As empty nesters move back to the urban core, bid farewell to their children and begin the process of downsizing their living space, they are also saying goodbye to outdated building and unit amenities that no longer resonate.
A key priority for this group is sizable square footage. Empty nesters want to celebrate the fruits of their labor and expect to be able to entertain whenever they want. In response, developers are offering “The New Great Room,” one large, open area subtly divided by furniture or other design elements to increase the flow and openness of the space and accommodate entertaining. Gone are the compartmentalized rooms that divided up their suburban homes. Juliet balconies are also disappearing from floor plans as nesters want their private outdoor space directly off of their living rooms.
Also on their way out are formal, traditional dining rooms. In keeping with the open space concept, developers are situating dining areas adjacent to, or as an extension of, the kitchen. Contemporary kitchens are popular, with clean lines. Fully panelized kitchens hide appliances to make it look less like a kitchen and more like a welcoming design furniture element integrated into the open floor plan. The kitchen island has become even more versatile than in years past, with customized cabinetry on one side and a pull-out table and chairs on the other. Closed, it resembles an island – open, a dining area.
There is also a big change in color for kitchens and baths. For the past eight years, many of the city’s luxury units offered dark packages: dark floors, dark cabinets, dark trim and dark everything! Today’s empty nesters are gravitating towards lighter finish packages to align with the open, airy feel of the unit.
The Home Of The Future
While some may argue that this generation isn’t as technologically savvy as their children and grandchildren, it doesn’t mean that they aren’t demanding it. “Smart condos” are very popular with Boomers, and Nest and Control4 systems that turn down the AC, turn on the lights and music at the touch of a button or from a mobile app is a highly desired feature.
It may seem logical that a downsizing household wouldn’t require as much storage, but developers know that storage is still a precious commodity. Downsizers want the ability to store the items they couldn’t part with but don’t have room for, along with toys, cribs and other accessories for when their grandchildren come to visit.
When it comes to amenities, nesters want developers to acknowledge their new and relaxed lifestyle and expect to be offered extras that reflect what’s most important to their daily life. Some of the most desirable amenities include: mobile pet spas or indoor doggy playgrounds where Fido can be both walked and groomed; sports simulators that improve strength and their golf swing; laundry pick-up and delivery and grocery delivery. Even more desirable is pairing these amenities with high-end services. Personal shoppers coming in once a month, wine tastings within the building and other concierge-type services make living seem more like a luxury hotel.
Common areas and outside space is also important to Boomers, with gracious roof decks and terraces that offer fire pits and provide the ability to interact with other residents or sit quietly in their own space.
Move over, valet parking – this generation wants in-building parking and expects to have the option to self-park their cars in the building, then take an elevator directly to their unit. While some nesters will most certainly use valet services, they still want the option to self-park if they choose.
Most luxury high-rises currently in the planning phases are mixed-use buildings. These buildings enable developers to offer far more than standard amenity packages, particularly if there is a rental or hotel component housed within the condominiums. Developers can lure well-branded gyms into the building and afford to include larger pools and spas. High-end hotels usually offer catering from celebrity-chefs who own the signature restaurant, banquet space for private parties and other luxurious amenities not normally found in single-use buildings. It also offsets the cost for the empty-nester condo buyer, as they have access to enviable amenities but don’t have to front the cost by themselves.
For the past 18 months, Baby Boomers have been dominating Boston’s luxury condominium market and expect to continue to drive the luxury condominium market in 2015. Smart developers are not only listening, they are tailoring their developments to accommodate these discriminating Boomer buyers.
