ANCHORAGE, ALASKA - When the Cook Inlet Housing Authority celebrated the grand opening of its brand-new Eklutna Estates apartment complex for the elderly in the Muldoon neighborhood of east Anchorage, the place was already overbooked.
The $24 million project, built with funds from the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, HUD and the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act, has 59 units. But "in the last three weeks we have accepted 153 applications for 59 units," said Carol Gore, executive director of the Authority at the grand opening. "We don't advertise because it's really tough to say no, and we have to say no a lot more than I'd like,"
"It demonstrates to us the willingness of our seniors to fill out applications, lease apartments sight unseen," she added. "They have confidence in Cook Inlet Housing. But more important, it demonstrates the critical need for" elderly housing.
Indeed it does. The Alaska Commission on Aging's Senior Snapshot, said KSKA Radio, reported that last year Alaska had the second fastest rate of growth among seniors in the country. Between 2001 and 2008, in fact, Anchorage's elderly population grew 40 percent.
Demand for affordable housing isn't the only factor driving seniors to apply at Eklutna Estates. It's also the quality of the housing. Everything "is lower: from the peephole on the front door, to the thermostat, to the kitchen counters," said KTUU-TV. "Developers are clearly targeting a specific group of renters, because touches like these are very much in demand."
It's also "greener than green," with energy-efficient appliances, in-floor radiant heating, glazed windows and a roof-top garden that, added KSKA, allowed it to exceed the State's five-star Building Energy Efficiency Standard Green standard. And it'll be the Authority's very first smoke-free complex. It is, said Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan, a "leading edge" building that demonstrates the best in "environmental constructional and awareness."
And, who knows, one day the Mayor may be one of its tenants. "You know at my age, I'm 59 and you don't really think about things like senior housing until you start getting those AARP things in the mail," he said. "And all of a sudden you start thinking about, "Hmm, which room could be mine?'"
"This is a perfect example of cutting-edge, market-responsive affordable housing for seniors," said HUD Assistant Secretary for Public & Indian Housing Sandra Henriquez said at the grand opening of Eklutna Estates apartment complex for the elderly.
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To hear Len Anderson's report from Eklutna Estates on KSKA FM, please
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