Savvy 65+ set is headed to urbania

The same cool factor that draws Millennials in droves -- easy public transportation, walkable neighborhoods, accessible entertainment, even riverfront picnic spots -- has won the hearts of the 65+ crowd who are saying "yes" to all that urban living offers.

Three intriguing presentations on developments in urban senior living from the 2015 LeadingAge Ohio Conference and LeadingAge Annual Meeting in Boston provide snapshots of the migration of the 65+ set to the city:

Columbus: OPRS' Goodale Landing

Larry Gumina, CEO of Ohio Presbyterian Retirement Services, shared the podium with architects Glen Tipton and Cynthia Shonaiya, from Hord Coplan Macht (HCM) to discuss OPRS’s innovative independent living (IL) community, Goodale Landing, in Columbus, Ohio.

Located on OPRS's Westminster Thurber campus in historic Victorian Village, the new IL community is walkable to arts, retail and restaurants, and was met with enthusiasm by potential residents. According to Tipton, "Aging in Style" is the new "Aging in Place."

Pittsburgh: Presbyterian SeniorCare

Presbyterian SeniorCare (PSC) is exploring sites that would be walkable to healthcare, culture and education and has honed in on two: an East End area near Pitt, Carnegie Mellon and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and a downtown setting near the cultural district.

Though optimistic, PSC's Senior Vice President Jim Pieffer warns against viewing a new development as a "Field of Dreams." Developers need to weigh challenges like parking, safety perceptions and retail flight to the suburbs against the many cultural and other benefits to urban settings.

Minneapolis: Ecumen’s Abiitan

Minnesota-based Ecumen is responding to seniors fleeing to warmer climates by upping the ante at home. Abiitan (the Ojibwa Indian word for "live in") is a 62+ concept underway in the Mill District of downtown Minneapolis that will house independent living and memory care residents.

The plan includes a mixed-use roadway for cyclers and pedestrians -- a Woonerf -- forming the path to the Mississippi! Convenient access to light rail, a Farmer's Market, sports stadiums, Skyway and 56 food trucks beckon older Minneapolitans to the riverfront as they consider their options.

While rural and suburban retirement living is the optimal choice for many seniors, the urban movement is an exciting alternative that just feels....healthy!