“An ongoing concern of mine has been how the city can be more inclusive of its senior citizens: what is needed to make them feel safe and vested in our community, as well as what programs, policies, and infrastructure might most improve their quality of life,” Casavant wrote. “AARP has long been a leader in the concerns of our seniors, so I look forward to working with them.”
AARP, a nonprofit interest organization, works to better people’s quality of life as they age. The Age-Friendly Community program focuses on boosting initiatives around housing, caregiving, community engagement and social inclusion, according to the organization’s website.
The network of Age-Friendly Communities encourages municipalities to adopt features to enhance the livelihoods of all people, including safe and walkable streets, better housing and transportation options, and providing access to key services and community activities.
Casavant credited Linda Waters, Biddeford’s community development coordinator, with putting the application together. He also said the city’s upgrades to its downtown sidewalks, which also include the installation of new lighting fixtures, is an example of the type of infrastructure needed to make the city more age-friendly.
“A few months ago, I attended a State AARP conference in Hallowell, and sidewalks and lighting were mentioned as being important elements in a city’s attention to senior needs,” he wrote.
On Monday, Waters stressed that the sidewalks, and crosswalks that will be completed in the spring, greatly contribute to a safer and richer downtown environment for the city’s seniors.
“The sidewalks are much more walkable and safe. Before, the bricks were sinking and were difficult to navigate. Now, you have sidewalks that are easy to navigate. Whether or not you have a certain impairment, you can walk down the sidewalk.”
In addition to being age-friendly, Waters said, everything completed as part of the sidewalk improvement project must be compliant with guidelines established by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Another part of being an Age-Friendly Community, Waters said, is outreach. She said the city has established a committee to oversee and implement the program, and will work on reaching out to seniors to provide them access to resources they otherwise wouldn’t be able to utilize.
Waters said Monday AARP’s designation will hopefully draw people to retire in Biddeford as well, given that the need for increased affordable housing is on the rise.
Just last month, The Convent at Mission Hill — a 15-unit complex of affordable senior housing in the former St. Andre’s Convent building on Bacon Street — was awarded a 2016 Maine Preservation Honor Award following its restoration.
In August, the Planning Board re-approved a project that would allow for 71 senior housing units in Building 11 of the Pepperell Mill complex. The board again granted the developer, Laconia House LLC, a housing division of the Pepperell Mill Campus, site plan and shoreland zoning permits following their expiration this year.
Scott Joslin, director of development for the mill complex, could not be reached for an interview Monday, but said in August that there is a need for destination senior housing in Biddeford and the mill can serve that purpose.
“I don’t think there’s any large-scale senior housing. I believe we have enough affordable housing in the mill and the demographic of the seniors is going in the direction of the baby boomers,” Joslin said at the time.
Waters said she is happy to see AARP approve Biddeford as an Age-Friendly Community, and said the timing couldn’t be better.
In addition to new sidewalks, Waters said an affirmative assessment of fair housing will be completed soon — a requirement for communities receiving funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development — which will help the city analyze its housing needs.
“I’m really really happy to see (the sidewalks) and happy to see this designation following it,” Waters said. “I’m really excited that they’ll all come together at the same time and benefit the people of Biddeford.”
— Staff Writer Alan Bennett can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 329 or abennett@journaltribune.com.
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