It’s More Than Living... It’s A Lifestyle!

Rocking Chairs to Shuffleboard to Pickleball and Beyond

How it all started by Ronna

When hearing the words Active Adult, you have to think of Del Webb, one of the pioneers in the 55+ community concept. These were masterplanned communities that focused on amenities. Opening January 1, 1960, the first Sun City was born in Arizona. The target market focused on retirees of my grandparents’ Greatest Generation age group, and more than 100,000 visited on its opening day.

The concept of age-restricted developments located in warmer climates with lots of amenities, was a huge success as retirees redefined retirement. Retirement no longer meant sitting on your family home’s front porch in a rocking chair watching the world go by.

Today we Baby Boomers have again impacted the retirement market by looking at retirement in another way. The definition of retirement is to stop, but Boomers don’t want to stop; they want to move into a new and purposeful time in their lives. Boomers may have changed careers or completed a degree. They are more focused on healthy living, wellness and community service. Boomers have made demands every decade as they grew up, and they are not stopping now.

Where our grandparents played shuffleboard, Boomers are playing pickleball. Where my grandparents were just looking for sun and a pool, we Boomers want a more diverse lifestyle, which is ever evolving as technology expands. Promoting social engagement and a sense of community ranks high with Boomers, as does increasing the quality of life.

The 55+ housing market is even more attractive as we age, as many of us are opting to age in place. Nursing homes and assisted living facilities’ costs are continuing to rise, making remaining in your own home in a community that provides a caring and safe environment extremely attractive.

Providing services that promote aging in place can already be seen here in SCOV. Vistoso Helpful Hands, a SCOV community support group, can assist residents in connecting with services such as grocery delivery, housekeepers, landscapers or transportation needs. All of these can make it possible to remain in your own home near friends as you age.

How the Generations Stack Up:

The Boomer generation has always been a mighty force powering our American society and economy. Boomers

Heinig

have above average incomes, a greater share of household wealth and an unmatched level of mortgage-free homeownership, leaving them positioned to survive financial blows. Baby Boomers are currently retiring at the rate of 10,000/ day in the United States. Boomers currently are 5876 years old and are pushing home prices for 55+ communities even higher. This will not stop with Boomers. The GenX generation is only slightly smaller than the Boomers, with the Millennial generation even larger. 55+ communities with lots of up-to-date amenities will continue to be in high demand for years to come.

The 55+ Housing Market’s Future:

Demand for senior housing is growing from 1.5 million units in 2020 to 3.2 million units expected in 2040. The U.S. Census Bureau has estimated that 100,000 units per year will need to be built between 2025 and 2040 to keep up with demand.

We can see this in our own Sun City Oro Valley by looking at over five years’ worth of statistics gathered from local realtor Lisa Bayless:

SCOV Housing Statistics

Sales of homes in SCOV are a function of the number of homes on the market. With the number of days on the market consistent over the last five years, the cost per square foot for our homes has increased from $161/sq. ft. to $278/ sq. ft., or 73%.

Even with mortgage rates and inflation rising, real estate remains America’s favorite long-term investment, according to a 2022 Bankrate survey.

With the continued housing pressure from retiring Boomers and GenXers entering the 55+ market, and the significant lack of inventory for senior housing, our investment in SCOV is very attractive. To keep it attractive however, we must always be prepared for the demands for new and techsavvy amenities that the next generation demands.

rcoulter@suncityorovalley.com

520-917-8070

The Bistro Offerings

We’re launching a new service in the Activity Center which includes specialty espresso, coffee and tea options. The selected vendors are special. One is located right here in Tucson and the other is located in the Phoenix area.

Our Bistro coffee and espresso is from Momentto Coffee Co. located in Tempe. A family-owned business in its second generation, established in 1989, has over 50 years of combined experience and utilizes the latest state-of-the-art blending, roasting and packaging equipment. Their roasting plant holds food safety and organic certifications. Their motto is “Freshness you can taste.” They roast per order, so the coffee is always fresh and never bitter. As we get further along with our menu at The Bistro, we will be expanding and refining our offerings from Momentto.

The Bistro tea comes from the Maya Tea Company. It was first established in 1997 by founder and owner, Manish Shah, and his brother, cofounder Yash Shah located in Tucson. The name “Maya” comes from the first two letters of the brothers’ first names. They started by importing teas from China and India. The first sales outlet was a booth at the local farmers’ market. As the business expanded, operations were moved into a large warehouse on the west side of Tucson. In 2014, a trademark “Maya Tea” was issued by the U.S. Government. At that time, Maya Tea Company teas were served in various coffee shops, tea houses, restaurants, taverns, salons and hotels across the United States. The company has been featured in Fresh Cup Magazine’s “2013 Tea Almanac,” Tea Magazine, Tucson Lifestyle Home & Garden and on the podcast, “Steeping Around.”

We hope you will enjoy these special beverages as you make friends and enjoy the SCOV lifestyle.

Lifestyle Coordinator - Brenda Puzzele-Stoltz bpuzzele-stoltz@suncityorovalley.com

520-917-8077

There are two activities for February. The first is a trip to Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino Thursday, February 2, leaving at 8 AM from behind the Welcome Center. Purchase tickets for this event on the website under Member Services > Tickets. Seats are limited.

The second event is the Health Fair Friday, February 24, 9:30 AM, Auditorium. If you are interested in purchasing a table or becoming a volunteer, please contact Brenda Puzzele-Stoltz. See Coming Events on page __ for more details.

Community Services - Katy Mosier

Architectural Coordinator, Katy Mosier scoroval@ciramail.com 520-917-8058

Development Standards Revisions

Each year the Architectural Review Committee (ARC) reviews each section of the Development Standards and recommends clarifications, enhancements and updating of information so that your submitted projects can be approved in a timely and consistent manner.

The ARC will introduce its suggested Development Standards revisions to the SCOV Board at the February 9 Board Study Session. After its review and agreement to any or all of these recommendations, the Board will approve changes at its February 28 Board meeting.

You are encouraged to review the revised Development Standards as soon as they are posted after February 28. Access them on our website under Members > Documents > Development Standards. If you would rather have a paper copy, it will be available at the Welcome Center.

After your review, if you have any questions, please contact Katy Mosier. Submittal decisions made after the Board’s approval of the Development Standards revisions will follow the latest policies.

The Library is very appreciative for funding from the Friends of the Library, for a Bookmarks subscription. Bookmarks is a full-color publication that summarizes book reviews, highlights classic and contemporary authors and much more. Copies are available for use in the Library and can be found on the reference shelf.

The Library is hosting three author events this month. Deborah Goodrich Royce will talk about her new book, Reef Road, which was released in January. Reef Road is pure fiction, but it reads as compellingly as a mixture of memoir and expose. Royce’s presentation is Friday, February 3, 9 AM, Catalina Vista.

We are thrilled to bring Marge Saiser, an award-winning poet to SCOV. She has published eight poetry books and co-edited two anthologies. A frequent guest speaker at the Green Valley Public Library, she packs her writing with sensory detail and multiple perspectives. She will present Wednesday, February 22, 11 AM, Catalina Vista.

Sun City Oro Valley