I met with an individual at our senior center today that is wanting to change the living arrangements for our older population. She would like to be able to build a cottage on her property to house her parents with an upstairs space for a live in caregiver. Problem is our zoning. When I inquired about doing so through the "granny flat" legislation, she informed me it has to be an attached addition, cannot be detached. She's unable to build the cottage because of land use, zoning restrictions. What? I thought the granny flats were to help our parents and grandparents.
Anyway, while it's a slow process changing city hall and of course there are concerns about housing here, because of the possibility of additional areas being overtaken by students (being as we have 2 universities and a community college) and while I love the students for their help in our local economy, I understand homeowners concerns with renters and cars and noise and oh my, you get the picture.
Still, I applaud her desire to change things. We all hear that we, the baby boomers don't want to ultimately be in nursing homes, or even assisted living, we want to change the environment to something else that works better for us. Question is what is that? This person is wanting to take the steps to do that, change how we age. It starts slowly and with momentum from us, those boomers, we will get it changed for when we get there. How do you wish to live in your old age? If you think you know, email me. We'll all be part of the momentum!
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Keller Williams Realty - East Monmouth - Red Bank, NJ
Monmouth County Real Estate
This is a very relevant topic, Angie. I spent 26 years as a Director of a home health company prior to real estate and understand how people want to stay within a community. Having a cottage or attached quarters is ideal for family members, but so many towns do not want to allow it because it is too hard to monitor. The concern in New Jersey is that people will bring in renters, each of whom will bring in one or more children to the school system. We are already paying super high property taxes.
On the other hand, New Jersey has a mandate for each town to share in the responsibility for "affordable housing". This is known as the Council on Affordable Housing. Each town has to find a a way to provide a certain number of units of below market housing, based on the size of the town. Converting auxilliary structures into housing for family members or verified seniors at slightly below market rates would qualify and would allow people to age in the towns they have lived in, rather than be relegated to moving to senior housing. Today I saw a two car, oversized detached garage with a proper stairway to upstairs that would make a great cottage for a senior, located in a neighborhood of quarter acre lots. How would towns monitor the density of the added units ina neighborhood? I sure don't have the answer. I wish the parameters for this kind of conversion could be worked out. I look forward to other people's ideas on this. Susan at the Jersey Shore.
Aug 07, 2008 03:22 PM
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel
Thought provoking post. I have seen some people in nursing homes who do not get to see family often because they may get transferred or are too busy. many seniors I meet want to live in their homes for as long as possible.
Aug 08, 2008 11:23 PM
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