AS DEMAND TO AGE IN PLACE SOARS, SENIOR CITIZENS ARE SEEKING MORE WALKABILITY AND DIVERSE HOUSING TYPES

A TREND THAT ALSO SERVES PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OF ALL AGES

Gil Penalosa, founder and chair of the Toronto-based planning non-profit 8 80 Cities, believes cities will retrofit with infrastructure to support mobility by walking, biking and wheelchair despite the temporary need for isolation because of the Coronavirus pandemic.

“Everyone is looking for the magic pill to address obesity, diabetes, heart trouble and more. 

The answer is getting around by walking, crutches, wheelchair – I don’t care how you move, but you need to move about in ways other than using a car – it’s also very crucial to mental health,’’ he said.

 

“The only places where large amounts of people walk at least five days a week are those with the infrastructure to support walking, biking, transit and mobility for people with disabilities.”

 

 

 

 

AS DEMAND TO AGE IN PLACE SOARS, SENIOR CITIZENS ARE SEEKING MORE WALKABILITY AND DIVERSE HOUSING TYPES

A TREND THAT ALSO SERVES PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OF ALL AGES

There is an ongoing trend in America of people moving from rural to urban areas.

 

The trend toward more livable cities with more amenities within walking distance is a huge improvement in quality of life for people with disabilities.

 

Premium public transit, wide sidewalks, safe crosswalks and the ability to meet all daily needs without requiring an $80,000 lift-equipped wheelchair van is a huge asset to people who use assistive mobility devices.

 

US census and respected data sources indicate between one in four or one in five Americans who will experience some level of disability that impacts their daily lives.

AS DEMAND TO AGE IN PLACE SOARS, SENIOR CITIZENS ARE SEEKING MORE WALKABILITY AND DIVERSE HOUSING TYPES

A TREND THAT ALSO SERVES PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OF ALL AGES

While every aging senior does not want to live somewhere as intense as Manhattan, they do want to live where they can meet their daily needs without depending on an automobile.

 

Many are staying within their same city, but selling the big house (in a low density area that requires a car for everything) and moving to more compact, walkable neighborhoods with diverse dwellings.

AS DEMAND TO AGE IN PLACE SOARS, SENIOR CITIZENS ARE SEEKING MORE WALKABILITY AND DIVERSE HOUSING TYPES

A TREND THAT ALSO SERVES PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OF ALL AGES

America is aging.

 

In 1950, fewer than 8 percent of Americans were age 65 and older.

 

By 2030, AARP data analysis predicts one in five Americans will be 65 or older.

 

For those older Americans, including throngs of Baby Boomers retiring each day, the golden years dream is no longer an isolated villa in a golf cart-using, age-restricted community.

 

More than three out of four people age 65 and older want to age in a community that is walkable, compact, diverse, well-served by transit and filled with a mix of uses including healthcare, shopping, parks, conveniences, libraries and education, job and volunteering opportunities.

MY ACCLAIMED STREET PHOTOGRAPHY WILL BE FEATURED IN A WILEY PRESS BOOK

THE ART OF THE NEW URBANISM VOLUME 2 (2010-2025)

I am honored to learn that my urban/architectural photography will be featured in The Art of the New Urbanism Volume 2 by Wiley Press.

The book is by James Dougherty, Charles C. Bohl & Victor Dover, with a forward by David Csont.

The lavish, full color coffee table book is the result of a collaboration between the University of Miami School of Architecture (UMSoA), the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) and Dover, Kohl & Partners Town Planning.

I created a Universal Design course at the UMSoA, have published with the CNU and have collaborated with DKP.

Publication in the Wiley book is gratifying, because an independent expert jury selected my photography from an extraordinary number of high-quality images.

This marks the 10th publication in the past 5 years that has featured my writing, photography or art.

COLOR BOTANICO PALERMO SOHO

PERFECT APARTHOTEL FOR A LONG STAY IN BA'S BEST NEIGHBORHOOD

Color Botanico is a 9.8 out of 10 -- one of my highest ever ratings.

I almost booked a similar sized apartment in MicroCentro.

While that area has a lot of famous spots and places the tourists go -- it is creepy after dark.

Palermo SOHO is vibrant 24-7.

A few blocks in either direction and it would have been noisy.

But this is a quiet, mostly residential street.

Lots of buses nearby as well, to make it easy to visit other parts of the city.

Two people could live in this unit for 2 weeks (4 with 2 bed configuration) and not feel crowded.

COLOR BOTANICO PALERMO SOHO

PERFECT APARTHOTEL FOR A LONG STAY IN BA'S BEST NEIGHBORHOOD

Color Botanico ApartHotel Palermo’s unit provides lots of space to stretch out in.

There are plenty of racks to dry clothes washed in the sink, to allow for light packing.

Check in is after 3, but my flight arrived at 4 a.m.

They got me in my room a little after 10 a.m., which was great.

It is an apartment hotel, meaning it does not have an onsite restaurant, large lobby or those kinds of offerings.

There always is one person at the front desk to troubleshoot if you have an issue.

It is very secure -- they give you a code to get into the lobby.

Great working elevator.