Ribbon Cutting Celebrates The Farmstead

BY DAYNA M. REIDENOUER

The sweet smell of success was in the air after the ribbon cutting at The Farmstead at Homestead Village on April 8. Or, perhaps, the fruity fragrance had wafted across the fields from a nearby candy factory. The Farmstead is located adjacent to historic Lime Spring Farm in East Hempfield Township on land that was initially scheduled to become a neighborhood with both single-family and duplex homes. When the first three homes were finished but had not been sold, Homestead Village had the opportunity to take over the project.

“Homestead had been looking to expand, but it did not have an area large enough on the campus that could accommodate new homes,” explained Lisa Cooper, chair of Homestead Village’s board of directors.

The Farmstead is in the first stages of development, but the board of directors of Homestead Village was excited to announce the plans to a crowd of nearly 100 people, which included Peggy Neff, the eighth generation to live at Lime Spring Farm, and Andy Stauffer, a member of the ninth generation of the farming family. When The Farmstead is complete, there will be a total of 98 homes in the community, along with a clubhouse and a marketing office.

“We will build both sides of a duplex, finish the side that is sold, finish the outside of the unsold half, and then allow the purchaser (of the second half) to select how they would like it finished inside,” Cooper explained.

The homes will be wheelchair-accessible duplexes that will be compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act. Each one will have roll-in master showers, higher toilets, and minimum slopes to enter the home. Four carriage house designs are available for the exteriors. The interior layouts will all have first-floor master bedrooms. Most will have a second bedroom on the first floor, which can also be used as a den.

“Homestead is very aware of the ‘aging in place’ theory, so we would like the residents to stay in their homes as long as possible,” Cooper said.

Although The Farmstead is located about three-quarters of a mile from the main Homestead Village campus, its residents will be part of the Homestead community.

“The Farmstead is not a 55-plus community,” Cooper clarified. “As a resident of Homestead, you can transition to the apartments, personal care, and assisted living as desired or needed, but our goal is to allow residents to stay in their homes as long as possible.” Residents at The Farmstead will have access to the same benefits as other Homestead residents, such as activities like shopping trips and overnight vacations.

Homestead Village was created in 1976 by members of Church of the Apostles United Church of Christ. This year is the 30th anniversary of the opening of the first phase of independent living apartments and a skilled nursing center. The Rev. Kathryn Kuhn, pastor at Church of the Apostles, delivered an invocation at the ribbon cutting event. Additionally, Homestead Village president Doug Motter read aloud a portion of Psalm 127, noting that the retirement community’s progress was due to God’s favor. He added that creating a community like The Farmstead is a continual effort. “Where we live helps to create who we are,” Motter commented. “The answer is not in the buildings. The answer is in the community created around the buildings.”

Site selection is underway at The Farmstead, and reservations for the new homes are currently being accepted. To learn more about the campus, readers may visit http://www.discoverfarmstead.org or contact Christina Gallagher, director of marketing, at 397-4831 or cgallagher@hvillage.org.

The board of directors of Homestead Village presided at a ribbon cutting held at The Farmstead on April 8.