The idea of aging in community honors the elder stage of life as one with gifts and challenges. It encourages creation of caring neighborhoods and networks that provide for affordable, quality housing to support future needs and new opportunities.
As the "Age Wave" approaches, new alternatives for independent living are providing seniors with more and more options. Intentional communities for philosophical, religious, and lifestyle groups; SOTEL (service-oriented technically enhanced living-like an upscale Embassy Suites); ecovillages; senior cohousing; and the new lifestyle communities being developed by Canyon Ranch are adding great variety to the choices available.
One of these alternatives, senior cohousing, was recently described in Newsweek: "Seniors are signing up for semi-communal enclaves, with separate homes but a supportive community . The idea is to bring back a time when neighbors were an integral part of one another's lives, sharing meals, recreation and providing a helping hand."
In this innovative model, separate one-, two-, and three-bedroom living units surround a common house that includes kitchen, dining room, gathering space, and room for activities. Guest rooms that double as future caregiver suites can be included in the common house. Homes feature universal design options including single-story homes, wheelchair-accessible counters, and many more options geared to the needs of elders. The typical size of a cohousing community is 25 to 35 individual homes.
Thanks to Simmons Buntin
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.
MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.
Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie