Estate Living Magazine Issue 30 Smart Environments June 2018 | Page 20

RETIREMENT PROPERTY
A sea change in approach
Lifestyle, and affordability, are key
The prevailing idea of retirement housing is the stereotypical
old age home, a rather soulless, hospital-like environment
where old folk survive, but certainly don’t thrive.
But things are changing, owing to South Africa’s large,
growing population of older people, and the obvious gap in
the market to house them comfortably and meaningfully.
Tastefully appointed retirement villages are springing up
all over the country, offering a community environment and
access to amenities such as a clubhouse, gym and shops,
as well as a downscaled, more manageable and secure
lifestyle.
‘We’re definitely seeing an increase in the demand for
upmarket retirement housing in South Africa, especially
with the consistent rise in life expectancy in the country
over the past 10 years,’ comments Arthur Case, CEO of
Evergreen Lifestyle retirement villages.
18 | www.estate-living.co.za
Case says that Amdec Group, after identifying this growing
section of consumers, established Evergreen Lifestyle, a
division specifically focused on the provision of retirement
accommodation. Evergreen now has several retirement
villages – Broadacres in Gauteng; and Bergvliet, Diep River,
Muizenberg, Lake Michelle and Noordhoek in Cape Town.
December 2017 saw the launch of its gem, Evergreen Val de
Vie in Paarl, which is their largest retirement village to date.
Apartment living in these retirement villages is especially
popular, says Case. At Evergreen Broadacres, 24 new
apartments have been launched for sale, with 108 new
apartments planned. In Muizenberg, there are just eight
units remaining, while Evergreen Noordhoek is under
construction and, on completion, will have 150 units.