Living independent
Crestwood celebrates new senior housing

by Susan Mikula Campbell
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, September 20, 2007

Enjoying a game of cards in the main building at Crestwood Commons
are from left, Margaret Netzer, Carmella Amabile, Margaret Ross,
Mary Oakes and Marie Stenzel. (photo by Dave Young)

It wasn’t easy for 83-year-old Marie Stenzel to sell her home and move here from New Jersey so she could live closer to her son and daughter-in-law.

“I left behind a lot of old memories,” she says, her eyes downcast. But then, her smile is back, because she can’t say enough about her new patio home at Crestwood Commons, the new friends she’s made and the birds that are already visiting her feeder.

“I like the idea I have my own little home and didn’t have to buy it,” she said. “My daughter looked in Massachusetts for me, but she couldn’t find a thing like this. This is very novel.”

ElderWood’s Crestwood Commons, a new independent living patio home and apartment community for senior citizens is celebrating its grand opening from 4 to 7 p.m. today. Offering one- or two-bedroom rental units, it’s located at 2600 Niagara Falls Blvd., in Wheatfield, across from Crestwood’s already existing health care center/nursing home.

Currently, there are 40 residents. When Phase II of the project is completed in November, there will be 50 apartments and 48 patio homes.

Monthly rent starts at $1,795 for patio homes, including an attached garage, a tiny front porch and small private rear patio. Apartment rent, which includes breakfast and dinner, starts at $1,895 per month.

It’s all designed for seniors, 62 and older, who can live on their own. Among the amenities to make life easier, however, are maintenance and repairs, weekly housekeeping and linen service, security, an emergency response system, trash and snow removal, daily continental breakfast and beverage service, library, café, fine dining restaurant, billiard room, beauty salon, exercise gym, theater room and scheduled transportation to grocery stores, banks and places of worship. A variety of outings and social activities are regularly offered, and they’ll even water your plants if you’re away.

“Niagara County truly had a need for these type of services,” said Michele A. Ladouceur, senior director of independent living services. “We’re pioneers of independent living in Niagara County of this caliber. This is premier. This isn’t just about the real estate. It’s about the service package and it’s about the lifestyle.”

Duane Parker, 70, a former Niagara County social worker, moved here from an apartment in Lewiston where he’d lived for seven years, and he couldn’t be happier. He was Crestwood Common’s first apartment renter, moving in July 23.

“I like everything about it,” he said. “I couldn’t ask for a nicer place to be. People who work here are extremely helpful; everything you ask of them, they just go out of their way to do.”

Parker, who’s in a wheelchair most of the time, likes the fact he doesn’t have to cook, even though both the apartments and patio homes have fully equipped kitchens. And, he says, the food served in the restaurant is good.

The apartments and patio homes are surprisingly spacious, with ample storage space, blown insulation for soundproofing, high ceilings and large windows.

“I was able to bring all my loved knickknacks and furniture,” Stenzel said. “I kept saying to the kids, ‘This won’t fit!’ and they said, ‘Bring it mom; we’ll get it in.’ ”

Both patio homes and apartments have open designs with kitchens flowing into great rooms.

Patio homes each have their own laundry area. Apartment dwellers share laundry facilities in groups of 12 and can relax in adjacent lounges while the dryer tumbles.

Pets are welcome here. Trevor, on the way out for a walk with his owner, has already learned that a stop at the front desk means a treat. His curly, black bottom wriggling with delight, he tries to make a second pass on his return, but his owner admonishes him that he’s getting fat.

Stenzel was the complex’s first resident, moving in early to her patio home in April while construction was still under way in Phase I, because her New Jersey home sold sooner than expected. She had originally fell in love with ElderWood’s Maplewood Commons in Cheektowaga, but there were no immediate vacancies there. It’s been 100 percent occupancy ever since it opened in 2005.

Ladouceur expects the same to be true before long at Crestwood.

“We know we have a beautiful product,” Ladouceur said. “If you can live independently, that’s the whole key. It’s just friendship, kindness and services here.”

Residents pose outside the front doors to the main building at Crestwood. (photo by Dave Young)