The latest breed of retirement community is a change from the traditional, golf-course-and-recreation-center variety found in the Sun Cities.

A new style of vertical, urban condominiums is taking root, and a development company out of Canada is hoping to sell Surprise seniors on the ultra-hip concept.

British Columbia-based Avenir Group is building the  that will soon start construction at the corner of Paradise Lane and Parkview Place near Surprise Stadium.

According to the company's research, seniors who moved into traditional retirement communities reported that they felt too far removed from upscale shopping and cultural activities, Legarde said. The consensus was that modern retirees covet walkable, urban-style living as much homebuyers in their 20s, 30s and 40s.

Avenir's Surprise project would go up close to the city's future downtown, a portion of which is known as Surprise Stadium Village. The urban core includes the stadium, the city's Tennis & Racquet Complex, and a 17-acre strip of retail, restaurants and entertainment venues. A handful of other high-density residential projects, a future medical campus, office buildings and Surprise's new City Hall also are planned for the area.

The 339-unit condominium project is expect to cost more than $100 million to build.

The project is crafted to have an upscale, hotel-like feel, and is expected to include a theater, pool and spa, fitness center and in-house kitchen that would offer meals for residents choosing to purchase a meal plan.

Rents within the community would range from $2,500 to $3,000 per month.