In fall 2023, as they were approaching the proverbial autumn of their lives, Sue and Keith Bauer started to consider downsizing, but they only vaguely knew where they wanted to live.

"We both grew up on Long Island and so we didn't want to leave it," said Sue Bauer, now 62, a sixth grade teacher in Levittown who retired in 2020.

Moving from their Hauppauge home wasn't a priority at the time, with their youngest son in college and Keith still working as a middle school teacher in Levittown. Still, they took a ride to check out the model townhomes at a 55-and-older community they'd heard about: Country Pointe Meadows in Yaphank.

"We looked at each other and said, 'This really fits our needs. This is really what we kind of imagined going forward,' " Sue said.

Many baby boomers and older Gen Xers on Long Island, no longer in need of large homes where they raised families, are turning to 55-and-over communities like this. While there is an adjustment to communal living, residents say the challenges are offset by easy living, amenities and socializing opportunities.

"There's so many people who don't want to move to Florida. They don't want to move to North Carolina," said Danielle Laria, of Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty. She and Lisa Adwar are the exclusive listing agents for The Polo Club, a 55-and-up community in Islandia. "Their children are here; their grandchildren are here. And they want a sense of community and they don't need their house anymore or the upkeep on that."

Adwar added, "This is what the next phase of life buyer is looking for."

55-and-over — and under

Just 10 exits away on the Long Island Expressway from the Bauers' former home, Country Pointe Meadows is close to the highway and an easy drive for Keith, 59, who plans to retire in two years.

In Hauppauge, they paid roughly $14,000 in annual real estate property taxes and were encumbered by the maintenance of their three-quarter-acre property with its in-ground pool, which cost about $400 per month, plus additional expenses for repairs and other maintenance issues, many of which required Keith's labor. All of the maintenance at Country Pointe is included in their HOA fees.

"It may not have been something we would have wanted to do back 10, 20 years ago, but for this period of our life, we felt that this was a good location," Sue said. "We felt like you don't have to put any effort into this pool. You just go and sit by it."

A few weeks after their first visit, the Bauers returned to Yaphank with their three sons. Twins Ryan and Casey, now 29, liked the community so much they bought a two-bedroom condo of their own in the same development.

Twenty percent of the homes at Country Pointe Meadows are non-age restricted and are scattered throughout the complex, noted Steven Dubb, principal and president of The Beechwood Organization, a developer of residential and mixed-use properties. In addition to developing Country Pointe Meadows, Beechwood is also building Country Pointe Preserve across the street: a 152-home complex with the same split between 55-and-over and non-restricted.

"This percentage is determined during the application process by the local municipality based on local needs," Dubb explained.

Built in three phases, Country Pointe Meadows will total 400 homes. It will include 296 townhomes (with two bedrooms and a den on two or more levels) and 104 two-bedroom villas (single-floor living), which will be completed by the end of 2025 or early 2026, Dubb said.

In January 2024, the Bauers listed their Hauppauge home, for which they accepted a cash offer at their first open house for $1.125 million. They bought their new two-story townhouse for $840,000. It has a primary bathroom on the first floor and two bedrooms on the second floor, as well as a loft area, which they've turned into a den.

They put an additional $100,000 into kitchen upgrades, including a larger island, cabinets and quartz counters, as well as electrical, flooring and bathroom upgrades. They pay $1,401 per month — $651 in HOA fees and $750 in taxes, which covers community amenities, repairs, water and sanitation, but not utilities.

As they awaited completion of their new home, the Bauers moved into a rental in the development with their youngest son, Keith, 23, in February and closed on their new home in December.

Though some seek 55-and-over communities to live solely among older adults, the Bauers appreciate that there are younger people in the community.

"There are people in the community that have children," Bauer said, adding that there are separate pools for adults and children. "That was something — my husband and I, we're both educators — that we enjoy actually."

Sue said she is frankly surprised at how quickly they adjusted to their new lives.

