New Housing Developments Saying No Kids Allowed
OHIO TOWNSHIP (KDKA) – No kids allowed.
That's the rule in some popular new housing developments springing up through the state.
Call it legal discrimination, but people over the age of 55 are snapping up some well-to-do homes as fast as the builder can build them.
They're moving earth and putting up houses in Ohio Township – 240 to be exact.
"We wanted a social, healthy, active lifestyle," said Linda Limberis.
It's an upscale development that's designed to be a community of active retirees with a clubhouse, swimming pool, walking trails and other amenities.
Tom and Linda Limberis, who just signed a $400,000 sales agreement for a home, say they're not the type of people who like to sit around.
"It appeals to the baby boomers," said Linda Limberis. "It appeals to people like Tom and myself who want to be active for the rest of our lives."
And there's one more selling point that seems to appeal to the buyers – no one under the age of 19 will be allowed to live there.
"It's our time to enjoy life," said Bruno Schwarz.
Retired school teachers Bruno and Harryl Schwarz say they've dedicated their lives to educating and coaching teenagers, but retirement will be theirs alone.
"It gives you solace of being able to enjoy the evening without a lot of noise," Harryl Schwarz said.
"You're assured that the grandkids aren't going to take over the swimming pool and there are not going to be keg parties that you're not a part of," said Nathan Jameson with Traditions of America.
While the Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of race or creed, it does allow age-restricted communities like this one built by a company called Traditions of America. And those restrictions are attractive to potential buyers.
Half of the 240 proposed units are under contract, 40 sold since an open house attracted about 600 visitors two weeks ago.
"With age restriction, age qualifying, a community they're assured they're with other people in a similar stage in life," said Jameson.
"That is what people in this community are looking for," Harryl Schwarz added. "You want to spend time with your family, but you don't want to live with them."
And so it appears that aged-restricted communities will have no shortage of prospective buyers on the promise of active days and quiet evenings.
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