Try senior subdivision

There’s a compromise that would satisfy Harley Douglass’s desire to build apartments off Barnes Road and the Indian Trail neighborhood’s concerns about drastically increased traffic and stress on public schools. That would be a 62 and over, age-restricted subdivision. These will be almost entirely retirees who won’t be driving during rush hours or have school-age children. It would not be a typical, secluded “retirement community” but rather an integral neighborhood subdivision of independent-living seniors.

A Jan. 8, S-R article, “Smaller could be the future for over-50 contractors,” indicates this may be the perfect fit for an existing and probably “booming” market for years to come: retiring Baby Boomers who need to down-size to live within their means.

The article states: “The requests for smaller homes have become more numerous and frequent… builders catering to the (55 and over) age group can no longer afford to ignore the cash-strapped population demanding a smaller alternative to the 2,400-square-foot new home.”

The vast majority of Baby Boomers have not saved adequately for retirement, and many will need to downsize their housing to reduce ongoing costs. It’s a win for both sides.

Bob Strong

Spokane