Visions for Tomorrow: Designing Intentional Communities for Rural Southwest Virginia

Housing in rural southwest Virginia is aging just like its population. Approximately 70% of homes in the region are more than 30 years old, energy inefficient, and in need of repair. Like many older persons, area residents want to age in place and are looking for ways to achieve that goal. In conjunction with a local livability initiative, local architects, building contractors, aging service providers, community planners, housing professionals, academics, and community members participated in a half day workshop to discuss the meaning of aging in place and to design new intentional communities with new housing options for the regions’ rural, suburban, and urban areas. The three intentional community designs highlighted in this presentation feature new single and multi-family homes built within the scope of current community infrastructure and resources and with accessibility features inside and outside the homes.