Lennar's Next Gen Introduces Multigenerational Living to Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - April 25, 2013 - PRLog -- CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The American family is changing and so is their home. Leading national homebuilder Lennar is introducing Next Gensm, a unique collection of homes designed specifically for the needs of today’s – and tomorrow’s – multigenerational families.

Lennar will offer a selection of four floor plans – from 3,101 to more than 4,058 square feet – to meet the evolving demands of homebuyers. Next Gen homes will make their debut in Lennar’s Brookedale Commons community in Harrisburg and Lawson at Deer Meadows in Waxhaw, with the first homes available early this summer.

The most recent U.S. Census results show that average household size increased for the first time in five decades, with 18.3 percent of U.S. households containing a non-spouse adult relative or roommate, an increase of 8 percent over the prior four years.  In fact, according to BusinessWeek, the U.S. Census estimates that multigenerational households increased by 30 percent from 2000 to 2010.

“Families look and live differently than in previous decades, and they need different things from each other and their homes,” said Jon Hardy, Charlotte division president for Lennar.  “Whether it’s an aging parent or an adult child returning to the nest, experts say that family composition is changing and evolving.  And as we become more of a global society, changing demographics means the homes we build have to serve a wider variety of lifestyles.”

Hardy says Lennar is among the earliest national homebuilders – and the first in Charlotte – to offer floor plans exclusively designed to accommodate this emerging lifestyle trend.  Lennar’s Next Gen models are not simply bigger; they’re literally a home within a home, offering all the features and amenities needed for extended family members to enjoy truly independent living.

Each Next Gen home includes a fully functional, first-floor private suite complete with living room, bedroom, bathroom and separate entrance, even its own doorbell.  The suite also includes a separate kitchenette with convection microwave, dishwasher, sink and optional refrigerator, as well as separate washer and dryer; there’s even a separate zone in the HVAC system with its own programmable thermostat.  And every plan features a dual locking door that connects the Next Gen space to the rest of the home (think adjoining hotel rooms) for maximum privacy.

Of course, the rest of the home has its share of bells and whistles as well.  Next Gen homes typically boast an additional three to four bedrooms upstairs plus a loft or bonus space.  The first floor features a full kitchen with spacious breakfast room and an extra-large family room perfect for multigenerational living.  Some floor plans also include formal living and dining rooms, outdoor living areas or extra storage space to accommodate the needs of extended families.

"We took our experiences from across the country and paid attention to the details of the private suite, such as the convection microwave that can do nearly everything a traditional range can while taking up less space,” said Hardy.  “But we focused just as much on designing the rest of the home to accommodate growing households, such as larger spaces for the family room and dining room, because we realize these Next Gen homes are still serving families most of the time."

And like all other Lennar homes, every Next Gen home will offer money-saving ENERGY STAR® features along with Lennar’s signature Everything’s Included® program, which provides luxury features such as hardwood floors, ceramic tile and stainless steel appliances as standard items built into the home’s base price, with no surprises or hidden costs.  With other builders such features are typically offered as upgrades, often adding thousands of dollars to the cost of the home.

Charlotte is one of about 25 U.S. cities in which Lennar is offering its Next Gen designs, with earlier introductions exceeding sales expectations.  The Miami-based company expects to extend its Next Gen offering to additional Lennar communities in Charlotte over the next few months, as well as other new-home markets across the country.

“We’re on the leading edge of a trend that’s only going to increase over time,” added Hardy.  “Society is even becoming more accepting of multigenerational living, as depicted by the families featured in such TV shows as ‘Parenthood’ and ‘How to Live with Your Parents (for the Rest of your Life).’  Lennar knows that multigenerational living is here to stay, and we’re excited to be the first builder to bring this innovative approach in home design to Charlotte.”

For more information on the new Next Gen homes or any of Lennar’s 17 Charlotte-area communities, call 1-888-208-4141 or visit www.LennarCharlotte.com.

About Lennar
Lennar Corp., founded in 1954 and headquartered in Miami, is one of the nation’s leading builders of quality homes for all generations.  Building homes in 18 states, Lennar offers affordable, move-up and retirement homes in communities that cater to almost any lifestyle.  For more information about Lennar, visit www.lennar.com.