Vancouver, British Columbia, is home to a groundbreaking community that is redefining the very essence of seniors’ living. Moving far beyond the outdated concept of “old folks’ homes,” this innovative project, known as Opal, is setting a new standard for holistic, intergenerational, and speculative-free residential experiences for older adults.
Set to welcome its first residents in early 2019, Opal is a 130-unit development designed around the empowering principle of “aging in place.” This forward-thinking approach ensures that residents can seamlessly transition through various stages of care – from fully independent living to assisted living, and ultimately to licensed complex care – all within the familiar comfort of their own community. But Opal’s vision extends even further; it embraces an “intergenerational living” model, fostering an environment where family members from different generations can reside together, enriching each other’s lives. A key requirement for occupancy is that at least one resident per unit must be 55 years of age or older, ensuring a vibrant core of active seniors.
This progressive model is a stark contrast to traditional retirement facilities, which often isolate seniors by age and limit their care options. Opal seeks to dismantle these antiquated structures, offering a dynamic and inclusive alternative that addresses the evolving needs and desires of today’s older adults.
Redefining Senior Living: Element Lifestyle Retirement’s Vision
“We are hoping for this vision to become as common as condominiums have become in place of single-family homes,” states Candy Ho, co-founder, director, and vice president of brand development and communications at Element Lifestyle Retirement, the visionary Vancouver-based company behind Opal. Ho emphasizes the company’s commitment “to contribute and add value to this industry by building according to a more progressive, innovative model instead of the outdated 60-year-old model of old people living with old people.” This philosophy underpins every aspect of Opal, aiming to create not just a residence, but a thriving, interconnected community.
The traditional model, characterized by age-segregated facilities and limited options, often fails to meet the diverse needs of an increasingly active and diverse senior population. Element Lifestyle Retirement recognizes that today’s seniors desire choice, connection, and continuity of care. Opal’s innovative design responds directly to these desires, promoting social engagement, personal growth, and a profound sense of belonging across all age groups.
An Innovative Hybrid Model and Anti-Speculation Measures
Unlike many developments that offer either rentals or condos exclusively, Opal operates with a unique hybrid model, providing residents with greater flexibility and choice. The community comprises 44 residential condominium units, 56 rental units, and 30 dedicated complex-care units. This blend ensures that a wide range of needs and preferences are met, from those seeking outright ownership to those preferring the flexibility of renting, all within the same vibrant community.
Element Lifestyle Retirement has also taken proactive and stringent measures to combat Vancouver’s prevalent “empty-condo syndrome,” a phenomenon where properties are bought by investors and left vacant, exacerbating housing shortages and diminishing community vibrancy. Opal explicitly blocks investors and real estate speculators from purchasing units, ensuring that every home contributes to the community’s lifeblood.
These protective measures include a mandatory 25 percent deposit for condo buyers, with sales not finalized until the buyers physically move into their units. Furthermore, prospective buyers undergo a screening process that assesses their levels of health and wellness, reinforcing the community’s focus on resident well-being. A crucial component is the mandatory service agreement, which requires all condo buyers to be actual occupants. This suite of policies guarantees that Opal units are occupied by individuals genuinely seeking a home and a community, rather than being treated as mere investment vehicles.
Candy Ho
“We are actually trying to meet (people’s) needs and desires, and allowing speculators to hold empty units for years that could be beneficial to others defeats that purpose,” Ho explains. She adds, “When units are empty, there’s no life, no vibrancy, and all the programs we put in place will not be used.” This commitment to fostering a lively and active community distinguishes Opal from typical real estate projects, prioritizing human connection and shared experiences above all else.
Direct Engagement: A Unique Realtor Approach
Element Lifestyle Retirement employs a distinct approach when working with real estate agents. Instead of offering traditional commissions, the company provides Realtors with referral fees. This unconventional strategy stems from the highly specialized and integrated nature of Opal’s offering. “Nobody can understand what we’re offering as well as we do,” Ho asserts. “It’s really complicated. We can’t afford to have it misrepresented.”
This policy ensures that prospective residents receive accurate, comprehensive information directly from Element’s knowledgeable team, who can fully articulate the nuances of the aging-in-place concept, the intergenerational programs, and the extensive array of services and amenities. By controlling the narrative, Element safeguards the integrity of its unique model and ensures that future residents have a clear understanding of the vibrant lifestyle awaiting them at Opal, thereby fostering trust and long-term satisfaction.
Unprecedented Market Success and Changing Demographics
Despite not being due for completion until February, Opal has already achieved remarkable success in the market. An astounding 91 percent of the condominium units have been sold, and 98 percent of the rental units are reserved. Furthermore, there is a substantial list of individuals awaiting licensed care options. This rapid uptake far surpasses the industry average, where retirement residences typically take two to three years to reach full occupancy after opening. This overwhelming demand underscores the strong market appetite for Opal’s innovative approach to senior living.
Equally striking is the demographic profile of Opal’s residents, which defies typical industry norms. While the average resident age in traditional retirement communities often exceeds 87, Opal attracts a significantly younger and more diverse cohort. Approximately 30 percent of Opal buyers or renters are in their 50s, 34 percent are in their 60s, and 30 percent are in their 70s. The remaining balance includes both older seniors and younger grandchildren who intend to reside on short-term stays, further highlighting the success of the intergenerational model. This trend suggests that younger seniors are proactively seeking communities that offer not only future care security but also a rich, active, and socially connected lifestyle. They are choosing to plan ahead, investing in a vibrant future rather than waiting for care needs to become urgent.
