Urban Housing Buyers: Hivers, Not Cocooners

In-town housing excites builders and buyers alike, but recent research on this growing niche suggests that the former has a lot to learn about the latter to create successful communities and housing.

Greg Currens, a principle at Style Interior Design, an Irvine, Calif., firm that specializes in multifamily development, shared results from a comprehensive research study of today's urban buyers. Key findings suggest that childless households fuel development of housing in downtown areas. This demographic seeks a living environment conducive to hiving - frequent social interaction and community involvement - rather than cocooning - isolated from friends, neighbors and community activities.

Market research firm Yankelovich identified this social trend and the three key elements of hiving:

• The home becomes command central for social activities.
• Hivers seek more connectedness with family, friends and neighbors.
• Hivers put family, friends and neighbors first on their social priority list.

With these drivers, Curren suggests that more consumers are seeking housing "closely connected to community amenities, including housing that is mixed with, adjacent to, within walking distance of or connected by transit to recreation, culture, entertainment and work. Developments offering a more convenient location, strong sense of community, an enriching social experience and that have ample amenities have the best chances for success."