HOME BUILDERS HONOR 2003 ICONS OF THE SENIORS HOUSING INDUSTRY AND EXPAND CATEGORIES FOR BEST OF SENIORS HOUSING DESIGN AWARDS The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Seniors Housing Council announced four winners of its 2003 Icons of the Industry Award for their leadership in developing communities, products and educational services targeted specifically to the growing 50+ seniors housing market. The awards were presented to Henry J. Paparazzo of Heritage Development Group, Andrew S. Kohlberg of Kisco Senior Living, Richard Duncan of The Center for Universal Design at North Carolina State University and Honeywell during the council's recent Seniors Housing Symposium in Indian Wells, California. "The NAHB Seniors Housing Council is pleased to recognize these individuals, educators and companies who have made substantial contributions to the growth and development of the seniors housing industry," said L. Earl Armiger, chairman of the NAHB Seniors Housing Council and a multifamily developer from Ellicott City, Maryland. "Our Icons winners are pace-setters, and their example has helped elevate housing for the 50+ consumer." The Icons of the Industry Awards is one of many programs offered by the NAHB Seniors Housing Council. The council provides information, education and networking opportunities for its members and represents NAHB on seniors housing issues. To read the full press release visit http://www.nahb.org/news_details.aspx?sectionID=148&newsID=400 Also, this month the NAHB Seniors Housing Council announced the call for entries for the 2004 Best of Seniors Housing Design Awards competition. The awards program, now in its 13th year, recognizes architectural and interior designs that have brought quality, innovation and spirit to the seniors housing industry. The awards program is open to project owners, builders, developers, remodelers, operators, architects, land planners, interior designers and marketing/advertising firms that serve the burgeoning 55+ market. Winning a "Best of Seniors Housing Design Award" gives project teams the opportunity to promote their communities as "the best of the best" in the industry. A panel of noted professionals in the 55+ seniors housing field, including builders, architects, designers and gerontologists, will judge entries and present gold and silver awards to current and "on-the-boards" projects in active adult housing, continuing care retirement communities, congregate care communities, assisted living, special needs housing and renovated seniors housing categories. The number of categories has more than doubled to 66, with expanded categories for seniors, multifamily, and aging-in-place design. "We have increased the number of categories because of the diversity of product type on the market today," said Quincy R. Johnson III, chairman of the 2004 Design Awards Committee and president of Boca Raton-based architectural firm, Quincy Johnson Architects. "While many builders are building single-family product, a large percentage of older Americans are moving into seniors apartment communities. By adding multifamily and other new categories, we are giving builders, developers and other industry professionals more opportunities for recognition while promoting the value of quality design." In addition to design, projects will be judged on their ability to solve market-specific constraints of seniors housing, such as marketability, budget, challenging sites and diverse programs. The Best of Seniors Housing Design also has separate categories for community centers, common areas, interior design, model merchandising and more. Gold and silver awards will be given in each category. Award winners will be announced at an awards presentation and recognition luncheon in January 2004 during the NAHB International Builders' Show (IBS) in Las Vegas, a convention that drew a record 92,000 people in 2003. Award winning projects will be exhibited prominently at the IBS, displayed on the NAHB website and featured in the NAHB Seniors Housing Council's quarterly industry magazine, Seniors' Housing News. The deadline for entries is Oct. 10, 2003. Visit http://www.nahb.org/seniorsdesignawards to review the call for entries brochure, which includes entry application, rules and a list of categories. back to top REPORT FINDS REMODELING MORE IMPORTANT TO ECONOMY THAN EVER Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies recently released a report that calls attention to the role that the remodeling industry has played in preventing the economy from falling deeper into recession during the recent economic downturn. "Measuring the Benefits of Home Remodeling" examines home equity and spending growth, demographic and regional drivers, and how the home improvement industry continues to evolve. Key findings include: - The $214 billion a year home improvement industry grew about 2% in 2002 and will double that growth rate this year.
