Construction Continues at 'The Seasons' in East Meadow

East Meadow features plenty of communities made for those over the age of 55. However, a new player is in town and is changing the game with a plethora of options and amenities.

opened for sale in the summer of 2008 and moved the first residents in during March 2009. According to Ellen Antonucci, Vice President of Marketing for the community’s developer, the Engel Burman Group, they have approximately 200 homes closed thus far, with a mix of singles and couples residing behind the gates.

Many of the new residents are from the Town of Hempstead region, with a “good portion from East Meadow” and a positive response from the local community, Antonucci added.

The construction has been occurring in two distinct phases, enabling the developers to utilize working from the inside out to its advantage. Portions of the first “phase” were built in the center and construction is now in progress on the outer perimeter of the community.

“We are building out, so we build behind [the residents],” Antonucci said. “The clubhouse is completely finished and the roads where they are driving to their homes are completely finished. The community is being built behind them, so they are not being affected at all by the construction.”

Phase one of the construction is made up of a style of home called the “Aspen.” These units are upstairs, have two bedrooms, two baths and a loft and start at about $299,000. The community has 212 of this style, with about 93 percent sold out. In phase two the “Dogwood” and “Cedar” homes are available, which are upstairs and downstairs home, respectively. Currently, they have 100 out of 194 of the units in construction.

“It has been very smooth and consistent,” said Vice President of Construction at Engel Burman John Weiss in regard to the progress of construction at the Seasons. “We haven’t had any delays.”

Instead of moving into completely finished pre-built units, potential residents have the chance to customize their new home during part of construction to suit their style. The construction team builds most of the home, but leaves about 15 percent of it unfinished and available for customization. Options include colors in cabinets and tiles, as well as various appliances and carpeting.

“The features that are included have choices and then you can customize above and beyond,” Antonucci said.

Rose Lipari, who lives with her friend of over 40 years, Deana Puccio, explained that the “Cedar” style house that she lives in came with an unfinished basement, which she was able to customize into an apartment. She continued by saying how much she loves living in the community since she moved in this past Thanksgiving from Brooklyn.

“It is a wonderful place for someone who is either retired or wants to take it easy a little bit. We love it -we commute everyday to work to Brooklyn. Everyone is lovely and it is a homey atmosphere,” Lipari said. “They gave a Valentine’s Day party to say thank you in appreciation of the residents living here, purchasing here and putting up with the construction.”

In regard to the continuous construction, Lipari said that it hasn't bothered her at all.

"I don’t hear any of the other residents complaining at all,” she added. “Once they are finished it is going to be a very nice complex.”

She continued by saying that they have great entertainment, such as Saturday night wine and cheese parties and Sunday morning bagels and coffee, in addition to St. Patrick’s Day celebrations and Mardi Gras parties.

Antonucci explained that the Seasons at East Meadow also features a 24-hour security booth at the entrance, a 17,000 sq ft. clubhouse, an indoor heated pool, an outdoor pool with a sundeck, a library, living room, cinema, fitness center, card room, billiard room and aerobic studio. The community also has a full-time “lifestyle director” who organizes all of the parties, educational lectures and athletic activities.

The entire community is expected to be sold out by winter 2011 if it keeps moving at the rate that it has been, Antonucci said.

“We should be closed on the majority of them by the summer of 2012,” she added.