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Your goals are more complicated than generalized platitudes, and that’s okay
jeffrey gordon
February 23, 2010 at 6:31 am
Having watched some close friends and their families in recent years weather the challenges of both the economy and family health issues I felt confident that “Universal” design housing was going to have a bright future as American families join the rest of the world in regards to their use of homes for 2-3 generations vs the single generation and surprisingly often single professional occupancy typical here in the U.S.
A return to a more “normal” housing market and finance options combined with a pro-longed period of slower economic growth would be enough to encourage such a reality, but when combined with an aging boomer generation (facing their parents and their own health issues) whose homes (unlike their parents) are not paid off is very likely to turbocharge the movement towards this “shared generational” housing model.
My sense of it is that it works well for everyone (parents/boomers/gran kids) and thus the reason it has long been adopted around the world and only moved away from in the U.S. because of the unique and unlikely to be repeated economics experienced in the US between the early 1950’s today.
In my mind, any builder not incorporating “Universal” design features ( step less entryways, cabinetry, bathroom accessibility for walkers/chairs, door handles, light switches, and even an elevator shaft rough in ) into a new house design are missing a big market segment.
JG
Kathy Torline
February 23, 2010 at 6:33 am
I’ve also started to see the same trend in the Colorado Springs area. There are definite advantages of having multiple generations live together.
monika
February 23, 2010 at 9:07 am
In Europe you see that a lot, at least I do when talking to relatives that I have in Germany. Family compounds, not huge places but small places. Everyone working together and taking care of the elderly and the young.
Ross Therrien, Prudential Verani
February 23, 2010 at 9:16 am
You used my idea for my first blog. Addressing this happening, from a personal perspective.
Joe
February 24, 2010 at 6:40 pm
This phenomenon has become particularly troublesome for my wife and I. We have several rental properties that we own and manage, and we are having to monitor the number of people living in our rentals. We’ll rent to a couple with 2 kids, then after a month or two, there will be 3-4 cars in the driveway! 🙁