- High-spending homeowners are responsible for an increasing share of overall expenditures.
- Minorities, particularly Hispanics, are an increasingly important force in home improvement markets.
- The remodeling share of residential investment is growing. Nationally, remodeling accounts for about 40% of total residential investments.
- Remodeling activity is concentrated as the top ten metro areas for home improvement account for over 30% of total spending.
The Joint Center has been conducting comprehensive studies of the factors influencing the growth and changing characteristics of housing renovation and repair activity in the United States since 1995. With remodeling activity approaching the level of new home construction, it also represents a critical investment in maintaining the nation's housing stock. The study has produced three major reports, "Improving America's Housing", "Remodeling Homes for Changing Households", and "Measuring the Benefits of Home Remodeling." To download the reports visit remodeling_2003.pdf back to top RED CROSS AIMS TO MAKE SENIORS SAFER DURING DISASTERS The American Red Cross is making a plea for older adults to be prepared in case of a disaster. From inner-city high-rises, to small personal care homes, to assisted living campuses, the Red Cross is taking steps to keep seniors safe during disasters. September 11, 2001 heightened public awareness of disasters and the fear of Y2K disruptions alerted the charity that there was a need to evaluate procedures. The organization worked with emergency personnel, health care leaders and nonprofit groups to identify key emergency response issues including: where residents should go for shelter and what resources would be available to supply food, electricity, water and medicine. Robert Skertich, chief operations officer for a local Red Cross, said there has been an increase in phone calls from nursing homes inquiring about the location of available shelters. "We experienced…evacuations of personal care homes where there was no clear plan for relocation of residents," he said. These were real needs for seniors, said Skertich, that go beyond what the Red Cross was currently providing in an evacuation shelter. For more information go to http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_9_,00.html back to top DEL WEBB RELEASES ANNUAL BABY BOOMER REPORT Del Webb, a brand of Pulte Homes, recently released the results of their annual "Baby Boomer Report." This year, more than 1,300 boomers nationwide age 44 through 56 completed the survey. This group represents the segment of the baby boomer generation that is actively planning for their future retirement and whose attitudes and perceptions provide a window into future retirement trends. Results of this year's survey include: - 59% of those surveyed plan to relocate for retirement. This is a dramatic change from previous reports and conventional wisdom, which placed the percentage much lower. In the 1999 Del Webb boomer survey, only 31% of the respondents, age 48 to 52, said they planned to move to another residence for retirement.
- 31% will relocate more than three hours from their current location.
- 7% of those planning to move are likely to consider an active adult community.
"This kind of information is critical when charting the future course of active adult living," said Dave Schreiner, vice president of active adult development for Pulte Homes. "For example, seeing a huge increase in the number of people looking to relocate for retirement and interested in active adult communities, we need to be ready with new communities that fit the wants and needs of this demographic when they are ready to move." Conducted annually since 1996, the "Baby Boomer Report" reaches out to segments of the baby boomer demographic to record their opinions about retirement, health and a variety of other topics. The annual report explores these and other topics in detail. To download a summary of results go to http://www.pulte.com/pressroom/babyboomerreport.asp. back to top CITY PROMOTES ACCESSIBLE HOUSING VIA CASH INCENTIVE PROGRAM The city of Escanaba, Michigan has become the first community to enact a cash incentive program to promote accessible housing for people with disabilities, according to Michigan Disability Rights Coalition member and former Escanaba resident Norma Bauer. The Escanaba City Council unanimously approved an ordinance meant to inspire homebuilders to build more visitable homes in early June. Visitability Ordinance No. 1024 implements a voluntary compliance policy that encourages new single family dwellings to be constructed using design features that provide greater access for those with physical disabilities. Residents who choose to incorporate features such as wider doorways, ramps, and no-step entrances will