DELMAR — The Spinney at Van Dyke continues to strive towards building a stronger neighborhood within its “55-and-better” community.
Retirement and independent-living developments have popped up throughout the Capital District in the past few years, helping residents stay in the area they know and love.
The Spinney at Van Dyke is a neighborhood of its own, designed for the 55-and-better community that has retired into their next phase of lifestyle, or working professionals working towards that goal.
The location, for many of those who have established lives around this area, allows residents to stay in their hometown, said Samantha Raynor, director of leasing and marketing at The Spinney Group. It’s still the same commute to the movies, the mall or the show downtown. And, your favorite pizza joint is still a phone call away.
“They’re used to the neighborhoods that they come from,” said Raynor. “And, they are now still able to have that feel with their [new] friends and neighbors.”
What makes The Spinney so unique is its one-story living approach. All of its buildings are built this way so residents do not need to climb stairs in their homes again, allowing them to age in place. Another reason for this building technique is for the convenience of privacy. No one will ever live above or below them, unlike apartment buildings that are built floor upon floor. To add onto the attractiveness of this concept, most unit types have attached, direct-access garages and private front porches and back patios, further mimicking the feel of a single-family home.
While Spinney cottages’ amenities may make residents feel as if they’re living in a single-family home, they will no longer feel the woes associated with homeownership. Think about regaining all the time spent on mowing the lawn, shoveling snow and fixing the plumbing, so you can focus on family, friends and hobbies — hobbies which can be further fostered by the group’s community events calendar.
A new clubhouse that promises a full kitchen; a large gathering room with a gas fireplace; a conference room; and a media room with a projector, is expected to be opened by the end of November.
“We [had] built another one in our community across the river in Schodack,” said Raynor. “It’s the same footprint. It’s the same timeline as well. It just takes a little bit longer than you think, but it’s worth the wait. We found, especially across the river at The Spinney at Pond View, [the clubhouse] is very well used and well received. It’s the epicenter of the community that we really need in our community in Delmar, so I’m really looking forward to it.”
A swimming pool adjacent to the clubhouse should also be completed before next summer, Raynor said.
“Our approach to the ‘55-and-better’ community is the best approach and the easiest transition from a single-family home to a downsized lifestyle,” said Raynor.