Sustainable, Affordable Housing for Older Adults

386 Pages·2017·1.44 MB·English

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Dissertations and Theses Dissertations and Theses
Winter 3-8-2013
Sustainable, Affordable Housing for Older Adults: A Case Study of
Factors that Affect Development in Portland, Oregon
Alan Kenneth DeLaTorre
Portland State University
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DeLaTorre, Alan Kenneth, "Sustainable, Affordable Housing for Older Adults: A Case Study of Factors that Affect Development in
Portland, Oregon" (2013).Dissertations and Theses.Paper 714.
10.15760/etd.714
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Sustainable, Affordable Housing for Older Adults:
A Case Study of Factors that Affect Development in Portland, Oregon

by

Alan Kenneth DeLaTorre

A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the degree of

Doctor of Philosophy
in
Urban Studies

Dissertation Committee:
Margaret B. Neal, Chair
Nancy J. Chapman
Paula C. Carder
Ellen M. Bassett
Marvin A. Kaiser

Portland State University
2013
© 2013 Alan Kenneth DeLaTorre
Abstract

Portland, Oregon, is considered to be a leader in sustainable development.
Government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and businesses have been innovators in
policymaking and practice that is aimed at creating a more sustainable city. Despite
population aging, little is known about how or whether planners and developers consider
older persons in terms of sustainable development. Thus, this study examined the case of
sustainable, affordable housing developed for low-income adults aged 55 and older.
Interviews with 31 key informants were conducted in order to answer three
research questions: What is the meaning of sustainable development in Portland, Oregon,
as it pertains to affordable housing for an aging society? How and why has sustainable,
affordable housing for older adults been developed in Portland? What are the policies that
affect the availability and appropriateness of sustainable, affordable housing for older
adults in Portland? The sample included individuals who influenced the creation of senior
housing (e.g., urban planners, architects, nonprofit directors) and who were identified
either because of their roles within local housing development or through snowball
sampling. Six Portland-area developments provided the context for studying how and
why sustainable, affordable housing for older adults was planned and created in the city.
The findings suggested that introducing the topic of aging into the discourse of
sustainable development will lead to a more robust meaning of the concept, which can
aid future research, policy, and practice. Five elements characterizing sustainable housing
for older adults were identified: physical accessibility; proximity to community services;
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infrastructure that connects housing with services; healthy living environments; and high-
quality social spaces in and near housing developments. The findings also pointed to the
need for sustainable development practices to pay attention to social equity and the
equitable distribution of affordable housing, including housing for older adults.
Several insights into how sustainable, affordable housing for older adults
developed in Portland were gained (e.g., using government subsidies; involving aging
experts in integrated design processes; intersectoral partnerships that led to the city
becoming an early adopter in greening its affordable housing), as well as why such
housing was completed (e.g., there was a collective public-sector response to meet the
need for creating sustainable, affordable housing; an emerging culture of sustainable
development in Portland; urban and regional planning efforts have begun to address
population aging).
However, the amount of sustainable, affordable housing remains insufficient to
meet Portland’s aging population. Reasons identified include: the absence of specific
housing policy attuned to the needs of older adults in Portland; disconnects between
housing and health care and supportive services; and lack of integration of older adults in
the planning, design, and development processes. Room for innovation and improvement
exists in regard to healthy, accessible, green, and affordable housing policies and the
development of new models of housing for an aging population. Based on this research,
10 guiding principles of sustainable development for an aging society were proposed to
inform future research, as well as planning and development efforts.
ii
Acknowledgments

The completion of my graduate studies and this dissertation were made possible
by the assistance of many people. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my
committee for their guidance and patience throughout the process. In particular, I would
like to thank Dr. Margaret B. Neal, my chairperson and advisor, who has provided me
with the instruction and support necessary to grow from a new graduate student into an
emerging researcher and professional. I would also like to thank Drs. Nancy Chapman,
Paula Carder, Ellen Bassett, Deborah Howe, and Marvin Kaiser who taught me a
tremendous amount about research, teaching, and practice in the fields of gerontology,
public health, and urban studies and planning. I also wish to thank the faculty and staff of
the Institute on Aging, the Schools of Urban Studies and Planning and Community
Health, and the College of Urban and Public Affairs, for their support and
encouragement. I appreciate the meetings, conversations, phone calls, e-mails, advice,
criticisms (both good and bad), and encouragements that have been offered.
To all of the key-informant participants who were involved with this study, I
would like to express my gratefulness for the time, suggestions, and expertise that you
shared. Portland is a better place due to your contributions and efforts. Also, to my
colleagues and collaborators involved with making sustainable, accessible, and age-
friendly cities and communities throughout the world; you deserve recognition for your
hard work and dedication.