be eligible for a $150 cash rebate once a compliance inspection has been conducted by the city. This ordinance is the first of its kind to promote accessibility through a cash incentive program. Unlike communities around the world that mandate compliance, Escanaba is building an incentive for voluntary compliance, Bauer told the council. To read the full article, go to http://www.escanaba.org/dpvisitability.htm back to top WEBSITE ENABLES RETIREES TO CHOOSE NEW HOMETOWN CLOSE TO HOME Retirement doesn't mean you have to leave your family and friends and move away, far from home to some exotic locale. In fact, some 75 percent of retirees retire near to where they currently live, where they've built a life with ties to family and community. "Retirement is changing for the better, as active seniors and 50+ baby boomers, or zoomers, look to get more out of this next stage in their lives," said Andrew Schiller, president of Location Inc. "Finding a great place to retire that combines the excitement of a dream retirement locale with the comforts and advantages of being close to family, friends and community, is the ideal solution for 3 out of 4 of today's retirees." Schiller, a PhD geographer and demographer, has developed an internet database that helps identify cities and neighborhoods by their individual characteristics. Information from the Census Bureau, Federal Housing Authority, Department of Education, U.S. Geological Service, and even the FBI is integrated into a database, which encompasses every neighborhood in America. It's www.NeighborhoodScout.com and it's accessible over the internet for free. Describe your ideal neighborhood and NeighborhoodScout will find real neighborhoods that best match your personal criteria. Using criteria important to many people 50 and over that are planning their retirement, Schiller searched the nation's ten most populous metro areas using NeighborhoodScout.com and uncovered the top choice and best value for each. "These 20 towns vary in price and character, from the shores of Cape Cod and Michigan City to the country club estates of Fort Worth, to the small-town feel of Newton Square," said Schiller. "But all are absolutely beautiful places to retire, they just happen to be near where we already call home." The top towns for retiring locally (listed from east to west) are as follows. - Boston
- Top Choice: Sandwich, MA
- Best Value: Hancock, NH
- New York
- Top Choice: Point Lookout, NY
- Best Value: Jamesbury, NJ
- Philadelphia
- Top Choice: Newton Square, PA
- Best Value: Willow Street, PA
- Washington, DC
- Top Choice: Kensington, MD
- Best Value: Boyce, VA
- Detroit
- Top Choice: Farmington, MI
- Best Value: Warren, MI
- Chicago
- Top Choice: Michigan City, IN
- Best Value: Plymouth, IN
- Dallas-Fort Worth
- Top Choice: Ridglea Estates, TX
- Best Value: Bellville, TX
- Houston
- Top Choice: Willis, TX
- Best Value: Bellville, TX
- San Francisco
- Top Choice: Belvedere Tiburon, CA
- Best Value: Martinez, CA
- Los Angeles
- Top Choice: Duarte, CA
- Best Value: Yucaipa, CA
For more information visit http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/ back to top GAY RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES CATCHING ON FAST With the steady increase of openly gay baby boomers scrambling for housing, retirement communities catering to their needs have suddenly become trendy. Though only few actual examples of this type of retirement housing exist, a dozen or so developers are pushing proposals for gay retirement villages from Boston to Santa Fe, New Mexico. These firms want to capture a section of the market of an estimated 2 million gay people over age 65, a population that is expected to double by the year 2030. An increase in demand in this type of housing is occurring for several reasons. A common assumption among lesbians and gay men is that they would be ostracized at mainstream retirement facilities. Additionally, since the majority of homosexuals don't have children for support as they age, retirement communities are especially appealing. Then there's the AIDS factor. As more people live longer with the virus, they could potentially drive the need for these communities. "There is a great fear of being forced back into the closet," says Peter Lundburg, who is working on a proposal for gay-senior housing in Southern California. The good news is that the trend is spread and long-term-care centers have begun to incorporate diversity training, which includes the discussion of sexual orientation. The Seattle-based, non-profit agency Rainbow Train has conducted staff sensitivity training on gay issues at 12 local organizations providing long-term care for the elderly. For more information go to http://www.time.com/time/generations/article/0,9171,1101030630-460203,00.html back to top |