Transparent Pricing and Comprehensive Lifestyle Membership
Condominium units at Opal sell for an average of $1,250 per square foot, with prices ranging from approximately $750,000 for a compact one-bedroom unit to around $1.9 million for a spacious three-bedroom residence. As with other condominium properties, owners are responsible for property taxes, utilities, and standard condo (or strata) fees. However, Opal residents also pay a mandatory additional membership fee, designed to cover a comprehensive suite of services and amenities, akin to a private club membership.
This exclusive membership, priced at $1,188 per month for the first occupant and $658 monthly for each additional occupant, grants access to a full recreation, wellness, and lifestyle program, alongside the use of 30,000 square feet of state-of-the-art amenities. This fee represents an investment in a lifestyle of convenience, enrichment, and holistic well-being, ensuring residents have access to everything they need for a fulfilling life.
Enriching Programs and Amenities for Holistic Well-being
Opal’s extensive program offerings are meticulously designed to promote physical, mental, and social well-being for all residents. The membership fee covers a wide array of activities, including instructor-led exercise classes tailored to various fitness levels, engaging music programs, and experiential culinary sessions such as sophisticated wine tastings and hands-on pizza making from scratch. These diverse programs encourage social interaction, skill development, and personal enjoyment.
A cornerstone of Opal’s intergenerational philosophy is its facilitated childhood educators’ programs. These unique initiatives bring together seniors and children, creating invaluable opportunities for mutual learning and connection. Seniors can share their rich life stories and experiences, imparting traditional skills and wisdom to younger generations. In return, children can share their expertise on contemporary topics like social media and digital literacy, bridging generational gaps and fostering understanding. This reciprocal exchange combats loneliness, instills a sense of purpose in seniors, and provides children with unique mentorship and learning experiences.
Beyond on-site activities, the community also organizes recreational group outings, offering residents opportunities to explore local attractions and engage with the wider community. For personal appointments and greater convenience, a private transportation service is readily available, ensuring residents maintain their independence and access to essential services and social engagements.
For those opting for rental units, the monthly fee of $12 per square foot is inclusive of meals, access to recreation programs, and participation in planned outings. This all-inclusive rental package offers a hassle-free living experience, providing peace of mind and access to Opal’s vibrant community life without the commitment of ownership.
Strategic Location and Future Expansions
Opal spans an entire city block on King Edward Avenue near Cambie Street, a prime location within Vancouver’s rapidly developing Cambie Corridor. This area is undergoing significant densification, with modern condo developments replacing traditional single-family homes, reflecting the city’s evolving urban landscape. Opal’s site itself once housed eight single-family homes, symbolizing the shift towards more integrated and efficient urban living spaces. The community is comprised of three elegantly interconnected buildings, featuring one six-storey structure and two four-storey buildings, all harmoniously integrated into the urban fabric.
Element Lifestyle Retirement’s commitment to transforming seniors’ living extends beyond Opal. The company is actively developing other significant projects, including Oasis, a planned 950-unit development in Langley, B.C. Oasis is an ambitious long-term project slated for construction over the next seven to 20 years, featuring four 20-storey towers and three four-to-eight-storey buildings. Additionally, Element is developing Aquara, a 161-unit intergenerational aging-in-place residence situated near downtown Victoria. These expansions underscore Element’s dedication to bringing their innovative, community-focused model to a broader population across British Columbia, addressing the critical need for advanced senior living solutions.
Addressing the “Silver Tsunami”: A Personal Mission
Candy Ho highlights the looming demographic challenge posed by the “silver tsunami”—a significant increase in the elderly population—and the existing critical shortage of licensed care facilities. “There are already huge waiting lists for licensed care for seniors in non-profit, government-funded, or private facilities,” she notes. Ho shares a poignant personal experience, recounting how it took a decade to secure a place for her late father-in-law, who battled Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, in a licensed care facility. This facility, unfortunately, was a three-hour drive away from his family. “That’s the situation most people face because of the lack of supply,” she laments, underscoring the urgent need for accessible and high-quality care options.
Ho’s deep personal connection to this issue is a driving force behind Opal. Growing up near the very site where Opal now stands, she initially conceived the idea for the development while searching for a suitable place for her own parents to age in place, particularly her mother, who lives with Parkinson’s disease. Her father, Element president and founder Don Ho, is widely recognized as a pioneer of the aging-in-place retirement living concept, cementing a family legacy rooted in innovation and compassionate care.
A Vision for the Future: Balancing Purpose and Profit
While Candy Ho expresses a strong hope for the widespread adoption of the aging-in-place and intergenerational living concept in seniors’ housing, she acknowledges the inherent complexities of such a business model. “You have to have the will to manage complexity and not be primarily only profit-driven,” she advises. Ho believes that the desire to contribute meaningfully to society and the pursuit of sustainable profits should be held in equal regard. This balanced approach ensures that Element Lifestyle Retirement’s projects remain true to their mission of enhancing the lives of seniors, fostering vibrant communities, and setting a new, progressive benchmark for the entire industry. Opal stands as a testament to this philosophy, demonstrating that innovative, community-centric development can indeed be both socially impactful and commercially successful.