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A very special thank you is due to my family and friends. First and foremost, I
would like to thank my wife, Tomoko Kanai DeLaTorre, for your love and support. Even
when it meant sacrificing days, nights, and weekends together, you have been my biggest
supporter. I would also like to give my sincere appreciation to my grandparents who have
been models of wisdom and experience throughout my life. My biggest regret is that my
grandmother, Maria Reyes, was not alive to see me complete this journey. And to my
sister, Michelle DeLaTorre, who is an inspiration and a fighter; you continue to amaze
me. I would like to express my gratitude to my parents, Deborah Tye and Hector
DeLaTorre. Without you I would not be here today and I want you to know that I love
and respect you both and admire what you have done for our family. I would also like to
say thank you to my friends and fellow students. Although communication and time spent
together has had its ebbs and flows, you have encouraged and supported me through the
good times and bad. Thank you all.
Finally, I would like to acknowledge the older adults in Portland, the United
States, and across the world. These men and women fulfill a critically important role in
society and should be considered a resource and looked to for opportunities for
improving our communities. Moving forward, let me not forget the importance of
considering the good for society and serving communities in an attempt to make them
better places for the generations to come.

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Table of Contents

Abstract ................................................................................................................................ i

Acknowledgments.............................................................................................................. iii

List of Tables ................................................................................................................... viii

List of Abbreviations ......................................................................................................... xi

Chapter 1
Introduction ..........................................................................................................................1
Statement of the Problem ................................................................................................1
Purpose of this Study ......................................................................................................4
Theoretical Framework ...................................................................................................6
Research Questions .........................................................................................................9
Method ............................................................................................................................9
Delimitations .................................................................................................................11
Organization of the Document ......................................................................................12

Chapter 2
Review of the Literature ....................................................................................................14
Our Aging Society: Demographic Trends in the U.S., Oregon, and Portland ..............15
Additional Trends within the Aging Population of the U.S. ........................................21
Preparing for an Aging Society.....................................................................................30
Housing for Older Adults ..............................................................................................47
Sustainability and Sustainable Development ................................................................62
Sustainability and Older Adults ....................................................................................67
The Policy and Program Landscape for the Planning and Development of
Sustainable, Affordable Housing for Older Adults in Portland ....................................71
Summary .....................................................................................................................104

Chapter 3
Methods............................................................................................................................106
Theoretical Framework ...............................................................................................107
Research Design: Conceptualization ..........................................................................110
Rationale for Using a Qualitative Case Study Approach ............................................113
Data Sources and Recruitment ....................................................................................115
Data Collection ...........................................................................................................118
Data Analysis: Development of Codes, Categories, and Themes ..............................119

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Chapter 4
An Overview of Sustainable, Affordable Housing for Older Adults in Portland ............124
Introduction .................................................................................................................124
The Commons .............................................................................................................128
Rosemont Court ..........................................................................................................129
Station Place Tower ....................................................................................................131
The Village at the Headwaters ....................................................................................133
Trenton Terrace ...........................................................................................................135
The Watershed ............................................................................................................137
Summary .....................................................................................................................150

Chapter 5
The Meaning of Sustainable, Affordable Housing for Older Adults ...............................153
Descriptions of Sustainable Development ..................................................................155
The Elements of Sustainable Housing and Environments for Older Adults ..............159
Further Expansion of the Meaning and Long-term Viability of Sustainable
Development ...............................................................................................................175

Chapter 6
How and Why Sustainable, Affordable Housing for Older Adults Was Planned for
and Developed .................................................................................................................182
The Roles and Contributions of Actors, Sectors, and Organizations in Projects .......184
Processes and Practices that Contribute to Projects ....................................................194
Why Sustainable, Affordable Housing for Older Adults has (and has not) Been
Created ........................................................................................................................201
The Social and Cultural Aspects of Sustainable, Affordable Housing for Older
Adults ..........................................................................................................................207
Why More Sustainable, Affordable Housing for Older Adults Has Not Been
Created ........................................................................................................................218

Chapter 7
Understanding Current and Future Policies and Programs Associated with
Sustainable, Affordable Housing for Older Adults..........................................................226
Overview .....................................................................................................................226
Overview of Data Analysis: Assessment of Policies and Programs that Affect
Sustainable, Affordable Housing for Older Adults.....................................................227
Federal Policies ...........................................................................................................228
Oregon Policies ...........................................................................................................239
Regional Policies ........................................................................................................246
Portland Policies .........................................................................................................252
Non-geography-based Polices and Programs to Consider for the Future for
Improving Sustainable, Affordable Housing for Older Adults ...................................278
Conclusion ..................................................................................................................288

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Chapter 8
Discussion ........................................................................................................................289
Contributions...............................................................................................................289
Limitations of the Research ........................................................................................290
Summary and Implications of Major Findings ...........................................................293
The Meaning of Sustainable, Affordable Housing for Older Adults ..........................293
How and Why Sustainable, Affordable Housing for Older Adults was Planned
and Developed ............................................................................................................300
Identified Policies that Have an Impact on Sustainable, Affordable Housing for
Older Adults ................................................................................................................309
Proposed Guiding Principles of Sustainable Development for an Aging Society ......313
Future Research ..........................................................................................................320
Conclusion ..................................................................................................................324

References ........................................................................................................................327

Appendices .......................................................................................................................356

A. Regional Sustainable Development Initiatives Timeline .......................................356

B. Human Subjects Research Review Committee Application ..................................360

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