New Urbanism, communities are consciously built around the neighborhood, and even more so, around the people living in the community.
Location, location, location
The New Urbanist design is structured to provide radial access to your surroundings with a distinct urban core and city center. Adding a mixed-use concept to senior living developments gives residents the ability to walk to the grocer and restaurants, wellness center & bookstores, and nature trails & dog parks. Conscious building benefits everyone, however, an aging generation is likely to especially enjoy the simplicity and ergonomic environment built down to the street corner for their needs.
A purposeful strategy in mixed-use design for senior living gives residents a whole new meaning for neighborhood. Highlands Garden Village, for example, is a New Urbanism award-winning and mixed-use neighborhood in Denver, offering senior residents the ability to live, work, and shop all within a minutes walk from their home. Walkscore. com identifies a neighboorhood’ s walkability index, ranging from 82 being very walkable to
69 being bikeable with minimal lanes; HGV lands a promising 84, which is an impressive amenitiy for residents.
A luxury / elevation in urban living
Senior living communities that are adopting the New Urbanism philosophy have a keen sense for understanding the resident. Sustainable designers consider the neighborhood, the structure, and the experience. With this urban senior living model, baby boomers are relocating to high-rise developments that are structured to reinvent the urban lifestyle.
New Urbanism-style communities allow for diverse living environments and mobility. Proper-
Green Commons at Highlands’ Garden Village in Denver, CO
ties like The Clare in Chicago offer senior residents the luxury of walking downstairs to enjoy high-end dining and an escape to Park District full of 8,000 acres of nature walks, benches, and beaches. Located in the heart of Chicago, this development redefines your typical senior living community by bringing in New Urbanism values and rethinking the concept of urban living.
As New Urbanism neighborhoods continue to pop up throughout the country and change the urban landscape, a diverse group of demographics will both demand and flock to these environmentally-conscious neighborhoods. Stay tuned as we continue to research the development trends surrounding senior living and New Urbanism!
Amy Johnson is a Content Strategist for Criterion. B( formerly Canonball), a digital marketing agency in Dallas that specializes in both multifamily and mixed-use development.
Canonball, a leading marketing agency focused on branding and inbound marketing for the commercial real estate industry, is proud to announce their new name, Criterion. B. Operating as Criterion. B, the agency aims to drive strong ROI, enhance business growth, and build brand identities for their clients. www. cb. agency www. aamdhq. org JANUARY 2017 • TRENDS | 23