Georgia college invites elderly to retire on campus (Atlanta, Martin: apartment, homes)

[LynnHarris1]

Classes are optional for hundreds of seniors expected to transfer to the serene campus of Berry College next summer. And, when they settle in, they plan to never leave.

But cut them some slack: The seniors in question are in their 70s and 80s..."

FULL STORY: https://www.ajc.com/news/local/georg...tq60esc0Oie1N/

SOURCE: AJC

[Atlanta Scientist]

This would be a dream retirement for me.

[Southern man]

Originally Posted by Atlanta Scientist

This would be a dream retirement for me.

I got the pricing schedule from them and there is a large buy in fee and a large monthly fee. It was too rich for me.

[Saskia Calico]

I wouldn't say Berry is "inviting" them. Someone will be paying through the nose to live in that luxury community. What Georgia needs -- like most other states -- is more affordable housing for its seniors, especially in its smaller towns. The rich seniors I know stay in their own homes because -- duh -- they are rich and can afford to. The seniors who need senior housing are the ones who are struggling financially.

But -- if this is the sort of lesson the undergraduate seniors are being taught about how to prepare for after their working lives -- maybe it will be of benefit to them. Personally I think that it would be more in line with Berry's traditional educational philosophy to make this a HUD-subsidized senior community and give the students opportunities to work there as Berry students have traditionally done.

[athena53]

Originally Posted by Southern man

I got the pricing schedule from them and there is a large buy in fee and a large monthly fee. It was too rich for me.

Just curious- what are some examples? I'm sure it varies by age and by type of living unit. The press release, of course, omits any mention of cost at all and so does the web site for The Spires. My plan is to stay here in the Midwest near DS, DD and the grandchildren when I can no longer live independently but I'd love to be in that type of environment.

[Southern man]

Originally Posted by athena53

Just curious- what are some examples? I'm sure it varies by age and by type of living unit. The press release, of course, omits any mention of cost at all and so does the web site for The Spires. My plan is to stay here in the Midwest near DS, DD and the grandchildren when I can no longer live independently but I'd love to be in that type of environment.

The info was on a PDF file and I couldn't do much with it. I did manage to copy it and this is what it looked like. The one I was interested in was the COTTAGE, called The Campbell, 2 Bedroom + Den, 2.5 Bath 1,450 $ 513,900 buy in, $ 4,295 per month. I couldn't afford it.
Lake s i d e S e n i o r L i v i n g ---
UNIT TYPE
SQUARE
FOOTAGE
Magnolia
TYPE
1 Bedroom, 1 Bath 662
90% REFUNDABLE
ENTRANCE FEES
$ 178,900 to $ 182,900
MONTHLY FEE
$ 2,495
Tulip Tree 1 Bedroom, 1 Bath 774 $ 228,900 to $ 237,900 $ 2,745
Hickory 1 Bedroom, 1 Bath 801 $ 231,900 to $ 236,900 $ 2,795
Redbud 1 Bedroom, 1 Bath 842 $ 245,900 to $ 276,900 $ 3,245
Red Cedar 1 Bedroom + Den, 1 Bath 967 $ 267,900 to $ 302,900 $ 3,245
Maple 1 Bedroom + Den, 1.5 Bath 979 $ 272,900 to $ 279,900 $ 3,245
Chestnut 2 Bedroom, 2 Bath 1,091 $ 306,900 to $ 344,900 $ 3,445
Pecan 2 Bedroom, 2 Bath 1,192 $ 334,900 to $ 376,900 $ 3,695
American Elm 2 Bedroom, 2 Bath 1,450 $ 431,900 to $ 438,900 $ 4,145
Dogwood 2 Bedroom + Den, 2 Bath 1,258 $ 368,900 to $ 398,900 $ 3,845
Holly 2 Bedroom + Den, 2 Bath 1,378 $ 430,900 to $ 450,900 $ 3,895
Willow Oak 2 Bedroom + Den, 2.5 Bath 1,489 $ 448,900 to $ 479,900 $ 4,195

IT TYPE TYPE
SQUARE
FOOTAGE
90% REFUNDABLE
ENTRANCE FEES MONTHLY FEE
LONGLEAF LODGE
Green 2 Bedroom, 2 Bath 1,123 $ 363,900 to $ 393,900 $ 3,595
Bertrand 2 Bedroom + Den, 2.5 Bath 1,430 $ 471,900 to $ 479,900 $ 4,145
Shatto 2 Bedroom + Den, 2 Bath 1,460 $ 492,900 to $ 501,900 $ 4,145
Colley 2 Bedroom + Den, 2.5 Bath 1,592 $ 537,900 to $ 547,900 $ 4,495
COTTAGES
Campbell 2 Bedroom + Den, 2.5 Bath 1,450 $ 513,900 $ 4,295
Eagan 2 Bedroom + Den, 2.5 Bath 1,636 $ 559,900 $ 4,495
Cornell 2 Bedroom + Den, 2.5 Bath 2,190 $ 699,900 $ 4,795
Martin 3 Bedroom, 2.5 Bath 2,479 $ 772,900 $ 4,995

OTHER FEES.
· Square footage and fees are approximate and subject to change without notice
· Fees reflect pricing at move in (est. 2020)
· Fees effective January 1, 2019
· Second Person is an additional Monthly Fee of $795
· Second Person is an additional Entrance Fee of $10,000 for 90% refund plan
· Life Care for the Second Person is an additional $120,000 Entrance Fee
· Once you move permanently to a higher level of care the Monthly Fee will be equal to the First Person Monthly Fee for
the Pecan apartment

[athena53]

Thanks! I don't find those numbers too scary except for the larger ones although I could see that someone hoping to get in by selling their home and living mostly on SS wouldn't be able to make the numbers work. I'm widowed so also don't need to factor in the cost of a second person. My Grandpa moved to a CCRC with his second wife at her insistence and although he referred to their fellow residents as "the inmates" it wasn't a bad place.

[xxmagex]

The website address for The Spires is now active. They're making the pitch for people to be among the first to get space in the community. A web search should turn up the website.

[Cdarocks]

The renderings show a very generic looking complex which is too bad because Berry is a gorgeous campus and the buildings could have really added something special. My kids both considered going to school there (but decided to use their Zell Millar at UGA instead whew). I can't imagine the students are going to be thrilled about this either, but who knows?