Graphic by MKM architecture + design
This is a rendering of the Lifetime Community District, a development in Bloomington, Ind. that would cater to all age groups.
By Zachary Benedict, Architect and Planner, MKM architecture+design - November 4, 2014
Humans have aged successfully for centuries. Only in the last several decades have we come to view it as problematic. While many of the issues surrounding the quality of life for older adults today is a direct result of the way modern communities have developed, a more pressing issue is the way in which we approach this issue of “aging” itself. This was the topic at hand at the recent Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) Roundtable entitled “Planning for the Aging of Chicagoland’s Communities.”
Often treated like an epidemic that needs curing, “aging” is frequently approached as an isolated and unique condition. But it’s not. We are all experiencing it. So as we begin to think about how cities will embrace the rapidly growing number of older adults many will experience, our willingness to understand “aging” as a “life course” becomes increasingly important.
One of the greatest hurdles preventing the elderly from "ushering in a renaissance of civic life in America," as Christopher Johnson advocated in the 2003 report Reinventing Aging: Baby Boomers and Civic Engagement, "is that the articulation of a new vision for later life, at least at the national level, is outpacing the construction of programs and institutions needed to realize the vision." While it is critical that cities accommodate elderly populations, evolving planning models will need to understand that these accommodations must be done in a way that engages people of all ages and abilities.
In a recent research project entitled, "Soul of the Community," the Knight Foundation and Gallup examined citizen attachment in 26 communities across the country. They sought to tease out factors that impact why certain communities have residents who are enthusiastic about where they live, while others are fairly indifferent.
Their research indicated that successful cities consistently prioritize communal attachment through three categories: (1) social offerings, (2) openness and (3) aesthetics. Despite traditional variables such as jobs, economics and safety also being analyzed, these specific factors appear to always have more impact on one's attachment to place and community. More fascinating is that the same research found that the communities with the highest levels of attachment had the highest rates of gross domestic product growth. Place matters.
While we can accept how important engagement may be to economic sustainability in the modern world, how many cities are currently prepared to engage a senior population in these terms? As we think about the future of our cities there needs to be a concerted effort to explore how places can work for people throughout their lifetime—offering vibrant neighborhoods that allow people to thrive from ages five to 95. From network-based initiatives such as Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities and Village-to-Village networks to economic development strategies like Atlanta Regional Commission’s "Lifelong Communities" and Lean Urbanism, communities are beginning to understand that by learning how to accommodate and engage an older population, they are inherently discovering how to make communities more livable for everyone.
A recent example of this would be the "Lifetime Community District" in Bloomington, Ind. (image above). This concept explores how overlay zoning districts and design guidelines could provide incentives for a development model that works for people of all ages and abilities and encourages intergenerational neighborhoods.
As cities continue to appreciate the economic power of place, it becomes essential that urban planning understand how people can remain engaged throughout the lifespan. Aging isn't a condition. It's a part of life. And we need to remember that as we look to the future.
Zachary Benedict, AIA, is a managing partner at MKM architecture + design, a firm dedicated to community health and well-being. As a leading figure in the "Lifetime Community" movement, he lectures internationally on the socio-economic benefits of walkable intergenerational neighborhoods.