"We wake up and we feel like we've hit Lotto," Bauer said. "We not only love our new home, but we love the community. We've made friends that we feel like we've had for a lifetime. Having our sons also in the community for us, just works out so nicely."

Demand outpaces supply

Builders can't keep up with the demand for these 55+ communities, Laria said.

"Everything that is built has already been sold," she said of The Polo Club. "And then there are three buildings to be built; one is completely sold out; the other two are 50% each."

The 72-townhome development opened in July 2022 and is expected to be finished by July 2027.

"There's such a demand for these types of developments: the 55+ community; new construction," Adwar said.

Now is an ideal time to purchase in these 55+ communities because it's a seller's market, said Laria, adding that home sellers, sometimes flush with cash, can purchase townhomes quickly and easily.

One of the selling points of The Polo Club is that many communities in Nassau don't offer full basements and garages, Adwar noted.

"Downsizers, even if they're purging, they still want storage space, so that basement is great storage," she said.

From home to rental to townhome

After selling Michael and Elicia Keshner's four-bedroom Merrick home in July 2022, Adwar and Laria shepherded the couple into their new two-bedroom townhome at The Polo Club.

In the years leading up to their move, the Keshners had become empty nesters. Michael said "it just didn't make sense anymore" to own such a big circa 1960s house that was starting to need more extensive repairs and greater investment.

Plus, their neighborhood was changing: Everyone they knew was moving out and younger folks were moving in.

"When we moved in, we were the new generation of younger people, and then we became the older people," Michael said.

Due to construction delays — they bought in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic — the couple rented for 18 months in Sutton Landing in Deer Park, where they said they made great and lasting friendships.

At their new home, they're making friends, but it's a little tough going. Michael, 64, and Elicia, 61, are at the younger end of The Polo Club's population, according to Michael.

"Most of the people are in their early-mid-70s and they go up to 80," Michael said.

Despite the age difference, he said, everybody is friendly, and the couple is starting to engage in more activities, like bingo, yoga, pickleball and parties. "Whether we become close friends with anybody, it's too soon to tell. There's only about 30-something families in and ultimately, it's going to be 72."

Having pocketed $835,000 from the sale of their Merrick home, the Keshners closed in January 2024 on their Islandia townhome for $650,000 and invested $50,000 into upgrades for a two-bedroom, 2½-bath end unit with two floors, plus a full basement.

Michael, who is director of merchandising displays for Satco Lighting based in Brentwood, and Elicia, a home care physical therapist for Northwell Health, said they fell in love with how new and modern their home is.

"We never really looked anywhere else," Michael said.

Why buy when you can rent?

The Keshners often come back to visit their Deer Park 55-and-over rental community, which is now called Fairfield Knolls at Deer Park, where they typically spend time with their friends, the Silvermans.

Ronnie Silverman, 72, and her husband, Jack, 74, moved from their West Nyack home 2½ years ago to the two-bedroom rental apartment complex to be closer to their daughter and grandkids who had recently moved to Oceanside. Rents at the 200-unit complex start at $3,275 for a two-bedroom apartment, according to the Fairfield Properties website.

"I walked in here and I had such a nice feeling," said Ronnie, who'd worked in a school principal's office and is now retired. "My husband and I both."

Ronnie and Jack, who owned a bagel bakery and is now retired, delight in the active social life at Fairfield Knolls and the friendliness of the residents, most of whom are in their 50s, 60s and 70s, Ronnie said.

"At this point of my life, to make friends like this, it's crazy. We feel like we've known each other our whole lives, some of us, we're so close," Ronnie said. "We do crazy things here. We have scavenger hunts. We play hockey with hockey sticks. We had a luau. I climbed a rock wall when I first came. We're always doing something here."

Despite going from a larger home in a Rockland County community where they'd lived for 45 years, Ronnie said there was no adjustment at all to her new life.

