Green Country Developer Targeting Baby Boomers With New Project

A trend in housing across the country includes developers targeting baby boomers looking to downsize.

One developer is building these types of communities all across Green Country and attracting the attention of residents like J.D. McColley and his wife.

"We looked around different places, and this is the nicest we've found," he said.

The couple said they loved RVing until a foot injury took McColley out of the driver’s seat. That's when they decided to look into a community geared more towards their lifestyle and found this one in Collinsville.

"We have a nice backyard all enclosed, he also has a shelter, a storm shelter for us, and they can have their flowers and they can have their pets and it's just great." He said.

The developer, Kyle Smalygo, said he got the idea when he visited his grandmother in Iowa. He said, at that moment, he realized Oklahoma needed that type of community.

"People are living longer, and they are wanting to stay in those same communities and still be independent," he said.

Smylago said the more he's looked around, the more towns he's found needing independent living communities - particularly in more rural areas - and the need just keeps growing.

"We've expanded into the Oologah and Skiatook market as well as looking into the Bartlesville and the next move is the Owasso market," he said.

Smylago said he already has a lengthy waiting list of folks hoping to get into the development in Collinsville and the others he's planning to build.

McColley said many in his generation don't want the hassle of owning a home, especially out in the country.

He said now that they're done with traveling, he's glad he's found somewhere that fits their lifestyle, “It's just what we was looking for."