ARTICLE: "Cities gird for getting grayer: Changes make way for surge in those 65, older," by Haya El Nasser, USA Today, 14 May 2007, p. 1A.
My wife, the urban planner/elder affairs veteran (prior to family consuming us and suspending that career), has been preaching this to me for almost a quarter-century (Vonne is this long-term strategist's long-term strategist).
It will be a long and slow evolution for most cities, but evolve they must.
What drives this most is sellability of houses: if people won't buy your houses, your city has a huge problem.
One of the fixes mentioned here: change zoning and encourage designs that accommodate "granny flats" (what most call "mother-in-law" apartments).
Vonne had our builder set up a basement trio of bedroom, bath and kit with separate entrance for exactly such sellability down the road (Vonne's already decided which state we'll live in next waaaay down the road).
Hard to keep up with her. Whenever I plan ahead I typically bump into her well-researched decision, already made.
Then again, she allows me to focus on saving the world before I get too old.
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Comments (3)
Granny flats were an issue in Pasadena, CA 's recent city council
elections. They were supported by the winner. The flats
development to a large degree has its impetus coming from our
vibrant Armenian and Lebanese communities with their tradition
of caring for parents and extended family.
Posted by Patrick O'Connor | May 14, 2007 8:44 PM
"...she allows me to focus on saving the world before I get too old."
That is like the old joke:
"I make all the major decisions, like whether China gets to be in the UN, or we pull out of Vietnam, or sign the SALT treaty. My wife handles the piddly stuff, like where we'll live, what I'll do for a job, where our kids will go to school ..."
Except you are actually having an impact, rather than sitting in your chair yelling at the TV like Archie Bunker. So that makes it OK.
(I am totally regressing to my '70s childhood.)
Posted by Lexington Green | May 14, 2007 11:03 PM
We are 70 & our future living plans evolve around the location of our children & grandchildren. Be sure your plans are fexible enough to enjoy the joys of grandparenthood. Great you are thinking about this now!
Posted by Elmer Humes | May 14, 2007 11:51 PM