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Feature article
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Senior centers hub of activity
By staff report
Kingsport popular with retirees
With more than 30 percent of the city’s population age 55 and older, Kingsport is considered by many to be the perfect retirement community.
And considering the area’s natural beauty, low cost of living, strong health care system, mild year-round temperatures and active arts and volunteer communities, it’s easy to see why so many seniors choose to make Kingsport their home.
Kingsport Community Relations Officer Dave Light knows the region’s assets well. “We’re within a day’s travel of probably 50 percent of the United States,” he said. “We have an extremely low crime rate. We have an outstanding symphony, an outstanding theater guild — there’s just a ton of stuff that makes us attractive.
“First and foremost in Kingsport is, of course, our senior citizens center, which has a full range of activities for seniors of just about any age,” said Light. “And we have a health-care system that I would put up against anybody’s anywhere. Wellmont and Mountain States Health Alliance provide world-class health care.”
There’s no excuse for being bored here, either, with so many opportunities for outdoor recreation and volunteer work.
“We’re located in the most beautiful part of the country,” Light said. “We have Bays Mountain Park which has a full array of activities for folks of all ages. And of course our scenic beauty, state parks, Greenbelt, all those things are conducive to activities that seniors enjoy.
“Kingsport is known historically as a community that places a great value on volunteers. As a matter of fact, we enjoy several amenities today that have been due largely to the efforts of volunteers in the past.”
Light cited the Kingsport Public Library, Fun Fest and the Greenbelt as fruits of the area’s abundance of volunteer labor.
Getting to and from daily activities is easy in Kingsport as well — a feature appreciated by many seniors.
“We have the Kingsport Area Transportation System that can get you around to the major shopping and medical facilities, should you need it,” said Light.
And when it’s time to come home, Kingsport planners make sure there are plenty of options for folks looking for convenient housing.
“One of the things that we are strategically focusing on is increasing our housing stock in the $100,000 range. There are quite a number of condominiums and single-level townhouse-type configurations that have been built or are being built in Kingsport that would be suitable for retirees or families without children,” Light said.
Already under way is construction on senior lifestyle neighborhood Pinebrook Place, a development that when completed will include 141 one-level homes that seniors can own or lease.
Modeled after the successful Cobblestone development, Pinebrook Place was named subdivision of the year for 2005 and is located between Indian Path Hospital and Holston Valley Medical Center and has two bus stops for transportation around the city.
Lots are still available, and developer Mike Hartgrove expects the project to take three to four years to complete.
For the 45-55 age group, two maintenance-free living communities, RoseMary Villas and Crockett’s Ridge at Old Island, offer active seniors upscale living without the responsibilities of maintaining a yard and grounds. The prices of the patio homes range from $185,000 to $250,000.
Several assisted living facilities already are available throughout the Tri-Cities, and and independent and assisted living community Asbury Place, Steadman Hill campus will break ground in August for a new three-story apartment complex. This Housing and Urban Development building project will include 38 one-bedroom apartments for low-income senior citizens.
Retirees will also appreciate the wide variety of activities and resources provided by senior centers both in Kingsport and surrounding areas:
Kingsport Senior Center
1200 E. Center St., Kingsport
Director: Kathryn Whorton
Phone: (423) 392-8400
Fax: (423) 224-2488
Mount Carmel Senior Center
101 E. Main St., Mount Carmel
Director: Wanda Worley
Phone: (423) 357-3281
Fax: (423) 357-3281
Rogersville Senior Center
407 E. Main St., Rogersville
Director: Carolyn Alvis
Phone: (423) 272-9186
Fax: (423) 272-9185
Johnson City Seniors’ Center
607-609 E. Myrtle St., Johnson City
Director: Sue Orr
Phone: (423) 434-6237
Fax: (423) 434-6244
Jonesborough Area Senior Center
1521 Persimmon Ridge Road, Jonesborough
Director: Carol Clifford
Phone: (423) 753-1075
Fax: (423) 753-1027
Bristol-Slater Senior Center
325 McDowell St., Bristol
Director: Mallory Cross
Phone: (423) 764-4023
Fax: (423) 989-5624
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