As with any home in virtually any neighborhood, the lifestyle one hopes to live plays a major role in selecting a home in a 55+ active adult community. Those looking for a private, gated “affinity” community centered on golf with amenities such as indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis, bocce, pickleball, and fine dining on premises have a few options from which to choose in Northern Virginia. I’ll profile several of these in future Homeward Bound blogs.
However, as demand for 55+ active adult living expands and the availability of 750 to 1,000 acre plots of land on which to build them diminishes, such gated golf communities are significantly outnumbered by less exclusive, low-maintenance housing options. While still offering both indoor and outdoor social and physical activities, these communities mirror those around them in their lack of seclusion and exclusivity.
For one thing, there are no gates. They tend to be far smaller than their gated cousins with fewer than 200 homes. From the street, they may resemble a traditional townhouse community or have a mix of detached and Villa homes. Van Metre Homes, Brookfield Residential, Pulte Homes (under the brand name Del Webb), Toll Brothers, and K. Hovnanian are all actively building such communities in Northern Virginia.
Robinson Manor
Robinson Manor, a Van Metre development in Gainesville, is an excellent example of this evolution. It began as a traditional townhouse development consisting of 94 homesites off John Marshall Highway on the outskirts of Haymarket. Two small green spaces, a clubhouse with fitness center, pool, and tot lot provided spaces for recreational activities. The townhomes are adjacent to a small retail plaza with several restaurants, dentists, and various shops.
Once the townhomes were built, Van Metre began construction of 50 two-level Villa-style homes on the other side of the shopping plaza dedicated to 55+ active adults. Built around a central square, there are two models of Villas available. The Washington, the larger of the two, is nearly 2,600 sq. ft. with 4 bedrooms and 3.5 baths. The 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath Madison measures just under 2,200 sq. ft. Prices start at roughly $600,000 for the Madison.
In both models, a Great Room consisting of the kitchen, dining area and living room creates an open living environment. Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) flooring runs throughout this area.
Standard kitchen features include stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, a large kitchen island, and flat-panel birch cabinets. As is the case with any builder, upgrades are available.
The 16’ x 9’ dining area adjacent to the kitchen provides ample room for large family gatherings or for entertaining a group of friends. Sliding glass doors in the living room open onto a patio.
The owners suite, consisting of a 13 x 13 primary bedroom, primary bathroom and large walk-in closet, completes the main floor. The bathroom features a double vanity, granite countertops, and a frameless shower with large ceramic tiles and a bench.
The upper floor is a second home without the kitchen, where guests or visiting relatives will feel more than comfortable. The Washington has three bedrooms, including a second primary suite, two full bathrooms and a 15’ x 20’ flex room that can serve as a game room or second living room.
The active adult side of the community has its own small clubhouse on the central square with seating clustered around a fireplace. Adjacent to the clubhouse is a pickleball court. The Villa residents share the pool, clubhouse, fitness center and other green spaces with their townhouse neighbors.
The expectation was that active seniors would be attracted to Robinson Manor by the housing and the community’s proximity to Haymarket, which was founded in 1799 and is but a short walk away.
Like most small towns, Haymarket hosts periodic events that seek to bring the community together. A farmers market is open every Sunday from mid-April to mid-November. There’s a summer outdoor concert, an annual street fair known as Haymarket Day, a police department sponsored National Night Out, and a Christmas and Holiday Celebration. Other nearby attractions are the Manassas National Battlefield Park, with its miles of trails criss-crossing more than 5,000 acres of Civil War battlefield, and several nearby wineries. Robinson Manor is very much an integral part of the larger community, and that is the point.
