Property of the Week: Bidwell Village, Coventry – Hartford Courant

Homes at the Bidwell Village 55+ community in Coventry offer easy one-floor living and a sense of space enhanced by open floor plans and nine-foot ceilings. There are many upscale features such as crown molding and hardwood floors in the living areas, and granite counters and stainless steel appliances in the kitchens.

The deciding factor for many residents, however, is the sense of community at Bidwell Village, including the warm welcome residents extend to newcomers.

I dont think I would have been as involved with people if I had still been in my old home," says Ginni Tewksbury, the community associations president. "You walk outside here and people see you and they come out to talk to you.

When completed, Bidwell Village will have 37 homes. Twenty-one have either been built and sold, or have a sale pending. Seven houses were sold within the last year.

Most of these will be free-standing ranch homes, all with two-car garages, says Tom Boyle, the broker handling sales. Many of the lots allow a walk-out basement. Of the seven recent sales, almost half chose to finish either all or part of their basements, most often to accommodate hobbies, crafts or an additional living area for guests.

The model home has a walk-out finished basement. Access is gained by using an open, wide and welcoming stairway. Enhancing the lower levels appeal is the ample natural light from large windows and the door that leads outside. Boyle notes that this area could easily accommodate a third bedroom and a third full bath with plenty of room left over for a family room, storage and a craft area or workshop.

The main floor offers easy access throughout with the option to specify a no-step garage and front door entry. Doorways are wide to accommodate handicapped accessibility.

While the floor plans are open, they still afford privacy. The kitchens, for example, are open to the living areas but are shielded from view at the front entryways.

A sunroom is a popular option, made even more appealing by the thoughtful layout of the community that takes maximum advantage of southern exposures. Unlike at other communities, opting for the sunroom at Bidwell Village means that buyers end up with a fully livable addition built over a full basement and integrated into the floor plan.

The master suites in the three available models are inviting and spacious. Features include a full bath with a dual sink and a cultured marble vanity, an easily accessed, oversized step-in shower with grab bars, and a walk-in closet.

Each house includes a second bedroom, which could be used as a den or a study, and a second full bath with a soaking tub. Bathrooms and the first-floor laundry room have tile floors while the bedrooms feature high-quality carpet.

The communitys Coventry location is a draw for buyers. Bidwell Village is just 2.5 miles from UConn. Its two minutes from Coventry Lake where you can boat, fish, swim and kayak, and where a parking pass for residents is just $10 a year. The towns senior center is also nearby.

There are walking trails, including one that is being expanded at Bidwell Village. When the community is completed, this trail will encompass the housing area and border a conservation easement that abuts the property. A centrally located gazebo has been completed recently.

Tewksbury rates the freedom from yard work, which the association handles, as another advantage of living in this 55+ community. I like the fact that I dont have to work outside if I dont want to, she says. This also makes it easier for people who like to travel. Residents need only lock the door and leave, says Boyle.

He adds that Bidwell Village is a true condominium;, all exterior maintenance of the homes is handled by the association. "If a storm rolls by and damages some roofing or siding, the association steps in to handle the matter very unlike many planned development communities where this responsibility is that of the homeowner.

Spring Hill Properties is the builder, which is another advantage for buyers, according to Boyle. Spring Hill builds high-end custom homes and buyers here enjoy that level of workmanship. The buyers are very satisfied and they also have the option to customize their home plan. Buyers can move windows, adjust walls, expand garages and finish basements, among other options. There is no take it or leave it here, Boyle says. Further easing the transition to Bidwell Village, potential buyers needing to sell a current home can secure a site for 60 days with no obligation.

The builder, who finishes these homes to Energy Star standards, follows up with new owners after they have been in their homes for a month to make sure there are no problems. He then follows up again after three months and on the first anniversary.

Even with all this, it is still the sense of community that Tewksbury values most. "Bidwell Village is a great place to live," she says.

The model home at Bidwell Village in Coventry is open Wednesday through Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. or by appointment. For more information contact Tom and Janet Boyle of Bidwell Village at 860-649-4800.

Year Built: New construction

Builder: Spring Hill Properties LLC

Price: Starting at $319,900

Style: New England village

Rooms: 5 or more

Bedrooms: 2

Baths: 2

Square footage: 1,473 to approximately 3,000

Acreage: 14

Mill rate: 31.20

Best features: Welcoming community and quality workmanship

Contact: Tom and Janet Boyle, Bidwell Village LLC, 860-649-4800

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Property of the Week: Bidwell Village, Coventry - Hartford Courant