Construction of $28M Farmstead at Lime Spring Farm to start in Jan.

Check out this recent article published on LancasterOnline featuring The Farmstead at Homestead Village.

By Tim Mekeel, Staff Writer, Lancaster Online

December 30, 2015

Homestead Village next month will begin construction of The Farmstead, a $28 million expansion at historic Lime Spring Farm.

When completed, The Farmstead will add 98 homes, constructed as duplexes, and 30 acres to the retirement community.

The Farmstead also will bring 150 residents to Homestead Village, joining the 430 who live at the East Hempfield Township community already.

“It’s going to be wonderful,” said Douglas Motter, Homestead Village president.

Homestead Village bought land last week for the site of the first 15 homes in a pair of transactions totaling $2.2 million, courthouse records show.

Construction will start the third or fourth week of January.

The initial homes in the residential neighborhood are expected to be ready for occupancy in early summer.

The balance of the 98 homes will be constructed as demand warrants, said Motter.

Interest in The Farmstead is strong, he said, noting that the size, appearance and features of the duplexes, their scenic setting and their proximity to main roads and shopping all contribute to The Farmstead’s appeal.

“One of the charms of Homestead Village is, it doesn’t feel like a institution. It feels like you’re living in a traditional neighborhood,” said Motter.

Features will include two-car garages for all of The Farmstead’s units, full basements for nearly all and second floors for about half. Sizes will range from 1,580 to 2,600 square feet.

“In the very beginning (of Homestead Village), the thought was that older adults would downsize, and they do. But they don’t downsize as much as we thought they would want to 30 years ago,” said Motter.

“So we have the flexibility to offer smaller homes or larger homes.”

Between Marietta Avenue and Running Pump Road in the mixed-use Lime Spring Farm development, The Farmstead also will include a park, pavilion and walking trails.

Constructing the duplexes is EG Stoltzfus. Financing for The Farmstead is coming from Fulton Bank.

As was previously reported, the Homestead Village project replaces a combination of duplexes and single-family homes that Lime Spring Farm’s developer, Oak Tree Development, originally planned to construct itself on that portion of the former farm.

Mike O’Brien, president of Oak Tree Development, could not be reached for comment.

Another part of the Lime Spring Farm development is the Quality Bicycle Products distribution center, which opened a year ago.

The Farmstead continues Homestead Village’s expansion west from it beginnings 29 years ago at 1800 Marietta Ave., less than a mile away.

It will be Homestead Village’s fourth neighborhood but first to the west of Rohrerstown Road.

Entrance fees at The Farmstead will start at $269,000; monthly fees will start at about $1,350. Like all of Homestead Village, residents will have to be at least 62 years old.

Motter noted that Homestead Village, while a nonprofit, will pay property taxes on The Farmstead. He said it’s too early to estimate the amount of property tax it will pay on that parcel after the site is developed.

He did say that Homestead Village pays about $600,000 annually in property taxes on nearly all of the rest of its properties.

The bulk of that sum goes to Hempfield School District; Homestead Village is the school district’s third-largest property taxpayer.

It trails the Lancaster General Health Suburban Outpatient Pavilion and Mennonite Home Communities’ Woodcrest Villa, said Motter.

“Because our residents are pretty much middle-income folks, it’s appropriate for us to do our fair share,” he said.

Of Homestead Village’s buildings, only the nursing-care facility is exempt from property taxes, because of the amount of charity care provided there, Motter said.

Homestead Village will maintain all of the roads in The Farmstead, as it does at the rest of its properties.

In addition, The Farmstead will lead to six new jobs at Homestead Village, joining the “well over” 200 employees who work for the retirement community already, according to Motter.

“Senior living is a very good neighbor and has a very positive impact on the economy,” he said. “Lancaster County is blessed to have 17 great retirement communities. They’re hidden gems.”

Access this article on LancasterOnline at: http://lancasteronline.com/business/local_business/construction-of-the-m-farmstead-at-lime-spring-farm-to/article_b60d8d06-af3a-11e5-86b3-9f2a3fb6ff98.html