Depending upon your point of view, it is either ironic or fitting that in a county with more people over the age of 60 than under 18, a new independent retirement home is arising where children once played.

Work at the former Mini Pines family entertainment center off U.S. 1 near Pennsylvania Avenue — which featured miniature golf and a go-kart track and batting cages — began last February to construct Southern Pines Retirement Residence, a three-story, 115,000-square-foot project that is expected to be completed next February.

“We’re excited to be a part of the community because it’s so wonderful,” says Carol Baier, who handles marketing for Hawthorn Retirement Group, the Vancouver, Wash.-based project developer.

Hawthorn owns and operates retirement communities throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. In North Carolina, the group has Oak Park Retirement in Salisbury and Carolina Estates in Greensboro.

“A lot of potential residents have been visiting those locations to get a feel for what we offer,” Baier says.

Even though monthly rental prices — based on square footage — will not be released until Hawthorn’s pre-sales marketing team arrives on site in the fall, Baier says about seven $100 deposits have been put down by potential new residents.

“Depositors have first choice of apartments, and their deposit is returned when they move in,” Baier says. “We’re also unique in that we rent month to month and only require a security deposit equal to one month’s rent.”

Terri Prots, director of the Moore County Department of Aging, says those two factors already set the new project apart from its existing competitors.

“I can’t think of anybody else doing exactly what they’re doing,” Prots says. “If they’ve done their demographic research, they know what Moore County currently has to offer, and they’re filling a niche. They will probably be successful.”

The 2000 U.S. Census showed that about 25 percent of Moore County residents were over the age of 60. That percentage was estimated at 29 percent this year, and it is projected to grow to 32 percent by 2020.

Baier says that Hawthorn thoroughly researches every market that it enters because building a new independent living retirement center is a multi-million-dollar proposition.

“There are a lot of factors that go into our decision, but certainly livability and need in the community are important,” she says. “Southern Pines is such a charming location and the views from the property are extraordinary.”

Scrutinizing Options

Industry experts say development slowed nationwide after the stock market crash in October 2008 because of the difficulty in accessing startup capital, but has started to pick up again as the economy slowly emerges from the recession.

“Demand dropped about 18 months ago, and the sales cycle lengthened,” says Sharon Brooks, founder of SB&A Integrated Marketing, a Richmond, Va.-based firm that specializes in senior living communities. “A recent study found that it takes 61 percent more contacts today than three years ago to move from inquiry to sale.”

Brooks notes that potential residents are scrutinizing all of their options and what such a move means for their future.

“A lot of prospects are feeling uncertain about the economy,” she says. “And when it comes to selling their homes, a lot of people have lost so much money on paper that they don’t want to list them.”

As a result, the industry has enlisted real estate agents, appraisers, stagers and home repair specialists, among others, to help wary homeowners feel confident that they can transition to a retirement community and feel financially secure.

“You have to bring together every resource that a senior needs to make that home sale possible,” Brooks says.

Although the Moore County real estate market continues to have a large inventory of homes for sale above the $300,000 price point, Baier expects most of the new residents at Southern Pines Retirement Residence to come from the local community.

‘Fun Places to Live’

The center will consist of a main building and three smaller ones. The main building will have 107,000 square feet and will house a dining facility, a movie theater, exercise facility and 118 living units, which will be studio, one-bedroom or two-bedroom apartments.

There will also be three duplex cottages, with two bedrooms, two baths and a full kitchen.

“What makes our apartments unique is that we have 31 different floor plans, which really accommodates a lot of price points and needs,” she says. “And almost every apartment has either a deck or patio, so people have their outdoor private space as well.”

The building will feature on-site managers, co-managers and the marketing team. Residents will receive three meals a day, and all utilities, except for phone, will also be included in the rent.

“We find that people who move into our communities are healthier, live longer and are happier,” Baier says. “We’re very proud of the fact that 87 percent of the folks who come to live with us never go on to assisted living or a nursing home.”

In addition to the exercise and dining facilities, residents will be able to engage in intellectual and cultural activities, recreational offerings, community service and a travel program.

“We really feel that the services we offer folks when they come to us are unique,” Baier says. “People come and make new friends and learn new hobbies.

“The No. 1 thing I hear all the time when I visit our other communities is, ‘I wish I would have done this years ago.’ We just have fun places to live.”

‘Strong Interest’

Baier adds that the center will generate 60 new full- and part-time jobs, and most of the construction work is being done by local subcontractors. The general contractor is Colson & Colson of Salem, Ore., which has focused almost exclusively on the development of retirement residences since 1979.

“We try to give back to the communities that we’re involved with,” Baier says. “It will be easy to become a part of Southern Pines because the people are so gracious.”

She expects the center to reach 90 percent occupancy within six months of opening next year.

“We’ve had such strong interest,” she says. “The prices haven’t been established yet, but people will be pleasantly surprised. We’re very affordable. We’re not the least expensive or the most expensive, but we believe we offer the best value in the industry.”

Because Hawthorn is a family-owned business with a long track record of success in the industry, it has been able to build steadily through the economic downturn.

“We contain costs because we build, own and manage our communities, so we’re able to pass those savings on to residents,” Baier says. “We’re very proud of our roots.”