Generations at Agritopia® has received its building permit from the Town of Gilbert. The innovative project featuring independent living, assisted living, and memory care is a key component of  an Agritopia founding principle: being a multi-generational community. Generations will be jointly developed by IPA (Investment Properties Associates) and RCS (Retirement Community Specialists). RCS will also manage and operate Generations. Groundbreaking is expected to begin in early January and construction will take 13 months. Prior to completion, a visitors center will be constructed so that prospective residents can reserve a spot.

Generations at Agritopia®, a planned unique senior living development within our community has taken a major step forward. On June 30, IPA Generations LLC bought the approximately 5 acres of land along Agritopia Loop (next to the Community Center) from Johnston Farms LLC. This makes way for the project to begin construction later this year.

Senior living has been a part of the Agritopia master plan since 1999 and is an important component in making our community one for all ages and stages of life. Just as Agritopia is not an ordinary community, neither is Generations. It is designed by the same architect that designed the homes in Agritopia and is designed to integrate into the community. Many senior living facilities are located on random parcels of land that have no connection with a community and the residents feel isolated and segregated. Generations is connected with existing pathways and faces onto the soccer field. It is our hope that the residents of Generations consider themselves a part of the Agritopia community as a whole.

Generations is 85,000 square feet and will have approximately 100 residential units. These include: independent living, assisted living, frail care, and memory care. We expect that as construction begins, there will be an on-site office where one may enquire about openings for senior family members.

The Agritopia Homeowners Association allocates a significant portion of dues to social events for the purpose of fostering community. On May 19, the first annual “Shaken, Not Stirred” event will be held at the Agritopia tennis courts from 7p to 10p. It is a Casino Night with BYOB Cocktails. Food will be provided by local restaurant, Flancer’s. While most of our events are for kids and families, this is an adult event (21 and over only, please) and has limited capacity, so please contact Gina Sharpe via the instructions stated in the flyer left on your door. For those of residents who have attended our annual “Stems and Steins”, you know what an entertaining evening it will be.

In the latest  (May 2012) issue of Phoenix Magazine, Agritopia was highlighted. The magazine has been featuring “Neighborhoods We Love” and under the “Small-Town Feel” section, Agritopia and Gilbert’s Heritage District were first on the list. Those of us who live here know that our community does have a village feel, which is one of its most endearing qualities. Click here for the entire article.

On April 5th, the Town Council of Gilbert unanimously approved the rezoning of Epicenter to General Commercial with a number of variances and special features. This clears the way for future development in a flexible manner consistent with the vision for Agritopia. Attached to the ordinance was a restatement of the existing unique signage plan and vernacular architecture themes adopted in 2000 in the original zoning case for the Agritopia community.