Lennar Debuts Revolutionary Next Gen Multigenerational Homes in Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - May 29, 2013 - PRLog -- CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Leading national homebuilder Lennar today debuted Charlotte’s first-ever Next Gen® home, representing a unique collection of floor plans designed specifically for the needs of today’s – and tomorrow’s – multigenerational families.

The new Next Gen homes are making their premiere this weekend at Lennar’s Lawson community in Waxhaw and at Brookedale Commons in Harrisburg.  Grand opening events in both communities will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 1, with hot dogs and hamburgers, a bounce house for the kids and tours of what Lennar is characterizing as “The Modern Home for the Modern Family.”

Ranging from 3,101 to more than 4,058 square feet, each Next Gen home is thoughtfully designed to meet the evolving demands of homebuyers, an increasing number of which have extended family members living under the same roof.

According to BusinessWeek, the U.S. Census estimates that multigenerational households increased by 30 percent from 2000 to 2010.  In fact, a Pew Research Center study shows that 50 million Americans – or nearly one in every six – currently live in a multigenerational household, and this number is expected to steadily climb in the coming years.

“Families look and live differently than in previous decades, and they need different things from each other and their homes,” explained housing trends expert David Kalosis, senior vice president for John Burns Real Estate Consulting.  “Whether it’s an aging parent or an adult child returning to the nest, experts say the 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.”

Lennar Charlotte Division President Jon Hardy says the company 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,” said Hardy.  “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 – like adjoining rooms at a hotel – 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 today’s family."

And like all other Lennar homes in Charlotte, 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.