Mountain View Village geared towards rural retirees
Black Diamond is gaining 135 independent living suites where baby boomers and seniors can retire and experience the concept of ‘aging at home’. The development is called Mountain View Village and is conveniently located adjacent to the Oilfields General Hospital.
Calgary-based developer, Todd Gow, noted that they didn’t use the name “Mountain View” for no reason. The community will have spectacular views of the mountains that can even be enjoyed from the second floor.
The community includes 125 condominium suites and 10 luxury villas that offer several care options as its residents age. Gow explained that the development company, Circle G by Vitality Living, has a philosophy to build suites 20% larger and approximately 20% lower in price than what can be found in cities.
“Our philosophy is vitality living, meaning that we want people to live life to the fullest both mentally and physically and be in community with each other,” said Gow.
The developer already started selling the condos and the plan is to get shovels in the ground in early 2022. Occupancy of the villas is expected in the fall of 2022 and occupancy in their first condominium building is expected in the spring of 2023. Aside from buying suites, which is their current focus, there will be a few rental opportunities in the future. Gow explained that to avoid erosion of wealth, owning a suite will help residents maintain their equity and reduce their monthly payments. Residents can still opt in or out of services like housekeeping, grocery shopping, shuttle services, medical home care, palliative and dementia care, and more.
“Even if there is a period where some of these folks will need more intensive care like full dementia care in a secure facility, we literally back right onto the hospital in Black Diamond and of course right next to the hospital are care facilities,” Gow said. This development truly offers the age-in- place experience, he added.
Gow noted that he changed his focus from typical senior developments in cities throughout Canada and the United States to the needs of seniors and retired people in rural areas.
“I have close ties to the ranching community here in Alberta. The majority of people that I know that are looking to retire really don’t want to move into the city for several reasons,” he said.
Many people have grown up, lived, and worked in rural areas for the majority of their lives and it’s where they are most comfortable. Moving into a small and expensive suite in the city and dealing with city crowds and traffic can also be intimidating and costly, Gow added.
“Right now there’s just really no alternative out there in rural communities for seniors living. So we created this based on the needs of smaller town people but also ranchers, farmers, and people living on acreages,” Gow said.
Mountain View Village is a lot different than most senior housing and is focused on the rural lifestyle. Individuals can continue to be part of their local community with people their own age and enjoy activities like card games, potluck dinners, and hiking.
To find out more, go to mountainviewvillage.ca
Masha Scheele, HCN Staff
media@highcountrynews.ca
