First gay retirement village coming to Valley

Hadley Mick, Tribune

The nation’s first resort-style, gay retirement community plans to open in Surprise in the late summer or early fall of 2009.

Marigold Creek, a retirement community aimed toward gays, lesbians and their friends and family, has already reported keen interest from buyers, said Deborah Purvis of the Missouri-based real estate group, Out Properties.

Purvis said the community will include 210 units, ranging from single-family homes, patio homes and condominiums.

“The community will be set up with village-style streets so people can easily say hello to each other when they are walking around,” Purvis said.

Within the community will be a dog park, walking trails, concert area and a clubhouse that will have a media room, bar, cabaret and swimming pool, Purvis said.

“I came to the Valley and fell in love with Surprise,” she said. “It’s a new and emerging community with a commitment to diversity that I believed would be a great home for Marigold Creek.”

Terri Crane, a resident of Surprise for three years, agrees with Purvis’ assessment of the area. Crane said she is all for the gay community to be able to have a place to call home.

“My sister is gay and to be honest, I think that the gay community is friendlier and easier to talk to than most other people,” Crane said.

While Crane welcomes the gay and lesbian community to the area, some people shrug off the idea.

“I don’t think it’s a bad or good thing,” said Bill Bleavins, an 80-year-old resident of nearby Sun City for 12 years. “I’m really indifferent about them.”

In February, Purvis had real estate agents from the Valley join her for a party to spread the word about Marigold Creek. She also launched a Web site that she said receives 400 to 500 page views a day. And she sent out approximately 550,000 e-mails to the gay community advertising the development.

“The unexpected attention from the media has also marketed our community to even more people,” Purvis said.

John Morant, a resident of Surprise for nine months, said Marigold Creek chose to build in Surprise because of the more accepting, laid-back community.

“They don’t bother me and I don’t bother them,” Morant said.

Morant said there may be a negative reaction from the retirement communities that also call Surprise home, but he believe it will all settle down once Marigold Creek is finished.

“The gay community have their own rights,” Morant said. “They can do whatever they want to do.”