This document summarizes the findings of a study on developing senior-friendly housing in McKinleyville, California. It discusses: the growing senior population in Humboldt County; a survey that found seniors prefer aging in place, energy efficient homes, and walkable communities; barriers developers face in building senior housing like funding and mixing incomes; and design considerations like universal design, green space, and renewable energy that could meet seniors' needs and integrate multi-generational communities. The document presents two conceptual designs for a senior housing development in McKinleyville with features like single-family homes, apartments, gardens, and trails.

1. WHAT SENIORS WANT
Responsive Development for Aging in Place in McKinleyville, California
Prepared By:
Dalton Hedin, Jason Landers, Skylar Nading, Jesse Risinger
Humboldt State University Department of Environmental Management and Sciences
Environmental Management and Protection Program
Planning Option Senior Practicum 2015
For:
Area 1 Agency on Aging and Humboldt County Advance Planning Division
Image Source: Google Images

2. OUR FOCUS:
1. What are the needs and wishes of seniors in
Humboldt County?
2. Why are there not more senior-friendly housing
options in Humboldt County?
3. What could design for an appropriate all-age
housing community in McKinleyville look like?

3. PRESENTATION OUTLINE
1. Understanding the Demographic shift
2. Senior Needs and Wishes in Humboldt
3. Why a Shortage of Appropriate Housing?
4. Appropriate Design
5. Design Opportunities: McKinleyville
6. Conclusion
Image Source: Google Images

4. • Demographic change US wide
• Challenge to meet seniors needs
• One key area is appropriate housing
Beaconhillvillage.org
The Challenge:

5. PRESENTATION OUTLINE
1. Understanding the Demographic shift
2. Senior Needs and Wishes in Humboldt
3. Why a Shortage of Appropriate Housing?
4. Appropriate Design
5. Design Opportunities: McKinleyville
6. Recommendations
Image Source: Google Images

6. THE DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFT IN HUMBOLDT
● The adult population over
the age of 60 is the fastest
growing demographic in
Humboldt County.
● As this population
increases, there is a larger
demand for senior friendly
housing across all income
levels.
McKinleyville’s population is roughly 15,000 .
Around 2,900 are over the age of 65 (19 %).
Source: Area 1 Agency on Aging

7. PRESENTATION OUTLINE
1. Understanding the Demographic shift
2. Senior Needs and Wishes in
Humboldt
3. Why a Shortage of Appropriate Housing?
4. Appropriate Design
5. Design Opportunities: McKinleyville
6. Conclusion
Image Source: Google Images

8. • A1AA survey in 2014
of 1300 seniors in
Humboldt and Del
Norte Counties
1. What are the needs and wishes of seniors in Humboldt County?
AGING IN PLACE
Source: Area 1 Agency on Aging

9. PREFERENCES FOR HOUSING
Identifying what Seniors want and need
Source: Area 1 Agency Survey
Preferred Living Situation % of Respondents
Energy efficient home 45
Walkable communities 43
Close to public transportation 39
Multi-generational neighborhood 30
Close to services (town) 26
• Interviews with local seniors further highlight all-age value
1. What are the needs and wishes of seniors in Humboldt County?

10. PRESENTATION OUTLINE
1. Understanding the Demographic shift
2. Senior Needs and Wishes in Humboldt
3. Why a Shortage of Appropriate
Housing?
4. Appropriate Design
5. Design Opportunities: McKinleyville
6. Conclusion
Image Source: Google Images

11. INTERVIEWS WITH TWO LOCAL DEVELOPERS
Barriers
1. Finding capital to develop a community
2. Incorporating market-rate and affordable housing
Resolving the Barriers
1. Grants and other incentives
- Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC)
- Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program
2. Public-Private Donor Sources from the Community
* Interviews with seniors: many don’t qualify for existing housing options for seniors
2. Why are there not more senior-friendly housing options in Humboldt County?

