SPRING 2004
Mary Ellen Brooks
Director of Institutional Advancement“What is a vision? It is a compelling image of an achievable future.”
Laura Berman Fortang
ovember 21, 2003, marked another historic milestone for Friends Home at Woodstown. The white tent was set up with seating for 200 people. By 1:15, over 200 residents, friends, neighbors, volunteers, Board members, community and civic leaders were seated and waiting for the ground breaking ceremony to begin. Friends Home staff members were busy bringing out all the extra chairs available from throughout Friends Home. At 1:30 people were standing at least three deep behind the chairs.
It is a joy and a blessing to look out my office window and watch this compelling image take physical form. Yes, the early stage of construction projects is just site work to some, but to the Friends Home family site work is a beautiful sight. We are able to at last get a glimpse of the Board’s vision. You can hear people talking together: “Oh, the new rear driveway is here, and the retention basin is over there and that’s where the new main driveway will enter the campus!”
Charles “Skip” West, AIA, Director of Construction Services for New Life Management & Development, Inc., is our man on the scene.
MEB: Skip, do you mind answering a few questions and bringing us up to date?
SKIP: Happy to! We are already ahead of schedule. The retention basin is being constructed, storm sewer lines are being piped to it and we are making the connections to the street. Underground utilities are being installed, and in the next month you will see paving of the access roads to E. Millbrook and Route 40.
MEB: Wow! It’s happening, it’s really happening! And what’s next?
SKIP: The next step is to begin construction of the assisted living and Village apartment buildings — digging the footings and pouring the foundations. These first few months may seem boring to some until they start to see the buildings come up out of the ground. It really gets exciting when people start to see the buildings take shape and more people are onsite, involved in the construction process.
MEB: What can we expect as far as the project as a whole?
SKIP: The cottages are modular structures which are being factory built to ensure a high level of construction quality within a controlled setting. This whole project will be completed in 16 months.
MEB: What about our future residents, our depositors?
SKIP: I’ve been meeting with our depositors for the past several months. They are selecting their interior colors, finishes and structural modifications. I’ve already met with the men, women and couples for 35 of our cottages and apartments and these meetings will continue until all the cottages and apartments are taken.
MEB: What is the feedback from our future residents?
SKIP: You know, one of the great benefits of buying into The Village community today, or any similar community for that matter, is that you can be sure your cottage or apartment will be modified in a way to meet your lifestyle and needs. It feels so good to work with people who have lived with one style, say a kitchen cabinet style, for many years. I get to see and share their joy and excitement at the prospect of upgrading and choosing an attractive new style at this stage of their lives. The feedback is all good.
MEB: Thanks, Skip.
SKIP: My pleasure, Mary Ellen. Feel free to give me a call for updates over the next 16 months.
I just checked with Jane Burslem, Director of Marketing. There are several of each cottage and apartment style still available. So if you or a friend or family member are wishing you didn’t have to deal with the wind, snow and ice in the cold weather and the home maintenance, big garden and lawn in the warmer weather, give Jane a call at 856-769-5035 or 1-88-VILLAGE-8. Or, if you are in the area, simply stop by the Marketing office at 1150 Route 40.
Today’s Vision — Tomorrow’s Mission
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Last modified:
Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 08:19 AM