"I had an acre of property," she said. "I'd had it with my house. And everyone I knew moved."

The Silvermans said they do not see themselves buying ever again.

"We don't want responsibility anymore," Ronnie said. "We're done with that. I'm free now."

Single in Nassau County

With her children grown and out of the house, Nancy Shapiro no longer wanted to be responsible for nor incur the expense of maintaining a big home just for herself.

"It's also a little isolating when you don't have kids in school anymore and all the other older people that you know move out," said Shapiro, 72, who worked in administration in an accounting firm in Uniondale. "It was just time."

Still, Shapiro held out for a long time, enjoying opening her four-bedroom split-level home in North Merrick to her son and his family, who would visit from Buffalo. "But they only come three times a year and I just felt maintaining the whole house was a lot for me," she said.

It's also a little isolating when you don't have kids in school anymore and all the other older people that you know move out. It was just time.

— Nancy Shapiro, who lives at Meadowbrooke Pointe East Meadow

As soon as she saw the condo at Meadowbrook Pointe East Meadow, a 102-villa development, she put a deposit down before selling her home. Deposits are typically between 10% and 20% of the selling price, noted Beechwood's Dubb.

"It was lucky that I did. Somebody came here two hours after me and wanted my unit," said Shapiro, who sold her North Merrick home for more than $800,000 after one open house. She paid $760,000 for a two-bedroom villa with a finished basement, which she converted into a living space that now sleeps six people. "But I don't have to go there for my everyday living. Everything I need daily is on the main floor."

After 47 years in the same home accumulating countless possessions and lasting memories, Shapiro admits that it was "quite a big move for me."

Yet Shapiro is adapting well to her new life at Meadowbrook Pointe. Just two months after moving in, she hosted Thanksgiving dinner for 27 guests at the community clubhouse and has made good friends, joined the book club, gone to holiday parties, happy hours and game nights.

"There's something for everybody," Shapiro said.

By Arlene Gross

Special to Newsday

Two of the newest tenants at The Shoppes will be Starbucks and Tropical Smoothie Café, both expected to open next month. Starbucks leased a 2,278-square-foot space and was represented by Russel Helbling of Katz & Associates, while Tropical Smoothie Café leased a 1,623-square-foot space and was represented by Daniel Glazer and James Valenti of RIPCO Real Estate. Another new business, Bagel Boss, leased 1,522 square feet and was scheduled to open this week. 

Northwell Health will become the second-largest anchor among the business tenants at The Boulevard, the $450 million retail, office and residential complex under development along William Floyd Parkway in Yaphank.

The largest health care provider in New York state, Northwell is investing about $45 million for interior construction and equipment to open three facilities — a multispecialty medical office building, an ambulatory surgery center and an urgent care center — in the development in 2024, said Alex Costello, spokesman for the New Hyde Park-based health system.

“Northwell chose the Yaphank location for a few reasons. It’s a good location with incoming real estate development in the area; it works well with our multispecialty campuses in Manorville and Shirley; and it allows us to offer more outpatient services from Peconic Bay Medical Center,” he said.

Northwell’s planned Yaphank facilities also will help it expand services on the East End, Costello said.

“We’re working to develop comprehensive women’s health in Riverhead and want to support the upcoming surgical pavilion at South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore. We’re also expanding our cancer.

Northwell’s 28,000-square-foot multispecialty medical office building will offer dental service, imaging, general pediatrics, orthopedics, pain management and physical therapy, Costello said.

The health care system’s ambulatory surgery center will be the sole occupant of a 16,200-square-foot building, while the urgent care center, GoHealth, will occupy 2,287 square feet unit in a multitenant building.

Northwell’s three facilities in the Yaphank development will employ a total of about 100 people, Costello said.

“Most of them will be new hires, but some may come from other Northwell facilities,” he said.

Moving forward

Located at the former Parr Meadows racetrack site, The Boulevard is a 322-acre retail, office and residential development previously called the Meadows at Yaphank, which is on William Floyd Parkway just north of the Long Island Expressway at Exit 68N.

