Garden Communities Honors Old Bridge, N.J., Resident Carolyn Anders

Carolyn Anders, a resident of the London Terrace rental community in Old Bridge, was not expecting flowers, candy or hugs – let alone a year’s free rent – when she responded to a request from the community’s office manager to meet her outside.

Yet that is exactly what she got on a recent Friday afternoon. The 50-year resident at London Terrace was hailed as a Golden Resident and presented with a customized giant check proclaiming her new status. “It was overwhelming,” Anders said, adding she was surprised and delighted, and only regretted that her partner, Jeffrey, was not there to share in the fun.

Garden Communities established its Golden Resident program in 2020 to honor individuals who have occupied their apartments for a half century or more. Its members get more than just congratulations for their loyalty – they also get a year’s free rent. “It’s phenomenal,” said Anders, the 12th member to join the ranks. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Garden Communities’ Maria Friscia supervises the program for the Short Hills, N.J.-based developer. “The Golden Resident program is extremely meaningful to the property operations teams at our communities, many of whom have known the residents for decades,” she said. “These individuals are ‘institutions’ in their own right, and it is always such an honor and delight to celebrate them.”

Love at First Sight

Anders, who worked for the government for some 40 years, was introduced to London Terrace when a friend suggested she take a look at the Middlesex County community. “It was clean, quiet and well-maintained,” she said. “And the people were so friendly.”

That love at first sight soon became a family affair, Anders explained. Her parents, drawn to London Terrace after a visit with their daughter, soon moved to the community from Long Island – and lived there for more than 20 years.

“I never want to move,” Anders said. “London Terrace is convenient to everything and within walking distance both to shopping and Kennedy Park.” Her own apartment, she noted, is perfect. She loves the large rooms and points out that she turned her full-size basement into a rec room – dubbed Giants Headquarters – where watching football is a favorite pastime.

Perhaps most important to Anders are her neighbors, with whom she has shared many happy times. And just as they engage in conventional activities like taking in each other’s packages and watching out for each other’s children, they also break loose in the snow, having hot chocolate together after a neighborly snowball fight.

“As a family-owned business, we are defined by our connections with our team members and residents,” said Laura Kosik, Garden Communities’ marketing and public relations executive. “It was a very touching moment to see Carolyn’s reaction to this gesture. The Golden Resident program speaks to a company culture that values relationships. Creating and sustaining a meaningful legacy is important to us, and this program is one way we acknowledge that.”

Garden Communities is a leading New Jersey-based real estate owner, builder and operator in the multifamily niche. In addition to its many long-time communities, Garden Communities has a robust project pipeline that will introduce dozens of new communities in the tri-state area over the next several years. The company is well recognized for its focus on meeting the needs and desires of today’s modern renters.