Family connections have drawn the residents of Addison Court to Gisborne and they have quickly established a tight-knit community of neighbours looking out for each other.
John and Shona McLean returned to Gisborne a few years ago from 40 years spent in Vancouver, Canada, to retire and look after Shona’s elderly mother.
When they were looking for a home of their own, John says they checked out the retirement village option but it was not for them.
“We don’t need their services yet and we don’t want to lose 30% of our capital value instantly when we purchase,” he says.
“We looked at the Generation Homes show home and talked to people who had already moved in to the street who spoke of the high quality standards of Generation Homes,” John says.
The couple had lived in a cul de sac in Vancouver and were seeking a secure neighbourhood where like-minded people look out for each other.
Addison Court comprises eight Generation Homes in a gated cul de sac in the Sterling Park subdivision at Lytton West.
The development started in 2008 and since then new owners have progressively moved in, mostly from out of town.
Generation Homes’ guaranteed completion date gave the residents certainty for planning their move and was a “big plus”.
Now John and Shona are happily near the end of unpacking their belongings and have a lifetime of memories surrounding them in their new home in a community they’re glad to be a part of.
Shelley and John Bowers lived in Matamata for 40 years, but the 10-hour return trip to Gisborne to visit their daughter and grandchildren led to a decision to move to Gisborne for their retirement last year.
They looked at existing and new homes and were attracted to Addison Court because of the security and sense of community that was immediately obvious to them.
“We visited the show home and it felt like a secure area and had a nice feel to it,” Shelley says.
“We were on holiday recently and our neighbours took turns mowing the lawns. It is a nice community and everyone gets on.”
Laureen Tidswell has also returned to Gisborne for her retirement.
Two of her sons and daughter-in-law helped her choose Addison Close and it was the security of the street which attracted her as well as the manageable section size.
“It is a quiet neighbourhood where everyone has got to know each other. It is a good little community and we have had a street BBQ and a get together prior to Christmas and our socialising will be ongoing,” she says.
