The city of Indianapolis has seen a recent wave of new senior citizen living community developments.
Statistics show that baby boomers – those born between 1946 and 1964 – make up the single largest demographic group in the U.S. This year, the oldest of this group has reached the traditional retirement age, 65, the prime age for those who live in senior communities.
With more baby boomers continuing to retire, the volatile economy causing people to lose their homes and others not being physically able to live in their homes among other reasons, new senior housing developments may be a godsend.
That certainly was the case for Marie Daniel. Prior to moving to Hopeside Senior Community, Daniel had lived in her house for 52 years. The idea of leaving her home was bittersweet, but due to certain circumstances, moving was necessary.
“My house needed a lot of work done. And my son had a bad accident and needed to go to a facility,” said Daniel, a retiree of Winona Memorial Hospital.
Last year, one of her church members told her about Hopeside, a new residence being built in the Martindale Brightwood area. Knowing she wouldn’t be happy in a traditional apartment, she decided to further consider the idea of living in a senior residence. Immediately she fell in love.
“I did have some reservations because I’ve always lived in a single house. Here, I don’t have to worry about paying someone to cut my grass or shovel my snow. I’m totally comfortable and my children don’t have to worry about me,” said Daniel.
Hopeside is a senior community birthed by Oasis Christian Community Development Corp. (CDC), an entity of Oasis of Hope Baptist Church. Gina (Lewis) Alexander, vice president of Hopeside 1 and 2 said that the church realized the area was a “naturally occurring retiring community.”
“Residents of Martindale Brightwood have really been committed to this community. Sometimes they feel like they’ve been in their homes for a long time, but don’t want to leave the area,” said Alexander.
Hopeside 1 was built in 2008 and filled up so quickly that Oasis Christian CDC built Hopeside 2, which was completed earlier this year. Both are built on 3 ½ acres and have 35 units each.
Due to the enormous amount of feedback from residents, there will be a Hopeside 3 development breaking ground in mid 2012 containing 54 units on about four acres of land.
Alexander said that all of Hopeside’s apartments are two-bedrooms to accommodate seniors who often downsize from a home containing amenities such as a dining room and multiple bedrooms. She feels their spacious apartments can also accommodate family gatherings. Daniels said her apartment has everything she needs, including a full washer and dryer and a garage for her car.
Rent is income based and appliances are high efficiency to further curb high utility bills.
The United Northwest Area, affectionately known as UNWA, also has an aging population and its development corporation has plans to build a 48-unit high-rise senior living community for adults 55 and older. Named in honor of former Indiana state Sen. Glen L. Howard, the gated Glen L. Howard Manor will be located on 27th and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. streets near downtown.
UNWA is bounded by I-65 and Meridian Street to the east, by 16th Street to the south, by White River to the west and by 38th Street to the north.
“This is the beginning of a trend for UNWA, in terms of trying to accommodate a growing senior population,” said Keith D. Veal, executive director for the UNWA Community Development Corp.
UNWA and its developers are going green with this project and building an energy-efficient four-story building. It will also feature one and two bedroom units with washer/dryer connections as well as upgraded kitchen countertops and appliances.
The first floor of the building will also contain a hair salon, technology center and exercise room.
Even with all of these amenities, residents’ rent will range from $300 to $650 per month. Veal said prospective residents’ affordable rent is made possible by tax credits investors of this $7 million project will receive from the State of Indiana. The state is also providing a fair amount of financial support. Portions that residents will pay will most likely come from fixed income sources such as Social Security. There may be Section 8 subsidies as well.
Plans for the Glen L. Howard Senior Living Community are pending to break ground by the end of this year.
Another new development is happening on the city’s Westside. This summer the Indianapolis Department of Metropolitan Development broke ground on Lafayette Landing at Kessler – a senior housing project on the city’s Near Northwestside.
The $10.1 million development will provide 72 units to people over the age of 55 with limited incomes. Lafayette Landings, 2333 Lafayette Road, will be built on the current 47-year-old Ayr-Way mall site.
“To be able to provide seniors with safe, affordable housing options, while also ridding the area of an unsafe, vacant building is something we are very proud of,” said Julian Rodgers, president of Partnership for Affordable Housing Inc., the property developer, in a previous statement.
Rent for a one-bedroom apartment is expected to range from $260 to $530 per month.
Lugar Towers is an existing senior residence located in downtown Indianapolis, but the Indianapolis Housing Agency (IHA) recently broke ground on a $30 million project to upgrade the building. This project involves a renovation of the existing tower building and new construction around the base of the tower.
In addition to providing adequate housing for senior citizens, many of these projects are key factors in larger community redevelopment initiatives.
“We have taken serious steps toward the revitalization of the UNWA community. It’s long overdue,” said Veal who added that there are also commercial and single family housing developments taking place in that community.
Veal said that the UNWA area has a lot of tough statistics to deal with, such as the poverty level and a high rental rate, that don’t make for vibrant neighborhoods. UNWA is working hard to reinvest more into the community.
The same can be said for the Lafayette Landing at Kessler development that Congressman André Carson said is in critical need of housing and neighborhood overhauls.
Many feel that exclusive senior housing provides a sense of community allowing them to congregate, support one another and develop friendships that may assist in enhancing quality of life.
“What you think is a senior citizen is no longer a senior citizen. Grandma is still driving, got a baby seat in the back for her grandchild, does her own grocery shopping and has a part time job as well,” said Alexander.
