Among the new home developments in Spring Branch — which is attracting a variety of buyers thanks in part to its location and relative affordability — one may have the strongest claim to uniqueness.
National homebuilder Beazer Homes completed Gatherings At Westview, a gated condominium project exclusively for residents 55 and older and styled as an active adult community. Its private features include a dog park, a putting green, a grilling pavilion. Also: a fitness center, a lawn with an outdoor movie screen, electric vehicle charging stations and private garages.
At Westview and Silber, The Gatherings at Westview development of 81 condominiums is among several by Atlanta-based Beazer Homes nationwide for 55+ buyers. But it’s only one in Houston.
Having grown up in Spring Branch, Michelle Davis, onsite sales counselor for Gatherings at Westview, is quick to acknowledge the benefits of the area.
“ ‘Why Spring Branch?’ Why not Spring Branch? This area has a lot going on. There is a strong sense of community in Spring Branch. It offers phenomenal proximity; I mean you can get anywhere you want from Spring Branch,” she said. “There are still single-family homes all the way around you, wonderful new restaurants, shopping, and entertainment.”
Each condo unit is unique by design, Davis said. Prices start at $360,000, according to the project’s website, with units starting in size of more than 1,500 square feet. Homeowners association fees are extra.
Considering the eventual needs of its “life-loving” residents, modifications for each condo include features such as 3-foot-wide doors and doorways and door levers instead of knobs.
“The strongest feature is the sense of community among our owners,” Davis said.
Residents gather for events such as twice-a-month potluck meals and group trips to support area restaurants.
As Forbes magazine reported, “It can be easier to stay socially connected in communities that encourage interaction and group activities, and those connections can help stave off loneliness and isolation, says Alicea Ardito, a Virginia-based licensed clinical social worker who specializes in care of older adults. In fact, Finnish researchers concluded in a 2021 study that the social activities typical in housing communities designed for older adults appear to support well-being and healthy aging effectively.”
Also, “older and better” homebuyers are often attracted to such age-restricted housing because they offer security, relative quiet and single-floor units, meaning frequent use of staircases is not required.
— by Jessika Leal
