Campus Living for Seniors: How Soon Can I Sign Up?

– By Paul Hicks –

For many who attend events at the Performing Arts Center or art exhibits at the Neuberger Museum the occasions are made even more enjoyable by the close proximity of the Purchase College campus to their homes. Access to the cultural and academic resources of Purchase College may soon become even more convenient for some area residents.

Under a plan promoted by Thomas Schwarz, president of the college, a proposed law would authorize the lease of part of this State University of New York campus to develop and operate a senior learning community. The necessary legislation passed both the Assembly and Senate last year but was vetoed by Governor Patterson. Nonetheless, Mr. Schwarz believes that similar legislation introduced this year in both houses of the legislature has a good chance of being enacted.

It addition to providing much-needed retirement housing in this area, the plan contemplates that many of the residents would participate in college life as continuing education students, docents at the Neuberger Museum of Art and members of the Performing Arts Center. Along with a separate proposal for adding faculty housing, the involvement of senior residents would help to make the campus more of an intergenerational community.

The plan calls for the Purchase CollegeAdvancement Corporation, a not-for-profit entity, to select and contract with an operator of retirement communities, which will build and operate up to 385 housing units on approximately 40 acres. As provided in the proposed legislation, not less than 20 percent of the units in the senior learning community must be "affordable" housing, as defined in the statute.

It is estimated that the new facilities, which will be financed wholly through private resources, could generate $2 million or more in annual income for Purchase College. The legislation requires that 75 percent of the proceeds from a long-term lease be used to provide scholarships for economically and educationally disadvantaged students, with the balance supporting full-time faculty positions.

Legislative approval would allow Purchase College to join a growing number of colleges and universities around the country that have senior housing communities located on or near their campuses. These include Cornell and Dartmouth in the Ivy League, as well as state institutions like the University of California at Davis, the University of Georgia and the University of Michigan.

A Massachusetts consulting firm, Campus Continuum, is helping to develop a network of retirement communities affiliated with colleges and universities. Gerard Badler, a managing director of the firm, believes that they will appeal to many seniors who are not interested in beach and golf course lifestyles. Instead, Badler says, they are “looking for stimulating intellectual, social and volunteer opportunities.”

One possible model for Purchase College to consider is the continuing care retirement community (CCRC) developed at Cornell in Ithaca, New York by Kendal Corp., a nonprofit, Quaker-affiliated company. In addition, Kendal operates retirement communities linked to Dartmouth, Oberlin and Dennison colleges. In this area, the company opened Kendal on Hudson in Sleepy Hollow four years ago as a separate CCRC overlooking the Hudson River.

Another option for the college might be to capitalize on the local expertise of The Osborn in Rye, which has developed one of Westchester's premier senior living communities. However, until the legislation is passed and signed into law, it is too early to speculate about the details of the senior housing development or the choice of developer and operator.

The current economic environment has slowed some of the plans for campus-affiliated communities in other parts of the country. Lower house prices mean seniors are waiting longer to sell their homes before they are able to move, and less retirement savings makes moving to senior housing communities unaffordable for some people.

Good and affordable senior housing, however, is in short supply in New York, so the Purchase College project might not be adversely affected by the recession. Also, many people in the fast-growing Baby Boomer population are likely to be prime candidates for senior living communities linked to colleges and universities.

If the legislature and governor endorse this worthwhile idea, some fortunate members of the Purchase College senior living community will be able to enjoy performances by the likes of Pinchas Zuckerman, the Mark Morris Dance Group and Patti LuPone in their own backyard. A walk to the library followed by an opening at the Neuberger or a swim in the college pool should nicely fill up the day. How soon can I sign up?