Brainerd Street Commons

Mount Holly retirement community offers an environment that helps make downsizing easy

By Gail T. Boatman, Special to the Burlington County Times (Sunday, November 28, 2005)

Of all the choices faced by individuals or couples planning for retirement, none is more difficult than how to simplify their life style and whether — or when — to downsize. To leave the family home with all its precious possessions and memories can be agonizing, as can the choice of a retirement community.

The many options out there can make the decision even more difficult. One, a new arrival on the scene, the Brainerd Street Commons in Mount Holly, differs from many in its location and its affordability.

We are the opposite of a gated community," said Karen Robbins, the executive director.

What that means, according Robbins, is that the Commons is part of an old, established neighborhood and its residents can enjoy the shops and restaurants on bustling High Street, just a short walk away.

The benefits of Mount Holly's on-going restoration are at their fingertips. Among them is the quaint Mill Race Village with its art gallery and quilt shop. Even closer is a new Burlington County College facility, where classes are offered regularly.

"We are part of the neighborhood," said Robbins.

Add to this the amenities available to residents of the Commons and you have a life style that is as attractive as that in a much higher priced development, she said.

The Brainerd Street Commons, which started last year, has 23 units, three of them two-bedroom town houses, and the rest one bedroom apartments. Formerly owned by Medford Leas, the units are divided among three buildings located near the intersection of Buttonwood and Brainerd streets. Buyers must be 62 or older.

It is set up as a type of cooperative with the Woolman Community development Corporation, which developed and created it, serving as a managing member. "We are not out to make a profit," Robbins said. "Our aim is to preserve a high quality life style for the members."

That high quality includes what Robbins calls the "Great Room" a nearly 1,500 square-foot space. She envisions it as a lively center where residents can socialize, enjoy a snack, watch programs on a large screen television set, use a sewing machine or work on a computer.

Off one end, is a greenhouse, where gardeners can flex their green thumbs and others can enjoy the results.

The 770-square-foot apartments start at $95,000 and the monthly fee is $590. The town houses sell for $167,000 and each is approximately 2,000 square feet. The monthly fees average $950. The current high-flying real estate market means that most of the residents will have enough money from the sale of their homes to buy their units without taking out a mortgage, Robbins said.

However, if anyone needs assistance obtaining a loan, that will be provided. Currently, there are four owners; all are women and they range in age from 69 to 90. The 90-year old, who will move in as soon as her home sells, said she is ready for a change.

"I am tired of raking leaves and mowing the grass," she said.

The woman, who did not want her name used, has lived in a ranch house in Mount Holly since 1961. To assist her in sorting out her belongings and deciding what to take with her and what to dispose of, she has called upon the services of Lois Edmund, a Cherry Hill woman who runs Seniors on the Move.

A relocation specialist for older clients, Edmund's goal is to guide them through the process of downsizing, even to packing and helping with the move itself. She does weight training to keep in shape for the heavy lifting and believes that her emotional detachment from a person's lifetime possessions helps in the decision making.

Her list of resources runs the gamut from antique appraisers to contractors who will carry out needed repairs before a home is put on the market. "I call myself the CEO of moving," she said. "I tailor my service to the individual."

An on-site manager is available for the residents, adding to the worry-free atmosphere. He can help with the small tasks that can bedevil an older person, like changing a light bulb that is in an inaccessible location.