Senior Living Community Under Construction

The NorSouth Development Co., a senior living developer, has broken ground on HearthSide Johns Creek, the city’s first affordable senior living community. 

Scheduled for completion in summer 2012, the $13.7 million amenity-rich, rental community of 90 apartments is reserved for independent seniors age 62 and older. It was designed by Foley Design Associates Architects Inc. and is being built by NorSouth Constructs. NorSouth Management Company will manage the property.

HearthSide Johns Creek, winner of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs’ 2010 Superior Project Concept Award, is part of the Johns Creek Walk mixed-use development on Medlock Bridge Road at Bell Road. Designed to evoke a historic small town, the walkable, master-planned town includes an old-fashioned Main Street with shops, restaurants and businesses. It’s adjacent to the Johns Creek Greenway, a connected network of multi-use trails for walking, jogging and bicycling.

“We worked very hard to bring HearthSide to Johns Creek and are delighted NorSouth is under way with the project,” said John Kachmar, city manager for Johns Creek, in a press release. “On a scale of one to 10, I give it a 12.”

“We are proud and honored to introduce the HearthSide livestyle to the city of Johns Creek,” added Thurston Cooke, vice president at NorSouth Development.  “There are no hefty down payments or entry fees required, and our residents are freed from the responsibilities of home ownership and maintenance.  And, with the unparalleled location within Johns Creek Walk, and access to walking trails, a transit stop, and numerous shops and services, we are offering our residents a lifestyle full of opportunities for social engagement and enrichment.”

HearthSide Johns Creek will consist of a gated, four-story building of stone, brick and hardiplank siding, with direct entry for ground level residences and balconies in select units. Common areas will include a resident bistro, fitness center, media room and art studio. Outside, residents will enjoy private gardens, an outdoor fireplace, a courtyard with a fountain and patio with a grille. One and two-bedroom residences will feature open living designs with entertainment bars, designer kitchens with pantries, Energy Star appliances, microwaves, wall-to-wall carpeting, washer/dryer hook-ups and large walk-in closets.

NorSouth is committed to green building and has designed HearthSide Johns Creek to meet EarthCraft™ House Multifamily standards. Sustainable building practices include Sola Tube daylighting, which incorporates natural light into interior spaces, along with an Icynene cool roof to increase energy efficiency and lower monthly utility costs. Additional items include occupancy sensors for corridor lighting, a rainwater harvest system, xeriscaping throughout the property, LED exterior lighting and more.

“We believe there is a strong need for affordable homes for independent seniors, especially in master-planned communities like Johns Creek Walk,” said Dave Dixon, managing partner with NorSouth. “Here, our residents will become part of a vibrant, exciting community with everything they need just outside their front doors.”