12. PRESENTATION OUTLINE
1. Understanding the Demographic shift
2. Senior Needs and Wishes in Humboldt
3. Why a Shortage of Appropriate Housing?
4. Appropriate Design Opportunities
5. Design Opportunities: McKinleyville
6. Conclusion
Image Source: Google Images

13. DESIGN OPPORTUNITIES
Our Goals:
1. Meet senior needs and wishes
2. Integrate ideas from other parts of the US
3. Environmental, Social and Economic
Sustainability
Photo credit: shepherdhills-church.org

14. What might the design for an appropriate
senior housing community look like?
Design Considerations
• Site Location
• Site Design
• Community Building
• Structural Design Features
Photo credit: www.dreamstime.com

15. SITE LOCATION
● Location criteria based
on needs & interests
● Close proximity to
services:
o Public transportation
o Grocery Stores and
Restaurants
o Shopping
o Emergency services
o Health services
Source: BinghamtonNeighborhoodProject.com

16. SITE DESIGN
• Conservation Design
• Keep 50% of buildable site
undeveloped as shared open space
(Randal Arendt, 1996)
• Low Impact Development
• Onsite stormwater management
• Landscape features manage
stormwater
• Swales, permeable surfaces, rain
catchment systems
Source: Google Images

17. COMMUNITY BUILDING: THE VILLAGE MOVEMENT
The Village Concept: membership-driven, grass-
roots organizations that, through both volunteers and paid
staff, coordinate access to affordable services including
transportation, health and wellness programs, home
repairs, social and educational activities, and other day-to-
day needs enabling individuals to remain connected to
their community throughout the aging process. (Beacon
Hill Village, Boston 2001)
Photo credit: www.dreamstime.comPrinciples to incorporate in design include:
All age friendly community neighborhood
Community Center
Walkable
Recreation
Easy transportation access
See Also:
Redwood Coast Senior Village
http://www.redwoodcoastvillage.org

18. STRUCTURAL DESIGN FEATURES
Zero Net Energy
Universal Design
The Energy Efficient House www.thegreenmechanics.com

19. ZERO NET ENERGY USE
● Produce as much energy onsite as used
● Solar energy
● Building oreinted to capture sun
● Well insulated construction
● Energy Star Appliances

20. UNIVERSAL DESIGN
“EASIER, SAFER, MORE
CONVENIENT FOR ALL”
7 principles:
1. Equitable use
2. Flexibility in use
3. Simple and intuitive use
4. Perceptible information
5. Tolerance for error
6. Low physical effort
7. Size and space for approach and
use Source: universaldesign.com

21. PRESENTATION OUTLINE
1. Understanding the Demographic shift
2. Senior Needs and Wishes in Humboldt
3. Why a Shortage of Appropriate Housing?
4. Appropriate Design
5. Design Opportunities: McKinleyville
6. Conclusion
Image Source: Google Images

22. SITE:
Why McKinleyville?
• Aging demographic
• Developable space
• Expanding community
9 potential properties
McKinleyville, Ca

23. SITE LOCATION
Size: 16 acres
Features
• Flat
• Central
• Good size
• Walkability
• Serviced by utilities
Hypothetical Site: Hiller Avenue off Main Street, McKinleyville

24. • Single family
homes
• 1-2 bedroom
apartments
• Community
center
• Day Care
Center
• Community
Gardens
• Trail Network
Design Option 1:
Lower Density (50 units) Mixed-Multigenerational Community

25. Single Family Homes
1 Bedroom
Apartment
2 Bedroom
Apartments
Community
Gardens
Paved
Surface
Total
Number of
Units
12 4 32 24 5 N/A 72
Approximate
sq. ft.
900 1,750 600 750 2,160 92,964 158,764
Incorporate Personal
Yard
Storage Area
Design Option 2:
Higher Density (72 units) Mixed-Multigenerational Community

26. PRESENTATION OUTLINE
1. Understanding the Demographic shift
2. Senior Needs and Wishes in Humboldt
3. Why a Shortage of Appropriate Housing?
4. Appropriate Design
5. Design Opportunities: McKinleyville
6. Conclusion
Image Source: Google Images

27. CONCLUSION
1. What are the needs and wishes of seniors in Humboldt County?
- Seniors want to age in place and/or downsize
2. Why are there not more senior-friendly housing options in Humboldt County?
- Barriers to Development
3. What design features should be considered for an appropriate all-age housing
community in McKinleyville
- Design principles
• Universal Design
• LID
• Zero net energy

28. CONTRIBUTORS
Sean Armstrong
Yvonne Everett
Larona and Erica Farum
Jim Furtado
Humboldt County Board of Supervisors
Dan Johnson
Maggie Kraft
Bonnie MacGregor
Paula Mushrush
Anne Pierson and the Pierson Company
Michael Richardson
Maren Rose
Sylvia Shaw
Ben Shepard
Ryan Sundberg
*Contributors Listed in Alphabetical Order

29. Source: Google Images
Thank You.
Any Questions?