The Woodlands – Kalispell, Montana By Rachel Crisp Philips The Woodlands, a neighborhood of independent-living condominiums for seniors over 55, will be the first development of its kind in Montana. Currently under construction in Kalispell, this new active adult community will consist of four separate resident buildings surrounding a common recreation area. Curtis Lund, the owner and developer of The Woodlands, has a long history of involvement within the Kalispell community. He spent four years working with CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates®), before joining the local hospital board for eight years and serving as CEO for one year. “Over the last 24 years I’ve been very involved in the community here,” says Lund. “And one of the things that I became familiar with is what kinds of living conditions some people have. So I started thinking about solving some of the problems, and one thing led to another, and I decided that there was a need for adequate housing for people over 55.” A market research study supported Lund’s intuition, confirming that the Flathead Valley has more citizens over age 55 than average. Furthermore, the 55-and-up age group is growing at an annual rate of 3%, while those over 4
65 are increasing at 8%. With these numbers in mind, The Woodlands will contain 144 units (over 250 residents) by the time of its completion. “My experience living in a condominium was that my floor was my neighborhood, and if they didn’t see me for a few days they would knock on my door and say, ‘Are you okay?’ and I think that’s what’s going to happen here also,” says Lund. This neighborhood setting forms a natural sense of community among residents, while the condominium format allows for a focus on independent, rather than assisted, living. However,
assistance is always at hand whenever needed with 24/7 on-site staff, security, and management. The Woodlands is an ideal choice for couples who may no longer be able to take care of their own home due to age or health, but who have a desire to remain independent. It’s also a wise decision for those thinking ahead to plan for the future, or seniors who are seeking more social connections in their lives. “One of the barriers for recovery is living alone. And so I think that living in a community is very important for a person’s full physical and mental
