| Looking for something beyond traditional retirement | | | | events. |
| housing? How about a place where you can live out | | | | - Balanced living. While interaction is important, places |
| your values and be near friends, while staying active | | | | for rest and privacy are equally important. The design |
| and connected with your community and the world? | | | | should include areas for retreat and quiet space. |
| A neighborhood where you can enjoy independent | | | | - On-site wellness & healthcare. Access to |
| living without being uprooted if the need for health | | | | wellness programs and quality healthcare is a priority |
| care arises? | | | | for community members of all ages and care |
| If you relate to these questions, you are not alone. | | | | requirements. |
| Retirees today are more active, educated, and will | | | | - Experience. Planners, designers and developers with |
| live longer than any generation before. They have | | | | a history of community planning and a strong client |
| needs that many elder living communities do not | | | | base are better equipped to help create new |
| usually offer. Retirees want to remain in their | | | | communities with interested parties. |
| neighborhoods, contribute to society, and enjoy | | | | Southfield |
| fruitful living and learning throughout their lifetime. | | | | Southfield, a 93-acre intergenerational community, |
| The Administration on Aging, an agency of the United | | | | located on the south edge of the city of South Bend, |
| States Department of Health and Human Services, | | | | Indiana, was conceptualized in 1988 by LeRoy |
| gives insight on what today's retirees seek. Contrary | | | | Troyer, FAIA, LEED-AP, his wife Phyllis, and his son |
| to belief that retirees want to move to warmer | | | | and daughter-in-law, Terry and Cyndi. LeRoy Troyer |
| climates, many want to stay close to friends and | | | | is founder and President of The Troyer Group, a |
| family. But with the decrease of large family | | | | planning, design and construction administration firm |
| structures, in which older parents lived with or near | | | | based in Mishawaka, Indiana. Terry serves as the |
| their children, this approach is no longer viable for | | | | CEO. LeRoy was inspired by the community he |
| everyone. Today there is a growing interest for | | | | experienced in his Amish upbringing and by the quaint |
| retirees to stay close to home and even remain living | | | | villages he saw while studying and living in Europe. |
| in their own home and neighborhood. Not many know | | | | With these communities in mind, the Troyers |
| about an alternative option that embraces the best | | | | designed an environment where they could age in |
| of independent and elder living. | | | | place, close to children and grandchildren. Southfield |
| Intergenerational Communities | | | | was started in 1989 and both Troyer families were |
| A concept that has grown in popularity over the last | | | | the first to move in. When it was built, Southfield |
| decade is addressing the retirement housing dilemma: | | | | was one of the first of its kind in the country. |
| intergenerational community living. Studies have | | | | Housing in Phase I of Southfield includes single-family |
| shown the benefits of children on older people's | | | | dwellings, villas and condominiums. Southfield Village, |
| health, and vice-versa. Older people are energized by | | | | the adjacent not-for-profit continuing care retirement |
| the vitality of children. Children in turn gain wisdom | | | | community, includes 58 assisted living apartment |
| and knowledge from interacting with their elders. The | | | | homes. A 60-bed health care center provides |
| results of these studies have been catalysts for | | | | round-the-clock nursing care. |
| creating communities where people of all generations | | | | Expansion of Southfield Village will include forty to |
| can live together harmoniously. | | | | seventy independent living units. Dwelling units |
| Why it works | | | | offered will include single-family dwellings to duplexes, |
| Strong evidence points to the correlation between | | | | fourplexes and three-story garden apartments. |
| lifestyle and health. While heredity and medical care | | | | Southfield Lake, an adjoining fifty-five acres, still in |
| account for 28 percent of what affects our health, | | | | the planning stage, will include additional housing. It will |
| environment and lifestyle contribute 72 percent, | | | | include approximately one-hundred-and-twenty single |
| according to a research study done by the | | | | family dwellings and villa condos. |
| Washington, D.C. based firm, The Advisory Group. | | | | A number of established healthcare and retirement |
| People with a strong support network live longer and | | | | living providers collaborated to realize The Troyer's |
| happier lives. | | | | dream for Southfield Village. In the early planning |
| It is not just retirees looking for connections across | | | | stages, The Troyer Group consulted leading |
