Ithaca has more than just college students (from the Ithaca Journal):
The 50 unit Breckenridge Place apartments, 100 W. Seneca St., Ithaca, were filled within three months after the building opened. Though not specifically made for seniors, 60 percent of the building's inhabitants are 50 or over. / FILE PHOTO
Seniors seek golden years in Ithaca area
11:14 AM, Jul 8, 2014
Written by
Andrew Casler
ITHACA — It took three months to fill 50 apartments after Breckenridge Place opened in March, and 60 percent of the tenants are over 50 years old.
“Half of those, 30 percent, are over the age of 60,” Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services Senior Real Estate Director Joe Boues said.
The building wasn’t specifically designed for seniors, he added. “I think that’s a good indication of how strong the demand is.”
Many Tompkins County seniors would like to find low-maintenance housing options in the city or town of Ithaca during the next five years, according to survey results released Monday.
The Tompkins County Office for the Aging survey was conducted from April to May, and 331 responses were collected.
There are 17,371 Tompkins County residents who are over 60, according to 2012 census data. The average respondent was 67 years old.
Tompkins County Office for the Aging Director Lisa Holmes said she’s hoping the survey will be used by builders and developers to meet the needs of an aging population.
“I’m pleased to have the results to share with our community so that we can be thoughtful as we plan for this burgeoning, aging population,” Holmes said.
Of the respondents who said they were interested in moving, 49 percent planned on moving in the next one to five years; 31 percent said they would move in the next five to 10 years; and 20 percent said they would move during the next 10 to 15 years.
Respondents’ top reason for moving is to reduce maintenance and upkeep, and downsizing, according to the survey results.
The majority of respondents, 58 percent, sought two bedrooms; 25 percent sought one bedroom.
When asked what type of housing they would want to move into, 24 percent of respondents said they wanted a senior housing complex, 20 percent sought condominiums, and 20 percent wanted apartments.
The top three most important factors related to a future home were affordable cost, single-floor design and easy access to public transportation, according to the survey. A sense of community, energy efficiency, and closeness to grocery and drug stores were next in importance and nearly equivalent in rating average.
“The individuals who we work with, maintaining a sense of community, and often an intergenerational setting is desired, so they’re not socially isolated,” Holmes added. “Proximity to grocery and drug stores, that ease of access to services (gains importance) as their mobility may be limited.”
Ninety percent of the people taking the survey said they planned to stay in Tompkins County when they move.
Of the respondents who said they were planning to move, 57 percent planned to live within the City of Ithaca, and 19 percent said they would move to the Town of Ithaca.
It isn’t a surprise that a majority of seniors favor the Ithaca area, Boues said. He pointed to shopping, public transit and activities in Ithaca.
Here's the link:
http://www.ithacajournal.com/article...rs-Ithaca-area