The innovative Abiitan concept emerged from focus groups with residents of the Mill City, MN, neighborhood years before our grand opening in 2017.
Research showed that prospective Abiitan residents wanted all the comforts of a retirement community well integrated into an urban neighborhood with culture, nature and entertainment. Also, they wanted access to on-site health care services as they age, including memory care for cognitive diseases, which Abiitan provides at The Terraces.
Abiitan—a nonprofit Ecumen community—actively strives to bring the outside community inside. While most retirement communities are located in the suburbs away from commercial activity, at Abiitan, residents can step out their doors and instantly interact in the community, access public transportation and the skyway, or walk the neighborhood or river trail just a block away. Plus, the community is invited to come inside Abiitan by way of Smith & Porter Restaurant, the Porter Café and G-Werk Fitness—all open to the public.