Walnut Village, a new, full-service retirement community in Anaheim, received a 2009 SAGE Award in the inaugural “On the Boards” Project of the Year category from the 50+ Housing Council, a special interest council of the Building Industry Association of Southern California.

Retirement communities were nominated for the award and judged on the basis of innovative design, concept or sensitivity to meeting their intended market.

The architect for the project was Ankrom Moisan Associated Architects from Portland, Ore., and the general contractor was DPR Construction out of Newport Beach.

“It is an honor to be recognized for our dedication to creating a community that meets the growing expectations and needs of the mature market,” says Roberta Jacobsen, president of Front Porch Communities and Services. “Walnut Village represents a new concept in retirement living where residents are surrounded by people, amenities and events that make life engaging. As residents are now moving in, our reward is seeing the village transition from a concept to a reality."

Walnut Village is a walkable, 12-acre community that opened October 1. At the heart of the community is a village square that features a number of dining and entertainment venues, including The Grove Restaurant, Mosaics Bistro, the Red Chair Pub and the Village Performing Arts Center. The Wellbeing and Aquatics Center and the Lifelong Learning Center offer growth and fitness opportunities.

It is also a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) that ensures residents receive care for life and allows residents to age in place while living in private homes and cottages. As required, assisted living services are brought directly to residents' homes. A fully licensed, skilled nursing center -- the largest in Orange County -- is located onsite. Another key feature is the Memory Support Neighborhood, called Summer House, which has a staff of memory specialists to offer cognitive care and individualized programming for those with varying degrees of memory loss.

Private homes at Walnut Village are available in 42 different floor plans. They include one and two-bedroom residences and three-bedroom cottages exhibiting ageless, universal design elements, designer kitchens, washer/dryer and a private balcony or patio, among other features. The community is gated and includes on-site security.

Walnut Village was developed by Front Porch Development Co., the real estate development partner of Front Porch, California's largest nonprofit provider of retirement living communities. Front Porch Development Company designed Walnut Village based on research on what today's seniors are looking for in their 'third stage of life.'

"Front Porch is dedicated to creating communities that are as unique as the individuals they serve," said Bill Jennings, Front Porch Development Company president.

For the past 15 years, the SAGE Awards have honored individuals, projects and programs that have improved the quality of living for 50+ residents in Southern California. This year's winners were recognized at a ceremony on Nov. 12 at the Turnip Rose, Grand Newport Plaza in Costa Mesa, Calif.