Also under construction in the complex are upscale rental apartments and for-sale condos and townhomes being developed by The Beechwood Organization in Jericho.

The development’s retail portion, which will total 295,728 square feet when it’s done, is called The Shoppes at The Boulevard. The only tenants on the retail side currently are Ridgewood Savings Bank, which opened this month, and a 197,668-square-foot Walmart Supercenter that opened in 2021 and is the anchor of the shopping center.

Also, a Home2 Suites by Hilton hotel, adjacent to the retail center, was completed on the property in 2020.

On May 8, the Brookhaven Planning Board voted in favor of amendments to the site plan for retail side of the project.

The board approvals included permitting the two buildings that are to be constructed solely for Northwell to be used for health care instead of retail, said Brian Ferruggiari, spokesman for Rose-Breslin Associates LLC, the Yonkers-based developer of the retail portion. Construction of those two Northwell buildings will take at least a year, he said.

The planning board also approved changing plans for an 11,000-square-foot building into two 4,500-square-foot retail buildings with a 2,000-square-foot brick paver plaza in the middle for outdoor seating; and the addition of brick paver patio areas for outdoor seating around two sides of a planned 5,000-square-foot building, he said.

So far, four buildings, including the bank and Walmart, have been constructed in the retail side of the development.

Monti’s Barbershop, which will open this fall; Southpaw Brewing Co., which will open this summer; and Tropical Smoothie Cafe, which recently signed a lease, will be among the tenants in an 8,000-square-foot building that is finished, Ferruggiari said.

Bagel Boss, slated for a fall opening; Yaphank Wine and Spirits, which will open this summer; and GoHealth will be among the tenants in a 9,000-square-foot building that is finished, he said.

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Click here to read the original article

The retail portion of a $450 million mixed-use complex taking shape along William Floyd Parkway in Yaphank is getting closer to being fully leased as new tenants are set to come on board by this summer, according to the developer.

Bagel Boss, Monti's Barbershop, Ridgewood Savings Bank, Southpaw Brewing Co. and Yaphank Wine and Spirits will open locations in the retail side of the complex, called The Boulevard, by August, said
Brian Ferruggiari, spokesman for Rose-Breslin Associates LLC, the Yonkers-based developer of the retail portion.

Located at the former Parr Meadows racetrack site, The Boulevard is a 322-acre retail and residential development previously called the Meadows at Yaphank. Also under construction in the complex are upscale rental apartments and for-sale condos and townhomes being developed by The Beechwood Organization in Jericho.

Construction of an assisted living facility, called Chelsea Senior Living, and a Home2Suites by Hilton hotel was completed on the property in 2020.

The development's retail portion, which will total 295,728 square feet when it's done, is called The Shoppes at The Boulevard. So far, it has only one store a 197,668-square-foot Walmart Supercenter that Bagel Boss and Southpaw Brewing Co. will be among the new tenants at the Yaphank retail location. before that, he said. vices," he said. opened in 2021 and is the an- chor of the shopping center. Monti's already has a location in Moriches.

Here is a rundown of the five tenants moving into three newly constructed buildings at The Shoppes at The Boulevard by this summer.
Bagel Boss: The Jericho-based chain has 15 shops, all but one of which are franchises in New York and New Jersey. "Even though we've been around 48 years . . . we've opened all the stores ourselves, and it's only now literally a year and a half ago that we started franchising," said Andrew Hazen, CEO and co-owner of Bagel Boss. Though franchising is new for the business, Bagel Boss had sold a few shops to longtime store managers in "licensing deals,"

Monti's Barbershop: The new barbershop, which will occupy 1,529 square feet, won't be a e a typical place to get a haircut, co-owner Anthony Montanez said. "It's going to be a high-end barbershop offering hot-towel shaves… [and] facial services" he said.
A Manorville resident and master barber, Montanez opened a Monti's Barbershop in Mastic in 2011, and then consolidated that into a larger Moriches shop that opened in 2016.

