Cost of living, communities attract retirees despite rough economy

Margie Meadows began her 80th birthday with her Tuesday bingo game at CiCi's Pizza.

• Resources

  Charlotte-Mecklenburg Council on Aging, a senior education and advocacy group. 704-391-5216, www.charmeckcoa.org.

  Charlotte-Mecklenburg Senior Centers. 704-522-6222, www.cmseniorcenters.org.

  Senior Living Guide, a free guide to senior housing and services. 800-775-4846.

  All For Seniors, a free resource and referral directory. 704-366-1410, www.allforseniors-charlotte.org.

  WalkScore.com calculates how walkable a neighborhood is based on proximity to businesses and services. Use it to check out areas before you move.

The Charlotte area continues to be attractive for retirees despite the tough economy.

While fewer have moved here in the past year because of difficulties selling their homes elsewhere, at least one expert predicts an uptick in relocation by older adults in 2010.

“I think there will be an unleashing of pent-up demand by people who've been wanting to move here, but couldn't because of the economy,” says Dan Owens, director of the Charlotte-based National Active Retirement Association.

The area offers a growing number of retirement communities – the largest of which is Sun City Carolina Lakes in Lancaster County, S.C.

This active-adult community 23 miles south of uptown Charlotte has sold about 1,700 homes, with plans for a total of 3,400 clustered around 11 lakes.

Even with the economic slowdown, Sun City is averaging about 30 new home closings per month, says Mark O'Brien, vice president of sales for the development.

He attributes the continuing sales in a depressed real estate market to factors including Lancaster County's low taxes and the ability to draw people from a large geographical area.

About half of Sun City buyers come from the Charlotte area, but the rest move here from states such as Florida, Ohio and New York.

The development includes walking trails, an 18-hole golf course and a boardwalk with views of the natural lakes on the site. There's also a kayak center and 40,000-square-foot recreation and fitness facility. Residents can drive golf carts to a nearby shopping center, which includes a grocery store and doctors' offices.

The average age of Sun City residents is 62, and about half are still in the workforce.

Sun City Carolina Lakes is among the largest developments of its kind in the country, Owens says, which speaks to the appeal of our area for retirees.

Other new developments with homes for active, older adults include Bailey's Glen in Cornelius, Edgewater in Lancaster County and Lake Ridge in Tega Cay, S.C.

Bailey's Glen was expected to break ground this summer on the first of 372 single-family homes. Ninety-six condos will be built later. Plans call for a swimming pool and spa, 12,000-square-foot club house and other amenities for people 55 and older.

Edgewater on Fishing Creek Lake opened in May. Plans include more than 3,000 single-family homes – at least 1,500 of which are targeted for active, older adults. Some homes are on the lake and some on a golf course.

Lake Ridge near Lake Wylie, which also opened in May, has designated 180 of its more than 900 planned single-family homes for the active-adult market. The development includes 150 acres of wooded common area, four miles of walking trails, a pool and 7,500-square-foot clubhouse.

Retirement apartments are another option for older residents in the Charlotte area.

Carmel Place in south Charlotte added 38 new units last year to its original 93. Also opening last year were Willow Grove in Matthews with 118 units, Crescent Heights in Concord with 118 units and Shads Landing on Prosperity Church Road in northeast Charlotte with 114 units.

All four complexes are owned by Oregon-based Holiday Retirement, which provides residents with meals, housekeeping and transportation to shopping and medical appointments. The average age at Holiday Retirement communities is in the mid-80s.

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