tlanta Regional Council of Governments (ARC) received one of the first BHCAA achievement awards for their having facilitated zoning policy changes and the development of 30 senior housing developments located close to services and connected to existing neighborhoods. With more than 90% of Atlanta’s elders relying on cars for transportation, ARC took steps to decrease auto dependency by promoting ride sharing through its six voucher programs and worked to improve bus stops and routes. These efforts increased the quality of life for elders and also benefit the environment. To encourage healthy lifestyles, ARC partners converted traditional senior centers to wellness centers, emphasizing physical activity and social interaction. Through community involvement, ARC listened to the needs of older adults and integrated age-appropriate features into parks, trails, and pedestrian paths. They also conducted sidewalk audits to ensure that local plans incorporated changes that would better serve older adults.
Another example is BHCAA award-winner San Mateo County, California. The county has a growing aging population, but limited affordable housing and supportive services. To address this gap, a collaborative group of local non-profits teamed with the county to develop the Half Moon Bay Senior Campus Plan—an integrated continuum of care for the county’s older adults. The plan successfully integrates more than 250 units of affordable housing with a network of pedestrian walkways and open space intended for structured and unstructured activities. Based on evidence of reduced rates of car ownership among low-income elders, planners can limit the construction of parking facilities and reduce development costs and subsequent motor vehicle use. The network of pedestrian paths and open space encourages an active lifestyle with minimal interference from traffic. A special feature is raised pavement where paths intersect streets, signaling motorists to yield to pedestrians. The new housing project will be LEED- certified, a requirement that California has for funding of public housing projects. California has a number of counties that have incorporated the need to address climate change in their master plans.
Climate Change and Extreme Weather Trends
Planning for the future demographic changes also requires recognizing the changing climate and severe weather trends that are happening worldwide and in the U.S. According to a report from The Lancet, “Climate change is the biggest global health threat of the 21st century. Effects of climate change on health will affect most populations in the next decades and put the lives and well-being of billions of people at increased risk.” Greenhouse gases are the primary driver of climate change. Greenhouse gases can lead to more frequent and severe heat waves as well as increases in ground-level ozone pollution, threatening the health and well-being of persons of all ages, especially the young and the old. Do Universal design and visitability reduce construction waste and help save energy by requiring less retro-fitting of inaccessible buildings?
In January 2013, the Global Climate Change Research program released its draft for public comment, The National Climate Assessment, which described that climate change is already happening and that the intensity and frequency of a number of weather events such as heat waves, heavy rains, floods or droughts are already occurring. The draft report also states, “Planning and managing based on the climate of the last century means that tolerances of some infrastructure and species will be exceeded. For example, building codes and landscaping ordinances will likely need to be updated not only for energy efficiency, but also to conserve water supplies, protect against insects that spread disease, reduce susceptibility to heat stress, and improve protection against extreme events.”
The worst natural disasters in the U.S., with respect to deaths and destruction, were caused by hurricanes Sandy (2012), Katrina (2005), and Rita (2005). “In 2011 and 2012 alone, the United