HOUSINGNEWS REPORT
MY TAKE
Why Boomers and Millennials are Finding Their Place in the Same Neighborhoods
Rob Bowman
Rob Bowman is President of Charter Homes & Neighborhoods. He is a member of the Urban Land Institute, where he serves on the executive committee of the Residential Neighborhood Development Council. Founded in 1990, Charter has delivered more than 4,500 homes and earned every major industry award, including the 2014 Gold National Housing Quality Award and the Best Neighborhood in the Country award. Charter currently has 20 neighborhoods open across Pennsylvania and aims to develop neighborhoods that are more than just subdivisions, but incorporate the existing landscape into its designs.
Over the past decade, the housing industry has answered the increased demand for communities where people of the same age and lifestyle all live within the same footprint: Townhome communities where young professionals network with other young professionals; Single family subdivisions in desirable school districts where young families tend to gather; Age-restricted 55+ communities where retirees are looking to downsize to first floor living and participate in planned social activities with people at the same life stage.
However, recent research suggests that while 50 percent of baby boomers want to live with people their same age, the other half prefer to be surrounded by people of all ages. Boomers today are feeling younger than generations did before them. Many plan to continue to work, and with a focus on health, wellness and enjoying all that life has to offer, they don’t want to just sit back and relax with others their age, just because they are getting older.
ATTOM Data Solutions • P8
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