April 9, 2026

Designing the next chapter: urban condominiums that target downsizing homeowners

Tosti

Across the Puget Sound region, a quiet demographic shift is beginning to reshape how urban condominiums are conceived and designed.

Many of today’s condo buyers are longtime homeowners — Baby Boomers and early Generation X residents who spent decades raising families in single-family homes. Now, as children move out and lifestyles evolve, many are asking a different question: What does the next chapter of home look like?

In conversations with clients, colleagues, and even within our own families, the themes are remarkably consistent. Parents who once prioritized yard space and extra bedrooms are now seeking something more intentional — a home that offers simplicity, dignity and flexibility for the years ahead.

They want the freedom to travel without worrying about maintenance. They want to walk to coffee shops, restaurants and parks. And many want to live closer to their children and grandchildren while maintaining independence and privacy.

What they are not looking for is a compromise.

A November study from the National Association of REALTORS® reinforces what many developers are observing on the ground. Buyers over age 55 increasingly prioritize walkable neighborhoods, proximity to retail and dining, low-maintenance living, home security, and single-level homes when choosing their next residence. The same report found that 49% of homebuyers in 2025 were at least 60 years old, underscoring the growing influence this demographic is having on housing demand.

In supply-constrained markets like Kirkland, that demand is particularly visible. Median condominium prices in the city rose roughly 13% in 2025 to approximately $1.13 million, according to the Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS), with nearly half of those units selling at or above their list price. The numbers point to sustained demand for thoughtfully designed condominium homes located within walkable, amenity-rich neighborhoods.

Yet meeting that demand requires more than simply building smaller homes.

It requires rethinking how condominium buildings are designed from the ground up.

DESIGNING FOR THE WAY PEOPLE ACTUALLY LIVE

Photos via Cordillera Homes [enlarge]

Every Central Peak residence is configured as a single-level home, eliminating interior stairs.

One example of this approach is Central Peak Residences, a boutique condominium project at the corner of Central Way and Lake Street in downtown Kirkland.

The four-story building contains 26 residences within walking distance of the Lake Washington waterfront, Marina Park, neighborhood retail, and many of Kirkland’s most beloved restaurants and cafés. The location allows residents to remain connected to the walkable character of downtown while still enjoying a sense of residential retreat.

From the earliest stages of planning, our team at Cordillera Homes worked with Kirkland-based Baylis Architects to shape the building around the needs of downsizing homeowners — prioritizing comfort, flexibility and long-term livability.

That thinking informed both the architecture and the homes themselves. The building’s massing, façade articulation, and material palette were designed to complement Kirkland’s pedestrian-oriented scale while introducing a contemporary Pacific Northwest expression. The project’s orientation also responds to its proximity to Lake Washington, maximizing natural light, territorial views, and a sense of calm within a denser urban setting.

Inside, the most defining design decision was simple: every residence is configured as a single-level home, ranging from approximately 1,150 to 2,415 square feet. Eliminating interior stairs simplifies daily living today while supporting long-term livability as needs evolve.

The homes were designed to feel spacious and adaptable — accommodating visiting family, remote work, or extended travel. Key design strategies include:

• Generously scaled, open-concept kitchens designed for entertaining, gathering

• Spa-inspired primary bathrooms

• Flexible rooms that can serve as offices, guest spaces, or hobby rooms

• Integrated storage, including walk-in closets and built-ins

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At the downtown Kirkland project, floors, walls, and ceiling assemblies were designed with enhanced acoustic detailing to deliver a level of quiet comparable to single-family construction.

Interior finishes, developed with Counterbalance Studio, reflect a Pacific Northwest sensibility, emphasizing warm materials, layered textures, and craftsmanship over short-lived trends. Kitchens, baths, millwork, and lighting were approached with the same level of care typically associated with custom single-family homes.

For many downsizing homeowners, privacy and quiet are equally important. Buyers transitioning from detached homes often cite acoustic performance as a major concern when considering condominium living. At Central Peak, intentionally enhanced acoustic detailing within floor, wall, and ceiling assemblies helps deliver a level of quiet comparable to single-family construction, while a high-performance building envelope and energy-efficient mechanical systems improve thermal comfort and long-term efficiency.

Design decisions throughout the building also reflect principles that support long-term dignity and ease of living. Internal elevator access, secure entry systems, and thoughtful space planning allow the homes to remain comfortable and functional across different life stages.

Amenities were approached with the same sense of restraint. Rather than overbuilding shared spaces, with their associated cost and maintenance, the project focuses on a smaller set of amenities that support everyday use: a rooftop common room, a landscaped roof deck with views of Lake Washington and downtown Kirkland, secure bike storage, and secure below-grade parking. At street level, neighborhood retail — including a café — activates the building edge and encourages informal interaction between residents and the surrounding community.

THE VALUE OF EARLY DEVELOPER—ARCHITECT ALIGNMENT

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Rather than overbuilding shared spaces, the project focuses on a smaller set of amenities including a rooftop common room (pictured) and a landscaped roof deck.

Projects like Central Peak highlight the importance of early and sustained alignment between the developer and architect.

When demographic trends, market realities, and long-term operational considerations are integrated into the design process from the beginning, architecture becomes a tool for responding to how people actually want to live.

For our team at Cordillera Homes, that approach reflects both professional insight and personal observation. Many of us are watching our own parents and friends begin to consider their next housing move. The conversation is rarely about square footage alone. It is about convenience, connection, independence, and the ability to remain part of the communities they love.

By combining thoughtful design, contextual architecture, and durable construction, teams can create projects tailored to life’s next chapter — one that balances urban vibrancy with residential calm, and walkable convenience with the dignity of private, well-designed space.

Nick Tosti is president and principal at Cordillera Homes, with more than 15 years of experience in construction and development management in the Puget Sound region.

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