Retrofit cohousing differs from traditional cohousing communities because neighbors transform an existing neighborhood rather than building from the ground up. Most cohousing groups in the U.S. design and build their neighborhoods. But new construction is expensive and building sites in urban areas are few, so people are finding creative ways to adapt existing blocks of housing and to change usage patterns to develop retrofit cohousing.
Cohousing came to the U.S. 15 years ago from Denmark, where intergenerational communities gave birth to a successful, age-specific cohousing model for active elders. The first elder-only cohousing neighborhoods for active adults, 55 and above, are just now emerging in the U.S. Design features include easy access for all levels of physical ability and also may include optional studio residences in the common house to provide living quarters for home health aides whose services may be shared by several residents.