South Windsor, Connecticut

Buckland Gateway zone to the Town Center area is being completed for connectivity to get people to walk from place to place, versus taking the car. A major focus on building a downtown core revolves around the Evergreen Walk Lifestyle Center. In addition, there’s a 200-apartment complex that is fully occupied, and room for another series of apartments that the town would like to see built. A 130-unit independent living facility is under construction, and a 111-unit assisted living facility will be under construction soon. “Evergreen Walk has really turned into a lifestyle center, with all sorts of amenities,” notes Lipe. “We have office buildings in a very walkable environment in the southern part of town going up to the Town Center area. We have put zoning in place in the core center of the town to make a commercial area with plenty of room to redevelop and to include the kind of apartments that Millennials or down-sizing Baby Boomers may be looking for.” Lipe adds, “A big asset to South Windsor is the park system, recreation programs, and a significant amount of open-space land. Residents have really been dedicated to passing several referendums to purchase open-space land. The Town has strategically tried to purchase parcels of land to get the biggest bang for the buck in terms of location and visibility. We have a very nice trail network that people take advantage of; it offers a little bit for anybody that wants to get outside. The quality of life is what you hear the most from people here in town. They like the services, the community, and what it has to offer them.” Galligan adds, “We have a strong and growing senior population and offer many senior programs in which to be involved. I think that has bridged the gap between the youth and our seniors. It’s nice to see the people who have built this community stay here and continue to evolve and help us through some of these times. Their knowledge is very valuable. It’s nice to have that information sticking around, and when you need to talk to somebody and say ‘Hey, what went on here 40 years ago?’ they can give you the answer.” PREFERRED VENDORS n Environmental Services, Inc. www.e-s-i.com n All American Waste www.aawllc.com