SOU seeks development proposals for senior living

(Ashland, Ore.) - Southern Oregon University has begun the process of identifying a private-sector partner for the construction and operation of a senior living center on a 4.3-acre parcel where a defunct dormitory complex is currently being demolished.

A "request for qualifications" - an invitation for developers and operators of retirement facilities to submit proposals - was issued last week, with all bids due by April 18 and finalist interviews scheduled for the last week of May. The project is expected to be completed as soon as fall of 2027.

"This is an exciting moment for our university," SOU President Rick Bailey said. "As we endeavor to reimagine the fiscal model of the institution, entrepreneurial ventures like this one will help us transition from being solely dependent on state dollars and tuition for our revenue sources.

"In addition to the fiscal benefits, this project will also present a world of opportunities in lifelong learning, intergenerational connectivity and much more," he said. "The possibilities are endless. I also want to say a very special thank you to our team members who worked tirelessly over the last several months - years really - to get to this point. We owe them a debt of gratitude."

The request for qualifications process is intended to identify an experienced operator of retirement communities with whom the university will negotiate specifics for a public-private partnership to build and run the proposed SOU facility. The document issued last week describes "a program and facility designed to accommodate a growing contingent of previously underserved nontraditional students: retirees."

The senior living center at the site of the Cascade Complex is seen as an entrepreneurial opportunity to forge a unique synergy between the facility's residents, traditional SOU students, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at SOU and the university. The project is intended to generate long-term revenue for SOU while supporting the university's commitment to lifelong learning.

Senior communities are a rare but growing feature on university campuses across the U.S., and the SOU facility would be the first in Oregon - capitalizing on southern Oregon's reputation as a retirement mecca with a blend of educational, cultural and recreational opportunities.

"SOU believes that retirement today looks very different than it did just decades ago," the request for qualifications said. "As people transition from full-time careers, today's active and engaged retirees are looking for dynamic places to live, learn and play."

Residents in the proposed SOU center could either audit or take regular SOU courses for credit, attend concerts, athletic events and lectures, and participate in a full range of offerings through OLLI at SOU - one of the largest of 125 OLLI chapters on college and university campuses across the U.S. The SOU program has close to 1,700 members and provides a diverse mix of academic courses, activities and excursions intended for those who are 50 and older.

The university also was accepted for membership a year and a half ago in the Age-Friendly University Global network - a collection of more than 100 universities across five continents that have committed to age diversity and intergenerational interactions on their campuses.

SOU's plans include opportunities for traditional students to benefit from the academic and real-world experiences of retirement community residents, some of whom are expected to serve as mentors.

"This project has the potential to create a whole new demographic of SOU students and community members, organically develop new educational initiatives, and diversify and stabilize university revenue," the request for qualifications said.

Proposals from would-be developers of the project are limited to 50 pages and must be "comprised of recyclable and, ideally, recycled materials." Those responding must outline their companies' expertise in senior living, and describe how their philosophies may align with SOU's mission and project objectives.

The university will choose the proposal that is "the most advantageous to SOU," then will enter into negotiations for a legally binding partnership. If those negotiations fail to produce an agreement, the university will shift to the runner-up in the request for qualifications process.

The university is not expected to take an ownership interest or operational role in the project, but will provide agreed-upon services and amenities for the facility and its residents.

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