Choosing Easy Living Design
Houses built specifically for the active adult, whether in traditional retirement communities or by a certified builder, rely on retirement-friendly floorplans that are tailored to the specific needs of the baby boomer generation. The key aspect of these floorplans is “openness” open kitchens, open hallways and open bathrooms. Where old layout included formal dining rooms and family rooms, modern designs have evolved a “great room,” combing both functions in a larger space that is easier to maintain. In many Atlanta area communities, the interior designs are tailored down to the lever-door handles and easy-to-clean carpeting that make life easier for the 55-plus population.
“Most communities cater to the ‘empty nest’ prospect that offers less square footage, giving the owner more time for carefree living,” says, Sharon Lynch, marketing director for Parc Communities at Duluth.
Outside of the houses themselves, active communities are often characterized by the amenities they offer and the proximity of the location to other area attractions. “Easy access to living areas and luxurious amenities combine to make this style of living very appealing to the active adult who is downsizing from a traditional home,” says Lynch. At Parc and other Atlanta area communities, amenities are geared toward providing residents enjoyment, relaxation and socialization. Clubhouses, 18-hole golf courses, libraries, card rooms, media centers, ballrooms, continuing education classrooms and guided interest trips to local entertainment spots are all available at many active adult sites.
When it comes time to purchase, things to keep in mind are a traditional “buy-in” fee and monthly maintenance fees that will increase the cost of living, and may continue to increase throughout a resident’s stay. Communities that are up-front about these costs are less likely to take advantage of their homeowner and more likely to keep residents informed about what they are paying.
Making Atlanta Your Retirement Destination
Baby boomers have redefined the characteristics of a good retirement community, choosing active urban settings over the bucolic suburbs of previous generations of retirees. Based on these new expectations, Money Magazine, AARP and Forbes magazine have all ranked greater Atlanta among the top 10 places to retire. The affordability of housing, public transportation, ratio of doctors to residents and concentration of retirement communities all factor into the ranking and the reasons why the retiree population in Atlanta is expected to increase over 127 percent in the coming years.
In the past, the definition of an active adult community was a population who maintained personal responsibility for their daily needs and participated in social activities with other community members. Modern retirees demand more from their communities: opportunities for volunteering, civic engagement, entertainment and employment. Over a quarter of aging residents plan on working full-time after leaving their current jobs, according to a survey by the Atlanta Regional Commission—a requirement easily met by the myriad of opportunities offered by Atlanta’s job market.
There are more than 300 active adult communities in the metro-Atlanta area, representing a range of prices, amenities and locations that cater to the increasing range of needs in the 55-plus population. One Atlanta community, the Del Webb Village at Deaton Creek, was given a gold award from the National Association of Home Builders 50-plus Council for its modern approach to active adult living and the variety of options available to residents—a successful model that many other Atlanta communities have followed.
As the number of retirees in the metro area increases, the availability and quality of active adult life will continue to improve in Atlanta—the premiere urban retirement location of the Southeast.
Q&A
Mitch Block, director of sales and marketing for the Orchards Group.
Q. How do you tailor your communities to the needs of active adults?
A. Over the years, we have found that the No. 1 item that makes our communities so desirable is the social network created through our ongoing activities efforts coordinated by our social director. Obviously our floorplans do feature design elements that focus on the 55-plus demographic, but it’s the friendships and relationships that are created within our neighborhoods that make them stand out. Our homeowners not only benefit from architectural design features, but do truly “enjoy life” at an Orchards neighborhood.
Q. What benefits do active adult communities offer versus traditional, single-family homes?
A. The most important issue is that people live amidst others like themselves. However, not all active adult neighborhoods offer the same things. Some are much larger and offer a wide array of activities. Some are smaller and more intimate and offer fewer activities. Some offer nothing more than ‘single level’ living floorplans. Our buyers find our smaller, more intimate neighborhoods located close to shopping, medical and entertainment destinations to be more liveable as compared to being in a more rural environment.