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1/30/11
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PRST-STD U.S. Postage Paid Palmer, MA Permit #22
FREE! Over 55 Housing Faces a Mixed Development Future By Linda Tishler Levinson Active adult communities seemed like the perfect answer for towns that wanted to grow in the 1990s. These developments, zoned for residents over age 55, would allow towns to expand their housing stock — and add properties to the tax rolls — without adding to the school population. The theory was that they would increase the grand list without adding to the school budget. And in the prosperous years from that time until the recession that began in 2008, the theory held true. Towns were approving these developments at a rapid pace. Developers found they had an eager market of baby boomers flush with stock market-driven retirement accounts, and the units were selling. “Five years ago when I planned it, over 55 was hot,� said Steve Riley, of the Riley Co. He had planned to build an active adult community in Somers, but sold the land along which had already been approved for the project when the housing market turned sour. He left building over55 housing behind and went back to concentrating on building retail stores and resort areas. “If I was developing houses, I would
In This Issue • PEOPLE: Rotary basketball all-stars selected from tournament ..........p. 3 • REGIONAL: Woodland owners asked to learn about program ....................p. 4 • BUSINESS: Elaine’s Coffee House opens in Broad Brook..................p. 5 • EAST WINDSOR: Snow melting away town’s budget ....................p. 6 • EAST WINDSOR: Senior center offers extensive programs ..........p. 8 • ELLINGTON: Town focusing on only most pressing needs ........................p. 9
have lost my shirt,� Riley said. Other developers have had the same change of heart. Two former active adult communities in Ellington, Windermere Village and Center Village, have gone to the town and received zoning changes. They now are zoned for multi-family housing. “In essence they both removed their age restrictions,� said John Collonese, assistant zoning enforcement officer in Ellington. Some, however, have retained their adult-community status. John Collins, Somers’ building official, said while there has been talk of zoning changes, none have been requested in Somers. Laurie Whitten, East Windsor’s town planner, said that town managed to keep its adult communities successful by limiting the number of them. “We have a cap on our active adult, and it’s not even built out,� she said. Some active-adult communities are still under development. Gaetan Gingras, of Gingras Development in Somers, remains convinced that the concept is a winner.
Not ‘Weight’-ing For Trouble
SENIOR/page 4
• ELLINGTON: Teacher at EHS called a gem for his efforts..................p. 13 • ELLINGTON: Senior center has health & wellness programs......p. 14 • SOMERS: Town will approach federal government for snow help ............p. 15 • SOMERS: News and happenings from around town....................................p. 22 • STAFFORD: Snow storms impacting town in a major way....................p. 26 • STAFFORD: New website focuses on all town has to offer ......................p. 27 • AUTO: Subaru WRX-STI..............p. 33 • CLASSIFIEDS:....................pp. 34-35
• NEXT ISSUE • DEADLINE: Feb. 24, 2011 St. Patty’s Day/March Madness
(860) 698-0020 www.thenorthcentralnews.com
Larry Palmer of Stafford shovels his roof on January 27 after the latest storm. So far, more than six feet of snow has fallen, which requires roofs to be cleared before they cave in from the weight.
Photo by Barbara Bresnahan
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