As people age into their 70s and 80s, some choose (often reluctantly) to move into retirement homes.
A new community and village, called Mado, aspires to become a place where residents can age in place. Although residents of all ages can live there, a portion of single-story homes will be designated for buyers aged 55 and up.
The idea is that if they move there in late middle-age, they won’t need to move.
Located in northwestern Georgia, Mado will feature medicinal gardens, community activities, and housing. It will be the third village at Serenbe, a community of nearly 500 people of all ages.
Mado's construction started this past summer, and the first residents will move in this month, Serenbe co-founder Steve Nygren, aged 70, tells Business Insider. Homes will cost between $300,000 and $800,000, and rental apartments will be available at $1,000 a month.
Take a look inside.
Serenbe is an urban village, meaning it prioritizes medium-density housing, walkability, and public space.
Located in Chattahoochee Hills outside Atlanta, the site features a 25-acre organic farm, seasonal farmers markets, art galleries, and a range of public events.
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In total, Mado will have 380 housing units, including cottages, townhomes, large houses, and loft apartments for residents of all ages.
Sixteen will be designated for buyers over 55.
These 1,200 square-foot homes can be easily retrofitted with features for older folks. The homes all come with step-free entries, baths with reinforced handles, and wide doors, halls, and staircases.
Here's a rendering of what the finished houses will look like.
Every 55+ resident receives a wearable device that can monitor their blood pressure and heart rate, and a doctor's office is always within a block.
Certified nurses will also be available at an extra cost for residents who need them.
There is a fitness center, yoga studio, community pool, restaurants, and a school for kids ages 3 to 14. Mado, and Serenbe at large, is intended to be an intergenerational community, Nygren says.
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Bushes and trees with edible fruits line the sidewalks.
The majority of the site is covered by trees, farmland, and flowers. This is, in part, thanks to Nygren's efforts for a zoning change, which will allow him to build Mado's homes closer together and preserve 70% of the land's nature.
Nygren says the close proximity of the homes will encourage residents to have vibrant social lives. The homes, arranged in clusters, center around gardens.
"They will be like outside living rooms," Nygren says. Another new 2,500-square-foot, single-story home will be built and act as a common space for older residents. Everyone can access everything in Serenbe by walking.
"Research shows that mental aptitude is affected and connected to physical health," Nygren says. "What we're doing connects all the dots."
