Discussion Of Senior Housing Planned For Dec. 6th

A panel discussion will be held from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 6 at Madison House, 34 Wildwood Ave., Madison, on prospects for building private sector, age-appropriate housing for seniors in town

Christine Poutot, Chair of the Planning & Zoning Commission, Gardner Abbot,  Vice President at First Niagra Bank, and builder/developers Bob Murphy and Bill Freeman are joining Architect John Matthews, builder/developers  Richard Gentile and Bob Dowler and Dr. Patricia Melady who will add expertise on aging, in a discussion of the local prospects for a  new kind of housing to enable seniors to remain independent longer.

MASTER ALLIANCE FOR SENIOR TAX RELIEF (MASTR), conducted  a survey of Madison Seniors last April to determine the level of interest in town for a new kind of housing that is designed so that the growing population of seniors can live independently as long as possible.

MASTR also conducted a focus group to discover what specific housing features would be most beneficial for an aging  population. The panel discussion is the third step toward raising awareness and recognition of the social, health/wellness and economic aspects and opportunities inherent in fulfilling the needs of this exponentially growing demographic.

Topics to be addressed by the panel will include:

1. What are the most common infirmities of an aging population, and how can they be partially addressed by specifically designed housing?

2.  What are the advantages and/or disadvantages of building new housing designed for older seniors here in Madison?

3. What are the advantages and/or disadvantages of private sector housing versus housing with some public financing?  4. With the economy in the doldrums, especially  for the housing  sector, under what circumstances, if any, is financing available for development and construction?

5.  What barriers or regulations apply here in Madison to building small communities of age appropriate housing?

6.  How can these barriers and/or regulations be addressed?  Are there alternatives?

7. What innovations for an aging populations should be considered for senior housing, such as geothermal heat, solar  panels, large walk in showers and tubs?

8.  What are the next steps toward fulfilling the need?