When the first active-adult communities were launched
in the 1960s, many were large in size, located in
traditional Sun Belt states and shared similar
community format, design and amenities. Today, the 50+
housing market is transforming the way builders design
and develop active-adult homes. According to experts
with the National Association of Home Builders Seniors
Housing Council, builders must recognize that today's
buyers are open to change and are demanding variety in
home designs.
"For many buyers, the established concept of the
active-adult community conjures up images of boring,
cookie-cutter neighborhoods with no opportunities for
owners to express themselves," said Bill Feinberg of
Feinberg & Associates, P.C., a Voorhees, N.J.-based
architect and designer. "Builders understand that the
active-adult industry is rapidly changing. A single
community formula will no longer meet the needs of
mature consumers."
Feinberg added that main-street communities, exclusive
enclaves and age-targeted villages within
master-planned communities are gaining popularity. In
terms of design, these youthful, individualistic
buyers want diversity in street patterns and
streetscapes, embrace natural features such as
wetlands and open space, and favor smaller, more
flexible communities. They also may not need a large
community clubhouse, preferring more informal spaces
that offer different experiences and a range of social
and physical activities.
"Boomers are buying lifestyle,"said Chuck Covell,
president of Greenbelt, Md.-based Bozzuto Homes.
"Today's 50+ buyers today are more affluent and crave
a sense of lifestyle when buying a new home. They are
not buying solely based on price or location."
Covell noted builders must include high-tech offices
and media centers in active-adult homes to appeal to
buyers who see themselves working well past the
traditional retirement age. Baby Boomers want
first-floor living space, including a master suite, as
well as high-end kitchens, luxurious master suites,
high-tech media rooms and luxurious bathrooms.
At Irwin-Pancake Architects, a firm specializing in
senior housing for 35 years, the philosophy is bathing
areas can be safe and beautiful. "While cost is always
a factor, it is in everybody's interest to ensure that
bathing facilities are not only safe and sound, but
provide long-term service and value," says Douglas
Pancake of Irwin-Pancake Architects.
Most architects think, "If it's going to be safe, it's
going to look institutional," says Gary Multanen, Best
Bath Systems President. "That's not the case with our
products. We work closely with designers to ensure
they understand the variety of custom looks for
bathroom design, while meeting all safety features
outlined by the American Disabilities Act
Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) and local codes."
According to "The Kitchen & Bath Consumer Speaks Out,"
a survey from the Home Improvement Research Institute
(HIRI) commissioned by the National Kitchen & Bath
Association (NKBA), more than 80 percent of homeowners
who remodeled their kitchen or bathroom within the
last year were somewhat or completely satisfied with
the outcome. The research also found:
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