INTRODUCTION
With a growing population of elders within the Washington Park Neighborhood, the need for senior residential housing and programming has increased. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, residents 65 years and over encompass 1.6 percent of the neighborhood’s current population[1]. However, residents between the ages of 45 to 65 years constitute for about 21 percent of the neighborhood’s population[2]. Three of the six census tracts have an age demographic of 45 years to 65 years that constitute for a quarter or more of the tracts’ total population[3]. Therefore, there is a projected increase in the number of senior citizens (65+) that will be residents of the Washington Park Neighborhood throughout the next three decades.
The projected increase within the population of those 65 years and over is consistent with the projections for the nation as a whole. As a result of the “Baby Boomer” generation, those born between 1946 and 1964, the population of those 65 years and over will double over the next thirty years[4]. The population of senior citizens has grown since 1950, but as Baby Boomers reach 65 years (commenced in 2011), this population is expected to grow exponentially[5]. Life expectancy has also increased drastically and many senior citizens born between 1946 and 1964 are expected to live longer compared to previous generations. The projected life expectancy for current senior citizens is seventy-eight years[6].
Between 2009 and 2014, the number of households with grandparents living with grandchildren has remained fairly consistent within the Washington Park Neighborhood. In 2009, 409 households out of 3,640 households (about 11 percent) were documented as having grandparents living with grandchildren[7]. In 2014, 384 households out of 3,746 households (about 10 percent) were documented as having grandparents living with grandchildren[8]. These percentages are significantly higher than the percentage of grandparents and grandchildren living together within the City of Milwaukee as a whole. In 2009, 4.2 percent of households within the City of Milwaukee were documented as having grandparents and grandchildren living together[9]. In 2014, 4.3 percent of households within the City of Milwaukee were documented as having grandparents and grandchildren living together[10].
As a nation, today’s senior citizens are more inclined to live alone due to smaller family sizes and decreased availability of family members. “In 2008, 41 percent of the population aged eighty-five and older lived alone, compared with 34 percent of those aged seventy-five to eighty-four and 22 percent of those aged sixty-five to seventy-four.”[11] Previous generations have exhibited larger family sizes compared to the current Baby Boomer generation. Parents of Baby Boomers generally had three to four children, which aided in delegating caregiving duties and costs later in life[12]. The current generation of those 65 years and over exhibit smaller family sizes, which decreases the availability of offspring to perform caregiving duties or provide funding for caregiving services[13]. Many senior citizens have chosen to live independently in the 21st century due to experiencing better health and an increased financial standing compared to previous generations.[14] However, because of the 2007-2009 economic recession, increased levels of poverty and the high expenses that are associated with home ownership, many senior citizens and their families reside within multigenerational homes.[15] These are common demographic traits characteristic of the Washington Park Neighborhood.
The Washington Park Neighborhood is located on Milwaukee’s west side. Beginning in the 1980s, the neighborhood has faced significant challenges related to safety, crime, lack of economic development and increasing housing and commercial vacancies. Vacancies within the neighborhood have been detrimental to the area’s value, deter neighborhood identity and pride, and create conflict related to crime and visual aesthetic. However, many of the vacancies within the neighborhood are in adequate condition and considered good candidates for adaptive reuse projects. The 37th Street School, located on N 37th Street, and the Willowglen Academy (formerly referred to as The Lady Pitts Center), located on the corner of W Lisbon Avenue and N 39th Street, are two sites within the neighborhood available for large-scale adaptive re-use projects. As stated above, within the next three decades, the elderly population (those 65 years and over) is expected to increase drastically and rapidly. Because of these changes, I am proposing a multi-scalar design approach to accommodate the transitioning neighborhood. The design approach will include the following components:
1. The sites previously listed should be developed and rehabilitated to accommodate high-density elderly housing and service as an activity center for the residents and adjacent neighbors.
2. Vacant housing stock (or land parcels) in good condition and close proximity to the sites should be rehabilitated (or provide new construction) to accommodate multi-generational housing.
3. Changes or new additions should be made to existing neighborhood infrastructure (streets, pedestrian paths, public spaces, corner stores) to achieve the six characteristics of a “lifelong” or “walkable” neighborhood. These six characteristics are described in the following paragraphs.
The 37th Street School and the Willowglen Academy are both ideal sites to accommodate elderly housing. According to the book, Independent for Life: Homes and Neighborhoods for an Aging America, there are six components that define a “lifelong” or “walkable” neighborhood.[16] These components include; “connectivity, pedestrian access and transit, diverse dwelling types, neighborhood retail and services, public spaces that foster social interaction and accommodation of existing residents.”[17] Both sites within the Washington Park Neighborhood and the surrounding context either exhibit these characteristics or have the potential to accommodate these characteristics.