| the generations. More young people are looking for | | | | gerontologists and national authorities in senior living. |
| community. While young adults in the 1980s | | | | Greencroft, a Goshen, Indiana residential continuing |
| abandoned their hometown to pursue a mobile | | | | care retirement community (CCRC), affiliated with |
| career, a new generation is looking to establish roots. | | | | Southfield Village, oversees management and |
| "They want that sense of place, a sense of | | | | operations of Southfield Village. |
| community. That's much more important than the | | | | Nature is abundantat Southfield Village. Housing |
| trophy house on the hill," says Jim Segedy, professor | | | | overlooks gardens and green spaces. Southfield |
| of urban planning at Ball State University, Muncie, | | | | Village gains its country-like atmosphere from |
| Indiana, and chairman of the Small Town and Rural | | | | surrounding farmland. Mature trees grow along old |
| Planning Division of the American Planning Association. | | | | fencerows, and rocks from the original farmland dot |
| Intergenerational communities are places where each | | | | the landscape. An on-site, 12-acre forest preserve |
| age group has a sense of belonging. Singles and single | | | | with walking paths borders the south-east edge of |
| parents are less isolated, able to help others and to | | | | Southfield. |
| be helped while building relationships with neighbors. | | | | The Village Square area at Southfield Village features |
| The intergenerational community may be the only | | | | "The Commons," is becoming the hub of community |
| place where families can support both children and | | | | life. This multi-use facility includes an information |
| aging parents without major disruption of their lives. | | | | center, sales and administrative offices, Grandma's |
| Even without family ties, friendships and relationships | | | | playhouse for children of visiting families, and a |
| are built through learning and recreational | | | | multi-purpose space for resident gatherings. Future |
| opportunities as well as close proximity amongst all | | | | development will include a café and small |
| ages. | | | | bakery where residents and community members |
| What to Look For | | | | can meet and dine informally. |
| Intergenerational communities are springing up around | | | | Located in the heart of South Bend, Southfield is a |
| the nation. Here are some factors to consider when | | | | mere 10-minute drive from downtown, where one |
| looking for a community: | | | | can find a variety of restaurants, museums, |
| - Strategic site planning. The land-use plan should | | | | educational resources and many churches and |
| encourage interaction between the generations | | | | synagogues. Major shopping centers are just minutes |
| through points of intersection, such as a community | | | | away. The community is home to the University of |
| center, shared walking paths, and recreational areas. | | | | Notre Dame and St. Mary's College, along with several |
| - Combined expertise. Since community living | | | | other colleges. These all provide opportunities for |
| encompasses many areas of life, developments | | | | continuing education, sporting and cultural events and |
| should partner with experts in applicable fields to | | | | diversity. |
| provide top-notch services. | | | | The Centre Township Library, also designed by The |
| - Harmonious landscape design. Nature has a positive | | | | Troyer Group, provides and encourages continued |
| impact on health for every age group. Accessible | | | | learning at Southfield Village. The library is a branch of |
| paths, natural landscaping, water features, nature | | | | the St. Joseph County Public Library system, rated |
| preserves and parks or wooded areas should be | | | | second-best in the nation for its size. Located on the |
| available. | | | | north-west edge of Southfield, the library is within |
| - Housing variety. A variety of housing styles, | | | | easy walking distance. With a café and |
| patterns and available services should meet the | | | | outdoor garden, the library is a point of connection |
| needs of people across the income and | | | | and relaxation for community members. The library |
| age-spectrum. Neighborhood styles could include | | | | provides a place for meetings, tutoring and other |
| planned neighborhoods, cluster housing and | | | | activities that unite generations. |
| resident-created neighborhoods. | | | | Southfield realizes the dream of many for regular |
| - Connection with neighboring communities. Proximity | | | | interaction with diverse age populations. "High-quality, |
| to nearby towns, cities, and educational institutions | | | | purposeful living emerges in relationships which keep |
| provide opportunities for continuous learning as well | | | | people connected," one Southfield resident remarked. |
| as a variety of activities including, sports and cultural | | | | |