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

Wheel Pad is a 200 square foot accessible bedroom and bathroom that can be attached to an existing home.

 The $75,000 portable unit provides temporary accessible housing for people with mobility issues, allowing friends or family in the main house to provide support to its tenant.

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

David Morley, Research Program and QA Manager at the APA, said while not all areas are making it easy for ADUs, there seems to be a ground swell of “yes in my backyard for these, as opposed to the NIMBY.”

 

Morley said an increase in popularity has motivated firms to create pre-fab ADUs, including some made specifically with universal design to meet the needs of seniors and 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

AARP is collaborating with the American Planning Association (APA) on housing solutions, such as ADUs attached to existing homes, created out of garages or as stand-alone structures on a single-family lot.

David Morley, Research Program and QA Manager at the APA, said there has been great growth in ADU approvals, construction and occupancy in Portland, Seattle and cities in California and on the East Coast.

 

In 2018, the APA surveyed planning directors and about 40 percent responded that they have adopted more permissive ADU regulations in recent years.

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

I see them as one best strategies we have for transforming communities to meet our needs,” Rodney Harrell, Vice President, Family, Home and Community Harrell at AARP, said of ADUs.

 

“There is a lot of talk about the future: universal design in housing, changes in transportation – but ADUs can solve problems now.

 

The state of California lowered the restrictions that communities were using (to largely prevent) ADUs and now there is a building boom of them in Los Angeles and other communities.

 

The housing crisis is so bad, it’s a move they needed to make.”

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

“As individuals we need to think of what cities we make,” said Rodney Harrell, Vice President, Family, Home and Community at AARP. 

He notes that AARP has an online, interactive Livability Index that helps people make better informed decisions. 

The AARP survey found adults age 50 and older are willing to consider home sharing (32%), building an accessory dwelling unit (ADU), (31%) and villages that provide services that enable aging in place (56%). AARP has created model legislation and done other advocacy for ADUs.

DOWNTOWN MIAMI HAS BECOME VIBRANT

WHEN I ARRIVED 25 YEARS AGO, MUCH OF THE                                  CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT WAS A GHOST TOWN AFTER 6 P.M.

I am proud to have served under the leadership of Miami City Commissioner Joe Sanchez when was the chair of the Miami Downtown Development Authority.

We shifted the focus from the penthouse boardroom to clean and safe issues on the streets.

Tens of thousands of people endorsed our accomplishments with their pocketbooks – investing, buying, renting, working and playing in a now diverse and vibrant urban core with a blend of historic buildings and new mixed use towers.

In this photo, yours truly, the elder statesman (at least by age), meets young shapers of Miami's built environment.

Fabulous time during CNU Florida Leaders/Inspire Placemaking tour of downtown Miami.

Great to chat about the intrinsic value of Universal Design.

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

AARP strongly advocates for planning and zoning policy that creates more communities that are accessible to people of all ages, abilities and incomes.

 

Rodney Harrell, Vice President, Family, Home and Community at AARP, said in the more than dozen years he has been with AARP, he has seen a trend toward creating housing and urban design options that serve people of all populations and all abilities.