Fox Hollow

“Fox Hollow Offers ‘Age in Place’

Accommodations.”

By Mike Russo

(Voices)

 

       Naugatuck – Fox Hollow, a new active adult living community for people age 55 and over, located on Silver Ridge Lane, is one of the first of its kind in the country to be constructed using a universal design concept to accommodate the changing needs of an aging population with built-in “age in place” amenities.

       Land developer Gary Bonomo, president of Community Development Investment Fund, LLC, hopes to tap into the baby-boomer market to provide affordable houses that can assimilate to the aging process, allowing residents to stay in their own homes for the rest of their lives.

       When Mr. Bonomo’s mother had a heart attack, he began looking at living accommodations that could facilitate the limitations of her illness, while at the same time maintaining her independence.

       Mr. Bonomo did what any good son would do for his mother, and began to inquire into many senior living communities to find accommodations that would suit her needs.

       He found through his search that there were no adequate facilities to fulfill her needed accommodations.

       “Many active adults communities had homes that were two or three stories or there were limited by accessibility for wheelchairs,” he said.

       During the process, Mr. Bonomo discovered making modifications to existing living arrangements was too costly and decided to take matters into his own hands.

       With no previous experience, Mr. Bonomo, 54, a self-proclaimed entrepreneur since age nine, conducted two-and-a-half years of extensive research into the needs of the aging community.

       The research included endless hours in libraries and on the Internet, along with interviewing active adults and seniors ages 55 to 95 years-old.

       Mr. Bonomo came across the concept of universal design, which means “accessible by all,” on the Internet while visiting the University of North Carolina and Georgia Institute of Technology Web sites.

       What came of that research resulted in what is now becoming Fox Hollow, a 20-unit housing development on 7.7 acres on Silver Ridge Lane, located off Route 63, with homes that will be ready for buyers to occupy this fall.

       “These Houses actually embrace the aging process,” said Mr. Bonomo, “rather than saying now that you have aged, you can’t live here anymore.”

       The easily accessible one-level single family homes designed by Armand Deangelis are available in three design styles, all of which feature all the amenities of home, with adaptations in each room to facilitate the needs of people with physical limitations.

       Mr. Bonomo said during the planning stage, the company worked with Whirlpool to furnish the homes with modified appliances in the kitchen, laundry room and other areas.

       The kitchens are furnished with stainless steel Whirlpool products arranged for easy access. The double stacked ovens have individual controls, which are easily reachable from a sitting position if necessary.

       “This way,” said Mr. Bonomo, “someone from a sitting position can still control the oven and make a contribution to the cooking.”

       The stoves, unlike conventional models, have the controls on the front instead of the back, letting people safely prepare meals without the possibility of being burned.

       The refrigerator has a bottom-loading freezer with wide storage space for easy access and is located directly next to the microwave, which is placed lower on wall for easy accessibility.

       The deep drawers in the kitchen have a full extension feature, which allows from-the-side full access to contents.

       Cabinets underneath the sink, stove and kitchen work areas are modified with sliding door option to allow someone in a wheelchair to work comfortably to prepare meals or clean.

       Each of the homes is installed with a central vacuum system, with a portal in the corner of the kitchen floor providing the ability to sweep without the use of a dust pan.

       The three full bathrooms contain a walk-in shower with a 36-inch entrance and accessible water controls. Each shower unit is equipped with full-body-length blow dryer to easily dry off without using a towel.

       “This assists people in maintaining their independence during personal care,” said Mr. Bonomo.

       The laundry room has been modified with a jumbo washer and dryer side-by-side with doors that open in opposing directions. “Someone with mobility issues can easily transfer clothes,” he said, “without the obstruction of the doors getting in their way.

       What makes the homes truly unique, according to Mr. Bonomo, is what is called the conversion room.

       The conversion room, at the request of the homeowner, can be designed as recreation room with a Jacuzzi or a sun room, or can be built to accommodate a live-in apartment with porch and its own entrance.

       If over time the room needs to be converted to accommodate the home owner, adaptation accessories are already in place to make that change. “The room is constructed in a way that the conversion would only take one day to install,” he said.

       The houses are built with energy-efficient materials, and according to Mr. Bonomo are 22.8 percent above energy certification standards, and have expanded energy-saving benefits with air re-circulation units and sky dome in the main living area.

       “Active adults after retirement are on fixed incomes and people cannot control the rising cost of bills,” he said. “We only selected the best materials in relation to energy efficiency.”

       Each home is equipped with a 500-gallon propane tank. An added benefit, the living community association buys the propane on the open market and locks in to a price. “When you buy in volume,” said Mr. Bonomo, “you can get a discount on the cost.”

Mr. Bonomo said people who are interested are required to purchase the land for $75,000, and can design the house to be built to their specifications depending on their needs.

Common charges for the community are $250 a month, which includes snow and leaf removal, and lawn maintenance of the common areas of the development.

Of the $250 common charge, $41 a month is put aside for each home towards insurance on its replacement value.

       Currently 10 homes have been purchased or have deposits and there are still 10 prospective homes available. Mr. Bonomo said the living community is an opportunity of a lifetime for baby boomers who wish to keep their independence.

“People can stay in their homes for the rest of their lives, surrounded by their loved ones, he said.

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