Connectivity & Neighborhood Retail and Services:
Connectivity is defined as a “well-connected [street] network [that] forms a grid with frequent intersections that provide multiple route choices.”[18] Unlike newly designed suburban areas, the Washington Park Neighborhood obtains existing infrastructure to accommodate pedestrian travel. Developed as a suburb of Milwaukee in the early 20th Century, the streets follow a common rectangular grid-like pattern. All blocks within the neighborhood provide sidewalks accommodating pedestrian travel and the ability to easily move between adjacent neighborhoods. The suggested sites are each located within a .25 mile distance of neighborhood assets including, Washington Park, health and dental care services, civic services and organizations, and religious institutions. Although the infrastructure is available, other characteristics of the neighborhood have limited pedestrian walkability. An aspect of a neighborhood that exhibits successful connectivity is one that “modulates vehicle speeds, supports a vibrant pedestrian realm, supports neighborhood and retail opportunities and creates a safe environment for people of all ages.”[19] Issues related to traffic speeding, a lack of signage promoting pedestrian travel, traffic calming elements, perceived and real issues related to crime and safety and a lack of retail and commercial development on W. Lisbon Avenue are all characteristics that deter pedestrian travel within the neighborhood. However, through future planning and development, these issues could be remedied, thereby permitting greater walkability.
Connectivity is an important component in establishing a livable neighborhood, especially for elderly adults[20]. Providing a well-connected neighborhood aids in preventing isolation, of which older adults are frequently susceptible to, increases mobility opportunities, and shows significant health benefits.[21] Walkability is incredibly important within the context of the Washington Park Neighborhood because most senior residents rely on either public transportation or walking as a means of travel. To promote walkability within the neighborhood, it will be vital to create an environment that is not only safe, but also accessible to services so “daily needs can be met without a car.”[22]
Pedestrian Access and Transit:
Pedestrian access and transit is defined as a “transit system that should mesh with walking routes and help people with their daily transportation routines.”[23] The suggested sites are each located within a .25 mile distance of a major transit route. West Lisbon Avenue, North 35th Street, West Vliet Street and North 40th Street provide transit routes; each within walking distance of the suggested sites.
Diverse Dwelling Types:
A neighborhood that promotes diverse dwellings provides varying types of housing stock within a singular area so aging residents are not obligated to move long distances when downsizing[24]. This particular neighborhood trait helps residents to maintain social and community connections and successfully age in place[25]. Currently, housing choices for elderly residents within the Washington Park Neighborhood are limited, but these options may be increased by the development of high density elderly housing units and adapting existing stock to accommodate multi-generational housing.
Public Spaces That Foster Social Interaction:
Public spaces that foster social interaction are defined as spaces “programmed by structuring intentional uses within it, giving residents reasons to spend more time in public.”[26] Public spaces should also integrate the concept of “eyes on the street”; meaning there should be a visual connection between the public space and surrounding buildings to promote a greater sense of safety and aid in deterring crime. Public spaces may include activities such as shuffleboard, chess, golf and gardening.[27] Successful public spaces should accommodate and strive to provide programming and activities for a broad range of age groups; “The goal is to provide opportunities for gathering, but gathering variously: to collect, but individuate.”[28] Washington Park is a good example of a public space that fosters social interaction and it is located within a .25 mile distance of the suggested sites. However, there are other smaller sites available to develop public spaces that could promote social engagement within the neighborhood.
Accommodation of Existing Residents:
When proposing changes at a neighborhood scale, it is important to consider the existing residents. According to the book, Independent for Life: Homes and Neighborhoods for an Aging America, there are two levels of change; “How to make an existing residential area more amenable for seniors with small changes and how to redevelop a residential area with major changes.”[29] In the case I am proposing, the changes that would be made to the neighborhood are considered “small changes.” Small changes allow the existing residents to remain within their neighborhood with no threat of relocation or displacement[30]. Examples of small changes include the following: improving sidewalks, adding vegetation and lighting, adding infrastructure benefitting pedestrian travel, establishing multi-generational housing, creating other forms of elderly housing and designing a corner store.[31]
Footnotes
[1] U.S. Census Bureau
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Hayutin, Independent for Life: Homes and Neighborhoods for an Aging America, 35.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Ibid., 36.
[7] U.S. Census Bureau
[8] Ibid.
[9] Ibid.
[10] Ibid.
[11] Hayutin, Independent for Life: Homes and Neighborhoods for an Aging America, 40.
[12] Ibid., 41.
[13] Ibid.
[14] Ibid., 42.
[15] Ibid.
[16] Plater-Zyberk, Ball, Independent for Life: Homes and Neighborhoods for an Aging America, 198.
[17] Ibid.
[18] Ibid., 200.
[19] Ibid.
[20] Ibid.
[21] Ibid.
[22] Ibid.
[23] Ibid., 202.
[24] Ibid., 203.
[25] Ibid.
[26] Ibid., 206.
[27] Ibid.
[28] Ibid., 207.
[29] Ibid., 208.
[30] Ibid.
[31] Ibid.