EAGLE TRIBUNE MARKETPLACE


Written article as it appeared in the Eagle Tribune newspaper on Sunday, September 21, 2008.
 



Article written by Linda Greenstein, Correspondent

SALEM, N.H. -- The Village at Town Center is an active adult community where comfort, beauty, style and a sense of neighborhood come together for a fabulous carefree lifestyle.
     Lush green lawns, vivid flowing borders, neatly trimmed shrubs and a lovely mix of home styles welcome visitors to the attractive circular neighborhood located adjacent to Salem's Historic District. Designed for reisdents aged 55 and up, this 3-year-old community offers a perfect mix of suburban neighborhood, great location and wonderful architectural design.
     Tucked neatly into a quiet neighborhood, The Village at Town Center features 30 homes on 13 acres, including a serene walking trail, wooded backyards and tall pines.
     With six different paint colors, a variety of home styles and an abundance of appealing design details, the homes have individual style while melding together as a charming neighborhood. As you drive into the neighborhood, pride in ownership is obvious from the colorful potted and hanging plants on the doorsteps.
     The model home has a bright open feel. The individual homes are all comfortable and designed for contemporary lifestyles. While the floor plan may be efficient, there is nothing small about the interiors. The front living room features a cathedral ceiling, an eye-catching half circle window and a gorgeous bay window. Natural light pours into the space and the gleaming hardwood floors give the room an additional sense of spaciousness. 
    
    
     A magnificent oak tread staircase with artistic turned balusters invites visitors upstairs.
     "The beautiful details and high-end materials of the staircase are a standard feature and an example of the quality we put into these homes," builder Thomas Gioseffi said. "We at Stonehill Builders are very proud of The Village at Town Center. It was our introduction into the active adult communities and we are delighted with how it has been received."
     The model's living room is connected to the kitchen by a large open pass-through. In another design, the living room and dining room are connected as one large space with a soaring cathedral ceiling. The kitchen displays hardwood cabinets and state-of-the-art stainless steel appliances. The kitchen design allows for plenty of creative work space without needless wasted steps.
    
 
 
 
     The kitchen opens out to the delightful dining room. Double glass doors let in natural light and lead out to the covered deck for casual outdoor dining. The deck is private with wooded views. Sitting outside, visitors are struck by the gentle sounds of the neighborhood. Birds musically call from the trees and the wind rustles the leafy branches, absent are traffic sounds, car horns and blasting music.
     Each home offers complete first floor living, with a half bath featuring a laundry, an oversized pantry closet off the garage entry and a beautiful master bedroom suite.
     The master bedroom has a towering cathedral ceiling softened by a Casablanca fan. Two oversized windows look out at the green backyard and textured woods that border the neighborhood. The room is considerable, but luxurious with warm plush carpeting.
     The master bath has an elegant tile floor, attractive vanity and a built-in tub and shower surround or optional walk-in shower. Next door is an enormous walk-in closet.
     The entire home is thoughtfully built with extra wide corridor and doorways to accomidate a wheelchair, and about a dozen design features considered most desirable by AARP members. There is two-zone heating and air conditioning and the homes are appointed with outstanding insulation and energy saving features. A bonus is that the neighborhood association purchases propane gas in bulk, guaranteeing a lower price.
     The upstairs features a large landing that could easily become a home office or sitting area. The second bedroom is large and bright with a full bath, perfect for guests.
     A full walk-out basement with large windows is equal in size to the first floor. The space can be finished as a grand media or family room.
 
 
"While some people see this as downsizing, for many it is actually not smaller than their previous homes," Gioseffi said. "It is more of a lifestyle move. Here, homeowners do not need to mow the grass or plow their driveways. The homeowners assaociation even takes care of shoveling the front steps. This community is for those who want a carefree lifestyle in a beautiful home and a great setting. The senior center is less than a mile away, and all the shopping a restaurants you could want are within 10 minutes.
     "Only four homes remain," explained Michael Carney, Realtor with the Masiello Group. "This builder has done such an outstanding job creating an attractive active adult community, that they sold quickly. Now Stonehill Builders has similar projects underway in Derry and Hampstead."
     Starting at $299,900, The Village at Town Center is open to the public on Sundays from 1 to 3 p.m., or by appointment by contacting Carney at the Masiello office in Salem at 603-893-8990 or at their Web site, www.masiello.com.