| A Jensen Community... Care-free Affordable Living in Uncasville, CT |
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A Residential Community Offers Care-free Living For Those 55 And Over
Tel: (860) 848-4204
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Uncasville, Connecticut —
They thought about buying a smaller home for some time now, a place where they would want to retire. Then Kathy Hubbert, while researching different adult residential communities throughout New England, discovered Hillcrest, in Uncasville, Connecticut. “I remembered telling myself I immediately liked what I saw. I showed my husband Mike what I had found and easily convinced him to drive down there so we could take a tour,” Kathy recalls.
Mike and Kathy Hubbert liked what they saw at Hillcrest. “My husband thought the home construction was excellent, and we both fell in love with the area,” Kathy said. “I also liked the different options we could choose in designing our home, we could even adjust the floor plans to suit our own needs. I could pick out the hardwood floors I wanted, the color of the carpeting and different windows, too.”
Hillcrest is one of 28 communities that Southington, Connecticut based Jensen’s operates from New Hampshire to Georgia — for people 55-and-over. This ensures that their retirement communities continue to maintain certain residential guidelines implemented by various state and federal agencies.
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Hillcrest is currently 85% sold with only 29 home-sites remaining. Hillcrest residents get to choose from six basic floor plans for their custom-built, one-story manufactured home which range from 1,100 to more than 1,700 square feet. The wooded lots are spacious and at least a quarter-acre in size, which differs from most other communities. All the homes are on foundations, have attached garages, decks and covered porches. Many home-owners also include the optional 4-season sunroom. All appliances and floor coverings are included.
“The concept is to gear down a little bit, to get away from a high-maintenance house and to get into a home with all of the living features on one floor,” said Hillcrest’s On-Site Manager Nick Verzillo. “No two houses are exactly alike, and adjacent homes will not have the same style or color, if possible — which gives our community the beautiful look of a country-side neighborhood.”
Hillcrest promotes its land-lease concept, where residents purchase new homes, live in neighborhoods with people of similar interests, and enjoy an atmosphere that caters to their needs. “What sets us apart from our competition is the benefit of living in a close-knit community,” says Ray Finocchio, Director of Marketing. “You’re with people similar to yourself, living independently, but in a secure, maintained community with high standards. It’s the best of both worlds — your own home and unparalleled service!”
The homes at Jensen’s Hillcrest range from $163,900 to $250,000, which everyone agrees is a good value in this part of Connecticut. The land lease is $425 a month. “I certainly don’t mind paying that amount for what we actually receive,” said Kathy Hubbert.
Homes at Hillcrest continue to show quality and increase in value. Each home receives a colorful, four-season landscape design as well.
According to Nick Verzillo, the community land-lease concept is growing in popularity for several reasons. “A lot of people still like to own their own land, but you can’t take that land with you,” he said. “People here buy a nice home with city amenities without spending an extra $125,000 or $150,000 on the land. They can take those funds and do so many other things — go on vacations or invest it and make good use of the interest.” In the middle of this oasis, is an award-winning recreational building with an indoor heated pool, a large reading library, a catering kitchen, and a community room. There are long walking trails that wind along the streets, through the woods and around the neighborhood’s ponds. There’s a parking lot for recreational vehicles and residents can also have one small pet per household.
Relocating from Vermont, Linda and Neal Harvey wanted a warmer climate. “My husband, Neal, loves the water and fishing,” said Linda Harvey. “He always wanted to retire to an area where we could enjoy the change of the seasons and live near the coast. He’s an avid fisherman. So we started looking in southeastern Connecticut and discovered Hillcrest. We actually saw an advertisement for Hillcrest in this publication (Just For Seniors Magazine) last summer and decided to have a look. We immediately fell in love with Hillcrest.” Neal fondly remembers this area from when he worked at Pfizer. “I have always liked this part of Connecticut. Linda and I are very active and love to play golf as often as possible and now we’re much closer to our grandchildren, too,” said Neal Harvey.
“It’s almost like a country club here,” Linda said. Living at Hillcrest is so easy, they do almost everything for you.” Included are use of all amenities, professional landscaping, trash pick-up, city-sewer, and private roads. Lawn maintenance services are optional including: lawn cutting, leaf-raking, and snow-shoveling during the winter months.
While the tangible benefits of communities such as Hillcrest are numerous, what the Hubberts have liked best is a little more difficult to quantify. “For me it’s the people,” said Mike Hubbert. “We have met so many of our neighbors and made new friends just by taking walks through Hillcrest. The people who live here are absolutely wonderful.”
There are aerobics classes, swimming classes, potluck dinners, an arts & crafts room, movie groups, a horseshoe club, and even a theater group. They even have game-nights and day trips, with some weekend jaunts and fund-raisers for various community charities. The indoor heated swimming pool gets a lot of use by both residents and visiting grandchildren alike, and the billiards room is always a popular spot. The conference and meeting room contains a professional kitchen that can be used for almost any event. Community residents also organize regular gatherings there from yoga and tai-chi to book clubs.
“Someone’s always having a get-together,” Nick Verzillo said. “A Halloween party, a New Year’s Eve party, or a birthday party — there’s always something going on.” The travel club organizes several trips a year. All of the activity is a plus to Linda Harvey. “The people here are wonderful, and we like the age diversity as well as meeting neighbors of various backgrounds and varied interests. There’s always someone to wave to or chat with on a walk around the neighborhood,” said Neal Harvey. “But if you want your privacy,” Neal continued, “you can have it, or you can be as socially active as you like. Everybody here is quite friendly, but not intrusive.”
Residential communities, built and operated by Jensen’s, has been in business for nearly 80 years and is now in its third generation of management. The company was founded in 1927. Kristian Jensen Sr., an immigrant from Denmark, later began selling manufactured homes and then moved into the community management and development business which is now the sole focus of this privately held corporation. Kristian Jensen Jr., former company president, has recently retired with Kristian Jensen III assuming company leadership as president and CEO. “With the aging of the “Baby Boomers” and as the population ages in general,” Ray Finocchio said, “people are looking for convenience and care-free living — and that’s what you get at Hillcrest.”
“As Hillcrest continues to grow, it has enjoyed a strong relationship with the local town municipality. Everyone who lives in the area knows about our community because of the way it’s managed and maintained with distinctive advantages,” said Nick Verzillo. “Hillcrest is conveniently located within minutes of shopping and major medical centers. It’s also a short drive to the beach and both casinos. It’s technically rural, so there are plenty of trees and hillsides and foliage…but everything is within about 15 minutes. We’re far enough away where we don't have to worry about noise and congestion, but if you want to go somewhere you don’t have to travel a long time.”
There’s a point in life when the urge to simplify, to exchange responsibility for freedom becomes overwhelming. With retirement possibly in the future and children grown, many people no longer want to be tied to a labor-intensive home, or the lack of privacy and sharing common walls in a condo. They want to travel, explore new interests, meet new people, or just relax more. Hillcrest allows you to do it all. Hillcrest is now in Phase IV (last phase) with only 29 home-sites available.
For more information or a private tour, call Nick Verzillo, On-Site Community Managerat Hillcrest
or contact any member of Hillcrest’s staff at (860) 848-4204
Jensen’s email address is: hcsales@jensencommunities.com. You can visit Jensen’s website at: www.jensencommunities.com
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