from Detroit at Home News

It’s not just young, single people who are seeking the downtown lifestyle near work and nightlife. More and more of today’s senior citizens, or active adults, are looking for housing options that put them in the middle of shopping, dining, cultural and community activities.

Sunrise Senior Living, which is better known for its upscale assisted living and memory care facilities, has seen the trend and is developing 10 new developments geared for active seniors who are ready to scale back but not slow down.

The Sterling of Grosse Pointe is one of 10 such developments Sunrise has in the planning and construction phases that offer the benefits of independent living and home ownership. “There’s a huge need, especially in Grosse Pointe,” said Sherrie Harder, general manager of The Sterling. “They want to be close to the heart of the community, they’re looking to live with their peers, and still maintain ownership and privacy – not just of their home, but of their finances.”

Like the other nine similar developments underway in Florida, Texas and California, The Sterling is located in a downtown environment – the Village shopping district. Reservations are being accepted for 79 800- to 2,200-square-foot, one- to three-bedroom condominiums which expect to be ready by early 2009. Those on the waiting list get to choose from a range of high-end finishes, such as paneling, granite countertops, hardware and plumbing fixtures. The Sterling also offers a five-star restaurant with dine-in and take-out options, a fitness center, housekeeping, a concierge, parking and transportation services, and on-site seminars, clubs and classes.

Of course, service and amenities come at a price. Although Harder said Sunrise has not released prices and association fees, she said that units will start at around $400,000, and they’re going quickly. “On an overall basis, we’re over our sales goal of what we want to achieve at this point. About 90 percent of our interest is coming from people in the community, about 5 percent from people in outlying communities, and another 5 percent are from out of state,” Harder said.