Chicagoland Description/Overview
Chicago is home to over a dozen active retirement communities. While the idea of building a retirement community around Chicago originally sounded like a strange idea, some developers recognized the need for active retirement communities in Chicago and set out to popularize the concept that had taken hold in the South. Realizing that there was a large population of people 55+ who wanted the lifestyle and amenities of an active retirement community without having to pick up and move to a southern state, Carillon in Plainfield opened in the late 1980s. About ten years later, Del Webb -- a name synonymous for retirement communities in the South -- began construction of Sun City Huntley in the northwest suburbs.
The idea took a few years to gain in popularity but before long more and more active adults gave the idea a try and soon the sales at active retirement communities in Chicago increased. As residents of the new active adult communities recruited old friends and neighbors, home sales in places like Carillon and Sun City Huntley reached record levels. After their success, numerous other active adult communities in Chicago soon opened. As developers recognized the need for lifestyle communities that were closer to places of work and near family members, smaller active adult communities opened in areas closer to popular suburbs. Though many of Chicago's newest active adult communities are not the large golf course style resorts like Sun City Huntley and Carillon, they do still offer an abundance of amenities and with an emphasis on active living. Most of the active adult communities in Chicago range from 500-1,200 homes and offer a variety of clubs, interest groups, classes, events and social opportunities to appeal to almost anyone over the age of 55.
