Soon-to-be Edina resident and retired veterinarian Bill Maher and his wife Janet have spent more than 20 years at their Minnesota lake properties, including one on Lake Carlos. But when someone wanted to buy that property last fall, they thought it might be time to trade it in for a smaller place closer to family.
When their daughter and Edina resident Kelly Ballard took them around Edina, they saw a new apartment building under construction called Avidor. They popped into its welcome center across the street, met the Avidor team and learned what it’s all about. It was the right fit.
Avidor focuses on providing an active and inspired life for adults ages 55 and older. Empty nesters who want to downsize but aren’t quite ready for senior living, or those who simply want a community-driven living situation, can look to these recently developed apartments.
“It’s kind of right in-between what you would consider a market rate apartment, where all ages rent and live, and an independent [senior] living, where they include things bundled in the price like housekeeping, meals or caregivers on site 24/7,” Avidor Edina’s community director Gabrielle Langan says.
Avidor is set to welcome its first residents this June, and Edina marks its first-ever location. The company chose Edina because it’s one of Minnesota’s most premier places to live, says Mary Lucas, an associate at the developer High Street Residential, a wholly-owned operating subsidiary of Trammell Crow Company.
With shopping, dining, parks and recreational facilities, Edina encompasses a lot. But it lacked many living options for those who want to downsize and stay in the area. Now, people can take advantage of Avidor’s maintenance-free lifestyle.
“We have a lot of people in Edina who are snowbirds,” Langan says. “[Avidor] provides them an option to lock, leave and not worry while they’re down south versus if you have a house, you might worry about a pipe breaking or something happening while you’re gone.”
Once the Mahers, who are in their mid-70s, move into Avidor, they can enjoy life without worrying about picking up the yard or updating the kitchen. “The older you get, the more difficult it is to take care of these things,” Maher says.
The concept and the newness mainly attracted the Mahers to Avidor. Since they have never lived in the Minneapolis area, Ballard says, they thought it would be a good idea to move into a place where new people and those who are potentially making a move from a home will live, too.
“The other thing for them is that they’re in close proximity to walking paths, the grocery store, doctors, dentists … it just seems to be the perfect setup for them,” Ballard says.
Along with a maintenance-free lifestyle, Avidor offers diverse programming to promote overall well-being. Instead of selecting a bundled package that includes unnecessary services to some, Avidor’s á la carte services and amenities allow residents to choose experiences that fit their needs and interests [above and beyond the flat rate rental expense], Langan says. The rent is a flat rate that includes continental breakfasts, activities and a concierge service.
The 165-apartment building offers several floor plans, all with at least 9-foot ceilings and keyless fob system. There’s no shortage of common spaces including a pool with a sun deck and hot tub, outdoor green space, a fitness club and movie theater.
A variety of services help fulfill each resident’s needs. A concierge who is available every day can help schedule transportation or deliver a package. Other amenities inspire community activities including a demonstration kitchen for local chefs and bakers to come in and do tastings or demos, Langan says.
A full-time resident experience director will create a well-rounded activity calendar featuring happy hours, interest groups, culinary classes and more. “People can choose to participate in as little or as many [activities] as they want, but they’re right outside of their door instead of having to leave [the building] to do them,” Langan says.
Certain outings may be excluded from the flat rate. Langan gives the example of an outing to the Guthrie Theater. If Avidor was going to rent a coach bus or limo to take people there, residents may pay for the ticket, but Avidor would cover the transportation and coordinate the event.
More Avidor locations are set to open in other parts of the Midwest and in the southeast. The current staff at Avidor Edina all grew up in Minnesota and plan to continue working there once everyone moves in. They set up shop across the street at 5201 Eden Ave. in suite 50 while the building was under construction. They will remain there until the end of May, then move to an office in the building. People interested in living at Avidor are encouraged to stop by the welcome center or apply online.
Later in the summer, a grand opening will be held when the whole community can tour the building and meet the staff. “Our philosophy is, even if they decide that Avidor isn’t the right fit, we still want to be their guide to help them find the right place … because moving from the home you’ve been in for [many] years is difficult,” Langan says.
Avidor
5220 Eden Ave., Edina 952.204.5261
Facebook: Avidor Edina
Instagram: @AvidorLiving
Twitter: @AvidorLiving