He and a master barber at the Moriches shop, Middle Island resident Justin Raft, will co-own the new Yaphank location.

Ridgewood Savings Bank:
The bank will occupy a free-standing, 2,500-square-foot building, according to Ferruggiari. Founded in 1921 and headquartered in the Ridgewood neighborhood of Queens, the bank has 36 branches in the metropolitan area. The bank did not respond to Newsday's request for comment.

WHAT TO KNOW
■ Bagel Boss, Monti's Barbershop, Ridgewood Savings Bank, Southpaw Brewin Co. and Yaphank Wine and Spirits will open at The Boulevard in Yaphank by August, officials said.
■ The retail side of the $450 million mixed-use development is getting closer to being fully leased.
■ The development's retail portion - a total of 295,728 square feet when done - is called The Shoppes at The Boulevard.

Southpaw Brewing Co.: Set to occupy 3,000 square feet, the restaurant will serve its own craft beer, as well as brick-oven pizza, burgers and other food items, said James Economou, who will co-own the business with his uncle Thomas Neidhart, cousins TJ. and Mike Neidhart, and friend Matt Rappa. All five co-owners reside in Wading River. The partners decided to open Southpaw Brewing in Yaphank because the area lacked a high-quality offering that combines a beer hall with tasty food, Economou said.
"We felt [Yaphank] was kind of up and coming. There's not too much that is out there," he said.

Yaphank Wine and Spirits: The 2,840 square-foot store will sell more than 3,000 items and offer complimentary wine tastings, Ferruggiari said. The owner could not be reached for comment.

Long Island has a lot to offer seniors considering their retirement options. The island boasts plentiful art and culture, miles of beautiful beaches, mass transit, world-class health and educational facilities, a diverse economy plus easy access to New York City and major transit hubs.

The following list offers a look at just some of the retirement communities worth considering, right here on Long Island.

55+ DEVELOPMENTS FOR SALE OR RENT

Beechwood Homes

The nationally recognized Beechwood Organization, also known as Beechwood Homes and founded in 1985, has built more than 9,500 homes in 70 communities across Long Island, New York City and Saratoga Springs, New York, and is currently expanding into North Carolina. They like to say, they’re “not just selling a home, but a lifestyle.” On Long Island, Beechwood is currently selling Country Pointe communities in Plainview and Yaphank, Meadowbrook Pointe and Meadowbrook Pointe Gardens communities in East Meadow, Marina Pointe in East Rockaway, and both Country Pointe Estates and Oneck Landing in The Village of Westhampton Beach. The Rental collection includes luxury residences at The Selby and The Vanderbilt in Westbury, and The Tides at Arverne by the Sea in Queens. Among completed communities are Meadowbrook Pointe in Westbury and Meadowbrook Pointe Links and Spa in Medford, Country Pointe communities in Bellmore, Coram, Dix Hills, Kings Park, Lake Grove, Manorville, Melville, Miller Place, Ridge and Smithtown. Award-winning communities in Southampton Village are The Latch, Bishops Pond and Bishops Grant.

Scroll down to read the rest of the article!

What recent project, transaction or accomplishment are you most proud of?

Steven Dubb: "The Latch Southampton Village. In 2016, we bought the historic Village Latch Inn. From 2017-2019, during the application process to convert the 67-unit lodging on 5-acres to a 20-home luxury condo community, we operated it as The Latch Pop-Up Inn. In 2020, after consultation with 15 agencies, neighbors and Village Board of Architectural Review & Historic Preservation, approval was granted. It included our commitment to restore exteriors of two early 20th century structures designed by Stanford White. Then came COVID. Last June, we finally broke ground and started pre-construction sales. By 2021, half the homes sold off floor plans. Four designer-decorated models open in April. First occupancy is this summer. Five years on, I’m so proud to have brought together the best of Hamptons old world charm and new construction. The Latch is just beautiful."

