South Australian-based not-for-profit Uniting Communities unveiled the retirement living units in its 20-storey flagship ‘U City’ development in Adelaide this week – and there has already been dozens of queries from potential ‘downsizers’.
We can see why. With 41 one-, two- and three-bedroom units priced from $400,000 up to $900,000, the retirement complex will also offer an indoor/outdoor community area for residents, function rooms, and a 24-hour concierge with a menu of services and support.
We talked to CEO Simon Schrapel, who says the development is designed to appeal to today’s village residents.
“This baby boomer generation want a more active participation in community life and that’s what we’ll be offering,” he says.
Residents will even have the chance to volunteer if they are interested.
“We will have a café on the ground floor where we will have disadvantaged young people learning barista skills and some people have offered to do some mentoring,” Simon says. “We also run Lifeline and we have an interested resident who wants to be involved.”
Beyond the traditional village model
Uniting Communities aren’t the only ones looking to high-rise living for future retirees.
Our second largest village operator Aveo are currently building their Newstead village in Brisbane’s inner-city Gasworks precinct – and the facilities are the star.
The village will have its own community recreation area including over 3,000m2 of landscaped gardens, plus a restaurant and bar, health and wellness retreat, demonstration kitchen, lounge, golf simulator and more.
There will also be two levels of aged care so residents can move in knowing that they will never have to move away from their community.
It follows a recent study by Ellivo Architects of 514 seniors that found a quarter (27 per cent) of ‘baby boomers’ were looking to retire to the inner-city.
They will be well catered for.
