Tired of cooking her own meals and walking out in poor weather to get her newspaper and mail or to go to the dumpster, Jane Stewart sought to move to a condo complex with independent living but pampering such as someone to cook meals and planned social events for residents.
She sold her condo in Dunwoody, where she lived 24 years, to purchase a two-bedroom unit in Mount Vernon Towers, a Sandy Springs community. Her daughter, Amy Stewart, and grandson-in-law, Gordon Owens, helped her open up the unit and add items from IKEA. Stewart chatted about her condo.
Q: How did you hear about Mount Vernon Towers?
A: I knew a few people over here and they were just crazy about it. My son and I came the first time. Everybody was so gracious and said hello. It's just so special to make new friends and keep your old ones. It has all the amenities that you could ever want.
Q: What amenities were important to you?
A: I was getting to the point where I did not want to cook. They serve three meals a day, except on Sundays. If you don't feel like going down (to the dining room), you can have it delivered to your room. Every day there's something special to do. Last night, they had dancers ages 60 to 80. It was a great show. Then we had a 20-piece band one night. There's always something going on here, if you choose to do it.
Q: How close are you to your former home?
A: Just three miles. I just know my way around real well. My doctors are here in Dunwoody. I'm still in a bridge club outside of Mount Vernon Towers.
Q: What did you like about your unit?
A: One of the first things that I liked was the view. I'm facing east. I can see downtown and Stone Mountain. It's just wonderful to look out. It's so calm and serene.
Q: What changes did you make to the unit?
A: There was a little opening between the kitchen and living room. My grandson-in-law opened it up. There's nothing between the living room and the kitchen. It makes such a difference. Everything is new: the paneling in the dining room, the appliances, the flooring, the cabinets. The sinks are all raised a little bit so they're a little more comfortable to get to.
Q: How did you downsize?
A: Some of my children and grandchildren wanted some of my things. My grandson and his wife wanted my china and crystal, so I was thrilled with that because I knew I probably wouldn't need it over here. Then I had to get rid of some other things. I didn't let go of anything that was meaningful to me. I had to keep a lot of things I liked so much from my mother and my husband's mother.
Q: What’s a tip for moving as a senior adult?
A: I had my best friend move in a couple of weeks after I moved in. She had a real good friend and we're well acquainted now. When newcomers come in, we always have them sit at our table and become acquainted with them.
At a Glance
Jane Stewart’s condo in Mount Vernon Towers, which opened in 1986, has two bedrooms, two baths and about 1,070 square feet. Stewart, who worked with Fran Sturgis with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, purchased it in January. Condos in Mount Vernon Towers, which has 300 units (studios, one bedrooms and two bedrooms), range from $60,000-$200,000.
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