‘Like-minded’ retirement

HILLSDALE, Mich.

When Charles and Ann Cooper of Dayton, Ohio, decided where they ultimately would retire, they chose not the sunny beaches of Florida or the desert warmth of Arizona, but the bucolic town of Hillsdale.

They picked Hillsdale for relaxation and for the opportunity to live in a senior community sponsored by Michigan’s conservative Hillsdale College that would value their intelligence and provide mental activity during their retirement years.

With the construction of Independence Grove, a 180-acre senior community nestled among rolling hills and forested farm acreage about a half-mile from campus, Hillsdale College is creating a distinct model that can be described as “like-minded” retirement, or as the school’s promotional material describes: “to extend the college’s mission of educating for liberty.”

The development, set to break ground in the spring, will allow retirees to live near those who share their personal philosophy and political views, and also affiliate academically at Hillsdale, where they can continue intellectual pursuits.

Shuffleboard and bingo, it’s not.

Free-market economics, unabashed patriotism and well-argued dissent are welcomed here, from the wide-eyed freshmen looking to make their marks on campus as well as from the seasoned retirees living next door. They have views to be debated and lessons to be shared, something future residents like the Coopers say they welcome.

“We’ve been to Florida, to Arizona and have lived in Utah, but the weather is overcome by the opportunity at Hillsdale” Mr. Cooper said. “We tend to be pretty conservative in our outlook, and the religious atmosphere there is important to us.”

Hillsdale College officials stress that Independence Grove isn’t meant to serve as a moneymaker for the college, which distinguished itself nationally by refusing to accept federal dollars. Last week, it also declined state funding — a bold statement at a time when lawmakers struggle to overcome a budget crisis.

About 25 other colleges and universities across the country have nearby retirement communities affiliated with their respective schools, but the model at Hillsdale is different. There, residents will be active participants at the college, with the opportunity to attend lectures, arts and sporting events and to audit college classes, all alongside the 1,300-member study body.

Residents will have their own on-site dean of students, who will direct them to courses that are tailored to their interests.

“Independence Grove is intended by the trustees and the administration to be an integral part of Hillsdale College,” not something separate, said Chris Bachelder, Hillsdale’s associate vice president of marketing. “It’s part of the educational community here and the mission of our college. We think that will differentiate us from other projects.”

Initial interest in the development is high.

“Depositors,” who applied to occupy a space in the community before construction, come from California, Florida, Arizona, New York and Hawaii, said Maribeth Watkins, Independence Grove’s director of marketing. “Some of these people have never even been here before, but they are interested because they share the values of Hillsdale College.

“I think what attracts them is that people here are more comfortable talking — they have more in common — so that instinctively brings about a feeling of community for them here. … They are all people who have really contributed, professionals on every level, and they want to continue to learn and grow.”

The project will be constructed in phases, and the first homes are scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2009. Plans call for 45 developed acres with 164 two- and three-bedroom cottages and one- and two-bedroom apartments.

Independence Grove residents pay entrance fees from about $200,000 for a one-bedroom apartment to more than $500,000 for a three-bedroom cottage, but 90 percent of that fee is refunded to them or their estate if they leave the community or die.

Monthly service and housing fees will vary, depending on what residents choose. The community will include an activity center with recreation and exercise classes, a library and three restaurants. Residents also may use all facilities at Hillsdale College, including a computer network, tennis courts, indoor track, arboretum and children’s garden.

The close-knit, small-town atmosphere of Hillsdale, located about 65 miles from the capital of Lansing, also makes it attractive to seniors who are looking for a low crime rate and little traffic.

Some, however, say the biggest draw is the proximity to youth, curiosity and intellect.

Mrs. Cooper said she and her husband, who are active cyclists and hikers, will be 75 when they can move to Independence Grove. They plan to stay engaged in shaping the debate and the next generation — to keep moving in both body and mind.

“In our world today, there’s a lot of trouble, turmoil. And the health of our nation has to start in the community,” she said. “When we are with people with whom we can communicate, people who share our values, then we can start fostering that peace with young people and those around us.”