Steven Dubb, principal at The Beechwood Organization, talks about the new Yaphank development Country Pointe Meadows and why it’s a great fit for homeowners looking for a high-end community with close proximity to the East End, how the group is handling social distancing and more.

Tell us about the development of Country Pointe Meadows and how you approached designing this community.
We have a lot of experience on Long Island designing active adult–or 55-plus–lifestyle communities and are known for it. We’ve developed over 60 communities since my father, Michael Dubb, established Beechwood in 1985.

Though we are now seeing increased interest from New Yorkers wanting to move east, most of our buyers are Long Islanders. They are “rightsizing” from their big family, house but want to remain on the island near friends and family. They are typically empty nesters, couples or singles, who want a new home at great value with low real estate taxes. They also want care-free living, no more shoveling snow, mowing the lawn, leaky roofs or basements. They want brand new homes with airy open floor plans, not too far from friends and family and close to highways, shopping, beaches and recreation. That was what was so attractive about this location.

At Country Pointe Meadows in Yaphank, we’re building 400 new condominium homes. This is the for-sale component of The Boulevard, a master plan village, located on the former site of Yaphank’s Parr Meadows Racetrack. It’s adjacent to greenbelt trails and dedicated open space in Suffolk County’s Town of Brookhaven, just off the Long Island Expressway at exit 68N and the William Floyd Parkway. The development is hailed for its traditional neighborhood design and smart growth principles. Residents can walk, bike or drive to nearby offices, shops, restaurants, hospitality, public parks and open space across the entire 322 acres.

The grounds our homes are built on are spacious and sprawling, beautifully landscaped and include a gazebo, ponds and dog parks. The 11,000-square-foot clubhouse is a centerpiece where homeowners can socialize but also exercise.

There are townhomes and villas. What was the thinking behind making these distinct styles?
We have villas–spacious apartment style homes for single floor living–on the ground floor or second floor. We also have townhomes with living space spanning two or three levels.

Homes range from 1,470 to over 2,100 square feet of living space with two bedrooms and two or two-and-a-half baths, a loft, a den, a full-basement with the option for it to be finished, and one- or two-car garages. Buyers also get to personalize their homes working with our Design Center to choose their own designer fittings and finishes for the kitchen and bathrooms.

What makes Country Pointe Meadows special and unique in the real estate market?

For those who work, play or want to visit friends or family in the Hamptons, North Fork or parts west, they may not realize how close Yaphank really is. Exit 68 off the LIE is under 20 minutes east to Riverhead and 25 minutes west to Route 110. So it’s about location for sure but also the cost of living, in a quality constructed home with great quality of life.

Community living is more affordable than one may realize at first. Many are surprised to learn the move to a 55-plus community will actually save them money. If you make a line-by-line cost comparison of monthly carrying costs, between owning one’s existing family home and a new home in one of our communities, there are savings to be made on landscaping, pool maintenance, snow and refuse removal, homeowner insurance, security systems and gym/club memberships. Taxes are also comparatively less in community life. So our owners spend less and worry less with great quality of life. I like to refer to Country Pointe Meadows as a hidden gem.

Prices start in the upper-$400,000s for single-level living villas and the low $500,000s for townhomes with ground-floor master suites. Taxes start at around $3,700 for homeowners who qualify for the NY STAR program.

Talk about the importance of the Clubhouse and its features and amenities.

At the center of the community is a state-of-the-art 11,000-square-foot community clubhouse with a ballroom, card rooms, sports lounge with bar, fitness room, treatment room, concierge, activities director, two outdoor heated swimming pools plus tennis and bocce ball courts. Right now we’re all socially distancing so we’ve moved many of the features outside from exercise equipment to seating areas. When we can get back, residents will be meeting their neighbors at the bar for cocktails, playing cards, watching a football game or taking an exercise class.

