PLACEnews April 2010 Issue 6
Lightsview - a place for people at all stages of life
When we think of ‘place’, we think of people, which is why the South Australian Land Management Corporation sees its role as ‘Delivering places for people’.
People, however, never fit into neat category boxes quite as easily as demographers may like, which is why LMC looks outside the square when thinking strategically about residential developments.
Lightsview, a 45-hectare development only 8km north of Adelaide CBD and comprising about 800 dwellings, is a joint venture between LMC and CIC Australia – and is a case where thinking about people enabled the partners to think about the stages of life as well.
“While many suburbs have a single type of housing, Lightsview has housing types for all ages – effectively from birth to senior citizens,” LMC Chief Executive Wayne Gibbings said.
“The project has been planned so that, hypothetically, someone who is born in Lightsview could move from their family home to a one-bedroom studio or apartment, to an affordable two-bedroom single-storey terrace house, to a wide selection of family homes, then downsize to a smaller ‘empty nester’ home, then move into the retirement village and finally into the aged care facility.
“This mix of accommodation enables older people to stay in the area when they retire or move to the area if their families – and grandchildren – are there. Integrating the retirement village and nursing home with the rest of the development makes it easier for families to keep in touch across the generations,” Mr Gibbings said.
CIC Australia Regional General Manager Geoff Smith believes the combination of dwelling styles and seniors’ living provides diversity in accommodation options that will suit different people and different ages.
“Lightsview is a major development where seniors’ living needs were considered from the outset. The project has been planned so that the retirement village and aged care home are within a walkable distance of family homes and other smaller homes,” Mr Smith said.
Lightsview is based on new urbanism principles, which include pedestrian-friendly roads and open layout, limits on walking distances to open space and public transport, and a planned hierarchy of open space.
The seniors’ living sites include the 4.2 hectare retirement village being developed in a joint venture by Masonic Homes and ACH, and the 1.1 hectare site for a residential aged care facility to be developed by the Helping Hand organisation.
They are surrounded by the residential development and located near the shopping centre, medical facilities, open space and public transport.
The retirement village will have 150 dwellings comprising 85 single-storey villa-style homes and 65 apartments in three-storey buildings. It includes a community centre that will primarily service the senior residents but will also be accessible to other members of the Lightsview community.
The aged care facility will provide 110 places and incorporate services such as high and low care, a secure dementia unit, rehabilitation, respite and transition care (between hospital and home).
In the main development, affordable housing is also being made available and further housing will be available for purchase by housing agencies for public rental purposes.
For more information
• Visit www.lmc.sa.gov.au
• Phone LMC on 1300 791 375
