For the past 40+ years, I have worked with retirement and care communities in Colorado. I greatly appreciate and value what they offer. That said, for me – a late-60s empty-nester – there is a different vision for housing for my next, and (I hope) last home.
Elisabeth Borden
I have always been drawn to co-housing, intentional communities, and home sharing options as fun and economical ways to live. And, I often hear others say that they are dreaming of a way to live near their friends and age happily together. A small group of us are creating a vision for “intentional community”. The vision is living in private condominiums but sharing friendship and support. That will be things like: sharing rides, having some meals together, taking walks, watching each other’s pets, helping out when someone has a health issue, and trading skills and services off-the-grid. We also place a high value on inclusion and diversity.
Because we aren’t developers, we searched for and found a new home community that is going to include several 12-unit, accessible condominium buildings. Our initial group bought half the units in the first building, opening this December. Other friends are already buying a unit in the adjacent building, now pre-selling.
We want our “intentional community” to include those who choose to rent, rather than buy. So, we are buying two large, 2-BR condominiums to rent to others, ready for move-in early 2019. We hope to find renters who share our vision to join us then! Please contact us at rentincommunity@ gmail.com for more information.
~ Elisabeth Borden is the founding principal of The Highland Group, a seniors housing market research and planning firm, based in Boulder. She formerly served as an Area Agency on Aging director and as a manager and marketer of assisted living and memory care communities.