A Toolkit for Starting Aging in Place Communities

Mike Kephart­

over 3 years ago

Santa Cruz, California started a formal revival of the Granny Flat in 2002 with their new ADU (accessory dwelling Unit) zoning ordinance. Essentially they removed the barriers set up from a time when people were more worried about overcrowding than how to encourage people to move back into the close-in residential areas. Times have changed, and Santa Cruz saw this move as one way to help families come together to nourish their aging citizens, to provide affordable housing and to bring back the population lost to their city during the great flight to the suburbs. The entire state of California followed the path set by Santa Cruz and Oregon and Washington state is in the process. In my home state of Colorado we have a minimum of 12 cities that have adopted similar regulations and more join in each day. NORCS are one choice for aging parents, and the Granny Flat is another. My local Washington Park neighborhood in Denver is currently starting a program called, Washington Park Cares, which will give seniors access to services right in their own neighborhood. The program is modeled on the lead set by the Beacon Hill project in Boston. I believe we are just beginning to see the creation of a wide range of housing choices for aging seniors, many that have never existed before in history.

Nell Bernste­in

over 3 years ago

What a great idea. If anyone out there knows of a NORC or something similar that is just starting up please let me know -- I'd love to hear how it's going. Nell

Nell, This is really exciting. I'd love to see this movement take off. It's one of my favorites uses of the web - to propagate good ideas. I'd love to hear from folks who might be trying to do this in their communities. Maybe you could find a neighborhood like this and help us track their progress? Thanks for the post.