3 Emerging Trends for Developing 55+ Housing That Will Stick

America’s population is skewing older, and designing for a more mature buyer will become increasingly important as that trend continues. Small tweaks to multifamily designs can create communities for older residents that enhance their everyday lives and promote health and wellness. For example, as mobility decreases, it is crucial that residents are able to get ample natural light and views to the outdoors from their units. And though smart technology seems to be a trend for the young, harnessing high-tech features in a 55+ development can help seniors manage their health by giving them reminders and allowing them to control their home with their voice. Learn about ways you can make your next development project senior-friendly.

In Chicago, Belmont Village group partnered with Hines Interests and others on a signature project in the affluent Lincoln Park area north of downtown. Rather than segregating it from its surroundings, Belmont Village Lincoln Park connects with shopping and dining next door at Lincoln Commons, a massive mixed-use development.

The idea of seniors thriving alongside more youthful generations has always sounded appealing—communal dining and shared maintenance responsibilities are a couple of examples of how it could work outside of a family setting. But this kind of living experience has rarely worked at scale.

“Intergenerational is talked about a lot but seldom done,” Patricia Will, founder of the Belmont Village group, told an audience at the ULI Housing Opportunity Conference in Miami.

With the population of older residents fast outpacing the supply of units designed for them, several ULI speakers spoke about misperceptions, changing financial considerations, and design trends.

Margaret Wylde, president of the ProMatura market research group, told conference attendees that they can control expenses even during an era of amenity wars.

“Many properties are overbuilt with amenities,” she said. Research, she added, shows that residents often prefer nearby aquatic centers and theaters to a higher price tag for the community.

Emerging trends include the following:

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