Social events an advantage in 55+ neighborhood

Sarah Benoit’s pool workout is just one of the activities she’s added since moving in November from Snellville to a ranch condo in Duluth’s Brookhaven at Sugarloaf, a Jim Chapman Community for ages 55 and up. Benoit discussed what other activities, from parties to concerts, fill her and husband Ben’s free time.

Enlarge this image

Christopher Oquendo / Special

Sarah and Ben Benoit strike a pose in the dining room of their home at Brookhaven at Sugarloaf in Duluth. They moved from Snellville to the Jim Chapman community in November.

Getting there

From downtown Atlanta: I-85 north to Exit 107 (Ga. 120). Take cloverleaf exit and head west toward Duluth. Travel about 1 mile through three traffic lights. The neighborhood will be on the right, just after the intersection with Meadow Church Way.

At a glance

Address: 2401 Brookhaven Run Circle, Duluth 30097

County: Gwinnett

Information: 770-418-9875, Jim Chapman Communities

Price range: $260,000s to low $300,000s

Number of homes: 140

Square footage: 1,675-2,400

Standard features: brick and stone exteriors, porches, vaulted ceilings

Amenities: gated, clubhouse, exercise center, conference and media rooms, pool, outdoor fireplace

Homeowners fees: $224 a month ($300 initiation)

Developer/builder: Jim Chapman Communities

Broker: Jim Chapman Realty

Q. Why is the neighborhood a fun place to live?

A. This is such a relaxed, friendly lifestyle. And I’m a people person. We have a lot of socials. We have a potluck supper once a month. We have coffee clubs for the men. And we’ve started a luncheon once a month for the ladies.

What other events have you enjoyed?

We’ve had two pool parties, and they’re catered. They had a little three-piece band to come each time. We had a Halloween costume party. In fact, my husband and I won first prize [she went as a nurse; Ben dressed as a gangster]. Jim Chapman has just been wonderful about having things planned for us. In fact, his father-in-law is a doctor in Dublin. We were invited to submit questions that he would answer for us [during an event in late July]. He brought all this material about the diets we should eat and also about aging.

What amenities do you use often?

One thing I really like is the pool. This is the first time in over 20 years that I’ve been swimming. It’s great. We go down late in the afternoons, and there’s always somebody down there swimming.

What activities are nearby?

We’re close to Gwinnett Arena. It’s only about a 10-minute drive. Several of us have been to [see] “Dancing With the Stars.”

Is there anything else you do frequently in the community?

I really enjoy playing bridge. We had a lady to move here the first of the summer from California, and she is a master bridge player. She started teaching duplicate bridge. She’s gotten quite a few that are interested. We’re about 10 minutes from Bunten Road Park. They have a wonderful program for the seniors. My husband and I play bridge every Monday morning there.

How is your lifestyle different from when you lived in Snellville?

It’s much more social over here. My husband said he never intends to move from here.

The builder says

The location and size make neighborhoods such as Brookhaven at Sugarloaf stand out, says Kelly Dempsey, director of marketing for Jim Chapman Communities. “I like to refer to our communities as enclaves. They’re smaller communities as opposed to the largest destination community with the hundreds of hundreds of houses,” he said. “We like to be within two miles of the interstate, and we’re able to do that in a lot of our locations.”

For sale

Here’s what’s on the market in Brookhaven at Sugarloaf.

$300,045: 2504 Brookhaven Run Circle, Duluth 30097. Three-bedroom, two-bath home with a screened porch and features such as a ceramic tile backsplash in kitchen.

$307,000: 2702 Brookhaven Circle, Duluth 30097. Three-bedroom, two-bath home with unfinished bonus room, sunroom and hardwood floors and granite countertops in kitchen.

Recent sales

$286,555: 2502 Brookhaven Circle, Duluth 30097. New three-bedroom, two-bath home with a two-car garage, screened porch and hardwood floors in the kitchen.

$305,569: 2604 Brookhaven Circle, Duluth 30097. New three-bedroom, two-bath home with hardwoods in living room and dining room, granite countertops in the kitchen and glass-enclosed porch.

• Back to Active Adult