Boutique Downtown Apartment Community Helps Seniors Looking To Escape COVID-19 Fears

As nursing homes and assisted-care facilities are on lockdown over COVID-19 fears, and the coronavirus spreads dangerously at some facilities, some seniors are looking for alternative housing options.

One multifamily property in Downtown Fort Worth is trying to meet that need by opening its doors for short-term renters.

Cityscape Arts opened a few months ago with 56 luxury units and a separate building with private work studios for tenants in Downtown Fort Worth. Though it wasn't originally designed as a senior housing facility, it is marketing the site's furnished units to seniors and their worried families. 

"We are accommodating the need for furnished short-term housing, which can be utilized in a number of ways," manager Brian Jennings said. "Specifically, [in] this current situation, [we are] giving seniors in senior housing the opportunity for their families to pull their loved ones out on a short-term basis during this pandemic and place them in a location where they are able to visit and still provide ... the care their loved ones need."

Being small and having furnished units prompted the facility to reach out to seniors, who may feel at risk living at traditional assisted living or retirement communities during the coronavirus outbreak, and their families. 

A few seniors have already opted to sign short-term leases during the COVID-19 crisis, Jennings said. 

"In the boutique style building that we have, things can be very flexible," he said. "Being a boutique community of only 56 units allows us a lot of flexibility within the constraints of the property to accommodate this sort of situation."

The facility has one- and two-bedroom units to lease out to seniors short-term, allowing families and caregivers 24-hour access to the facility with no worries about unsafe social distancing practices that can be common in traditional senior homes. 

For families who want to tour the community from afar, Cityscape also offers property tours via FaceTime and Skype. 

While it's unknown how long the COVID-19 crisis will last, seniors and their families will have an option in Fort Worth for as long as it goes on. 

"What I can tell you is that we are very happy and willing to provide the value that we can with our flexibility to the community, and we will continue to do so as long as it is needed," Jennings said.