By Dana Zakshevsky
As retirement gets closer, it’s nice to know there are many housing options
to choose from. With ranch houses, luxury apartments, assisted living facilities
and more, there are great options for everyone.
The Orchards Group, East Cherokee
This development, focused on the 55-plus population, has two distinct villages:
“Southern Heritage” has two- to four-bedroom ranch condominium homes,
and “The Gallery” has two- to four-bedroom single-family homes.
Amenities include a grand clubhouse with a fitness center, games and cards room,
a gourmet kitchen, fireplace, a 5.1 surround sound TV entertainment center,
swimming pool, waterfall sitting plaza, barbecue grills and more. Prices range
from $200K to $275K. Other communities within The Orchards Group include Habersham
Grove and Brannon Oak Farm. (770) 345-5409; orchardsgroup.com
Parc Communities, Buckhead
Parc Communities offers a luxury apartment community for adults 55 and over.
This complex is only 15 minutes away from Downtown Atlanta. Some of the amenities
include continental breakfasts and a daily choice of lunch or dinner, two full-time
club directors, 24-hour concierge and valet services, terraced gardens, a modern
business center, aerobics and a fitness center with a heated three-lane lap
pool and Jacuzzi, a library/reading room with a fireplace, a theater-style media
center, weekly housekeeping and linen service, an emergency call and daily check-in
system and more. There are 17 floorplans to choose from with one-bedroom, one-bathroom
options, two-bedroom, two-bathroom options and two-bedrooms, two-and-a-half-bath
options. Prices start at $2,990 a month. Parc Communities also offers homes
at its Duluth/Johns Creek, Piedmont/East Cobb and Alpharetta locations. (404)
442-2700; buckhead.parccommunities.com
Jim Chapman Communities, Brookhaven at Johns Creek
This active adult community for those 55 and older offers luxury ranch condos.
Jim Chapman Communities recently won three 2009 Greater Atlanta Homebuilders
Association Awards: gold for the best amenity package, silver for the best building
design for the Morningside and silver for the best model merchandising for the
Morningside design.
Floorplans include one-level, two- and three-bedroom attached condominiums and
one-level, two- to four-bedroom detached homes. Amenities include a heated pool,
an outdoor fireplace, a clubhouse with an exercise room and kitchen, two lighted
tennis courts and walking trails, a lifestyles director on staff and even a
travel club. Homes are priced from $300K. Other Jim Chapman Communities include
Brookhaven at Lanier Ridge, Haven at Slater Mill, Brookhaven at Sugarloaf, Brookhaven
of East Cobb, the Haven at Lost Mountain and Concord Mill. (770) 319-7474; jimchapmancommunities.com
Soliel Laurel Canyon, Canton
Soliel offers resort-style living for the active adult with a fun, energetic
and enthusiastic attitude. These individual houses come in seven different floor
plans. With a 28,999-square-foot clubhouse, an arts and crafts center, a gourmet
teaching kitchen, theater and performing arts center and a fitness center, there
are tons of engaging activities offered, not to mention the walking trails,
lake, amphitheater, tennis courts, pool, bocce ball area and the Fairways of
Canton Golf Course that are all in your new backyard! New residents can quickly
meet their neighbors through Soliel’s array of clubs, including poker,
computer, knit and stitch and even a Monday night football group and personal
training club. Prices range from $200K to $400K. (678) 880-3071; soleillaurelcanyon.com
Gary Holding Group, Noble Village at Sugarloaf
This active senior living, village-style community is the perfect place to relax
and feel at home. Noble Village at Sugarloaf has walking paths, a pool, a pet
park, a playhouse/theater, a fitness and aquatic center, a library and more.
Special amenities are available, such as private transportation, meal plans,
beauty and barber salon services and medical assistance, as needed. Noble Village
fits any retirement lifestyle with neighborhoods offering independent living,
assisted living and memory care. Individual cottages, studios and one- or two-bedroom
apartments are all offered. (770) 232-3008; noblevillage-sugarloaf.com