To the editor:
As someone who has lived in Guilderland for 26 years and is the community manager for Hamilton Park, I am writing to the Enterprise to finally put our voices on this page.
Many of my readers know me because I'm from the town of Guilderland. I joined the Hamilton Park team a few months ago and made sure to welcome all the invited reporters on a special media tour in early January.
We spent over an hour with these reporters, discussing details and taking time to answer questions. Altamont Enterprises was on our invite list but did not participate in the media tour. The paper actually received our email about Hamilton Park and later quoted some of the details here.
Since that tour, we've seen Altamont Enterprises not only decline our invitation, but then choose to write about Hamilton Park without contacting me, the developer, or the leasing director. I was disappointed.
Still, the team here knows it has a lot to offer Guilderland, and much more than what's been included in recent coverage. [“Luxury senior housing comes to Guilderland after years of controversy,” The Altamont Enterprise, Jan. 9, 2024] or opinion essay [“Guilderland needs affordable, accessible housing for its elderly residents,” Altamont Enterprise editorial, Jan. 18, 2024].
I assure you. There's a lot of excitement at Hamilton Park.
Our rentals are increasing weekly, proving that a luxurious community lifestyle for active adults is attractive in a vibrant city like Guilderland. But let's be clear: “active adult” and “affordable” senior living are not similar and should not be compared as equivalents.
We believe that low-income housing investments should be able to coexist with active adult luxury residential developments. Guilderland is no different, and approval from city government reflects that reality. Our Phase 1 units are now fully constructed and nearly ready for residents to move in, so these residents will enjoy a lifestyle comparable to other units in the area .
Hamilton Park rewards many seniors for the years of investment and care they have put into their property. More than 55 people choose to do so if they are eligible, but no one is forcing them to do so. — so they might trade the maintenance and responsibility of independent housing for the amenity-rich lifestyle we offer. They can sign a lease with a fixed rental price for five years and we agree to hold their apartment rent-free until the date of the conditional home sale.
Then you can swim indoors all year round. Use the gym and sauna daily. Enjoy a salon haircut without leaving the building. Watch a movie at your community theater. etc. ADA is provided for people who live independently but may have mobility issues. [Americans with Disabilities Act] -Compliant hallways and doorways are wide, the entryway is step-free, the unit's bathroom is wheelchair accessible, and elevator access is available.
All of these amenities and necessities are proven attractions, and while they come at a cost, they have already shown that eager residents are willing to embrace them.
We are built on the site of the former Hiawatha Trails Golf Course, and to pay homage to our history, we built a year-round indoor golf simulator in Hamilton Park. Not to mention, don't miss out on his six other golf courses, all within a 20-minute drive from our front door.
And in terms of green space on the old course, we used less than half of the old course, with the remaining 24 acres given back to the community as public walking and hiking trails. We eagerly hope that the town will develop this parcel, hopefully as soon as this spring, to maintain a significant amount of “forever wild” green space in Guilderland.
The Enterprise is questioning our ability and goals to help the people of Guilderland. The paper's editorial suggested, among other things, that Guilderland would be better served by a paid “village membership” model like the one begun at Beacon Hill Village in Boston. The model was created to serve some of Boston's most affluent neighborhoods, where former presidential candidate John Kerry lives and where the average home sale is currently around $2 million.
A local branch of the village model has been established in Albany for those who want to take advantage of virtual classes and other services. [“Elderly neighbors help each other stay in their homes,” The Altamont Enterprise, Nov. 2, 2017]. But while 90 percent of seniors want to age at home, Hamilton Park bridges the gap for the remaining 10 percent, those who don't have community, transportation or accessibility issues.
Instead, we are committed to supporting Guilderland through our local economy. There is no local government that is suffering due to increased property tax revenue and stabilization of residents' finances. Hamilton Park will generate millions of dollars annually in school and property taxes, as well as providing a wealth of economic activity for residents.
With our development joining other growth, Guilderland will continue to enjoy better-than-average services and amenities, more funding for schools, and an overall quality of suburban life that we all enjoy. will continue to enjoy improvements in If we succeed, Guilderland succeeds.
We welcome anyone interested in seeing Hamilton Park for themselves. Our team will provide you with a personal tour of the space, demonstrating our ambitions to grow and welcome even more residents to the city.
The Hamilton Park I know is committed to being a great neighbor, collaborative partner, and great housing choice for the hundreds of people on State Farm Road. Whether you're an “upscale senior” or not, we're ready to welcome people back home to Guilderland. The town still welcomes newcomers with the warm disposition we've always offered.
jeanne bender
guilderland
Editor's note: The Enterprise's purpose in reporting news is not to promote businesses, but rather to provide useful information, such as rent prices for new apartment complexes, and the history of controversy surrounding specific projects, such as Hamilton Park. It's about providing context.
Our goal in the editorial you referenced was to urge town leaders to consider the needs of Guilderland's seniors for affordable and accessible housing. In that editorial, we wished Hamilton Park's new residents well and cited the groundbreaking Harvard University study that considered housing and elderly care as an integral part of the “village model,” or We proposed a model that we had covered locally. Because they are not wealthy, organizations such as community carers are promoting it as one of the solutions.
