Givens Estates is a nonprofit continuing care retirement community (CCRC) located on a 215-acre campus in south Asheville. Founded as a United Methodist retirement community, Givens Estates offers a continuum of residential and health care options to senior citizens of all faiths and walks of life. Approximately 680 seniors live independently in houses, duplexes, or apartments or reside in assisted living accommodations or the Givens Health Center. Givens Estates takes pride in being a friendly and caring “village” where residents help and support each other and often volunteer in the larger Asheville community.
Our history dates back to 1975 when, through their estates, Dr. and Mrs. Maurice H. Givens donated their farm and the income from a $2 million trust to help establish a retirement community on their property for senior citizens. In August 1975, a special called session of the Western North Carolina Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church authorized Givens Estates to incorporate as a United Methodist, church-related, nonprofit retirement community. The Givens Housing Corporation received HUD Section 202 funding to build the state’s first subsidized apartments in a CCRC setting for seniors with low to modest incomes. The first residents moved to Givens Estates in 1979. Today, our campus includes 86 single-family houses, 40 duplexes, 24 villas, 238 main building apartments, 78 HUD-assisted apartments, 47 assisted living beds, and an 84-bed health center. We look forward to the 2016 opening of the new Givens Gerber Park apartments on Gerber Road for low-income seniors.
All independent living residents of Givens Estates are members of the Givens Estates Resident Council. The Resident Council supports the wellbeing of all residents, fosters a sense of community, keeps residents informed and supports and works with staff and Board of Directors in matters related to the general good and continual improvement of retirement living at Givens Estates.
Residents may volunteer to serve on any one of several committees which meet monthly and report to the Resident Council Executive Committee. These committees are; Chapel Guild, Dining Services, Landscape and Grounds, Maintenance and Environmental Services, Resident Hospitality, Staff Appreciation and Wellness Program. These committees provide opportunities for residents to contribute their time, skills and talents for the enhancement of community and the quality of life for all Givens residents.
In addition to the committees, we have a Volunteer Partner Agency Board that coordinates volunteer opportunities in the greater Asheville community.
Residents devote significant time to volunteering as our most recent survey of volunteer activities indicates that, in 2014, residents devoted 52,500 hours to community-based volunteering.
Residents enjoy many on campus activities such as gardening, hiking, bridge, croquet, putting green, swimming, book clubs, interest groups, movies, ping-pong, dining together, concerts, etc. There is a weekly worship service each Sunday afternoon in the Chapel.
In February 2016, Givens invited the HOA officers of the neighborhoods of south Sweeten Creek to join with us to work together in a pro-active, cooperative manner to advocate for fiscally, environmentally, and socially responsible “smart growth” in south Asheville. We look forward to continuing this relationship and strengthening our relationship with the City Council. We are now organized as the Sweeten Creek Association of Neighborhoods (SCAN).
We believe that working together with our neighbors will help bring greater sustainability to the quality of life we currently enjoy and want to preserve for others.