Why is Country Pointe Meadows a great fit for someone 55 and up?

Our homeowners enjoy making new friends and keeping busy. Their new carefree lifestyle is almost like being on vacation, free of the burden of home maintenance. They also enjoy living in brand new homes at this stage in their lives.

MOVING FROM A private home to a 55-plus community is sometimes referred to as “downsizing.” But Michael Dubb, founder and CEO of the Beechwood Organization of Jericho, prefers to call this kind of move “rightsizing.”

Rightsizing, he says, is when you’re ready to get rid of the big home – the stairs, the maintenance, yard – and go to a community where most of the living is on a single level and the big chores are done for you. “It’s that turnkey kind of living. It frees up your time to enjoy your life and your home, worry-free,” Dubb says. Dubb’s company set the benchmark for luxury, resort-style communities for active adults on LongIsland, first in Westbury, then Medford, and now with new communities in East Meadow, Plainview, Smithtown and Yaphank.

As you age, staying healthy, socializing and doing things that enhance your life take on greater significance. A development with an activity director and calendar of clubs, classes and events is a big plus. A well-equipped gym is also essential. Generally, bigger communities offer more amenities, such as indoor and outdoor pools, tennis courts, bocce, pickleball and open space for walkability with more opportunities for socializingand a greater diversity of activities from which to choose. Make a list of what is important to you and see ifthe community includes these things. Consider the location and make sure it’s close to things that you value. In many instances, family and grandchildren are the main reasons why people want to remain on Long Island. Is the community near things you want to be closer to, such as beaches, golf, farm stands or shopping? Security is also something to check off your list. A manned gatehouse and 24-hour roving security are more desirable and personal than card access. Residents can be assured their belongings are safe and that everything is being taken care of, including snow removal.

It’s also useful to compare the cost of community life to the savings you may make without the need for security systems, homeowner insurance, landscaping, snow removal, gym membership and entertainment.

WHAT ABOUT YOUR TIMELINE?

If you need to sell your house first, will the builder work with you on stretching closing dates or even help to find a rental during your transition?“It’s important to look at other communities by the builder and to see how the residents like living there,” Dubb says. “A reputable builder will also be there for any kind of warranty.”
Look for gourmet kitchens with top-of-the-line appliances, fixtures and countertops and good hardwood floors. “While you should not have to do much more to upgrade your new home (it’s an all-inclusive package), you should be able to hand pick kitchen and bath finishes with a visit to the builder’s design center,” Dubb says. Rightsizing also means moving to well-designed spaces inside and out. Does the community offer different style homes, for example, multi-level townhomes and single-level apartments? Do floorplans suit your lifestyle? Are layouts open with plenty of natural light? How far is the drive or walk to the clubhouse or shopping? Depending on your needs and time frame, you might prefer a home that’s ready to move into or one that can be built to your exact specifications. If the latter is what you desire, find a community that offers this option.

After putting his three kids through college, credit card industry veteran Mike Turano no longer had a need for his big custom-built Stony Brook home, so he started eyeing a move down south.

But before he and his wife packed up and left New York, they stumbled upon Country Pointe Meadows in Yaphank, a luxurious 400-home condominium lifestyle community for adults aged 55-plus. A year after becoming its first resident last summer, he couldn’t be happier that they decided to stay close to their kids on LI — and are doing so in style.

“It’s very upscale,” he says. “For what you’re paying, I think this is total value. One hundred percent.”

Pricing ranges from the upper $400,000s to the upper $600,000s with real estate taxes as low as $3,900 — well under the $21,000 Turano was paying in property taxes in his previous home — at Country Pointe Meadows in Yaphank. It’s the for-sale, home-ownership component of The Boulevard, a 322-acre smart growth mixed-used development that will include retail stores, a park, dog park, hotel, baseball field, track, rental apartments, and assisted-living facility.

“It’s a great place to meet your neighbors and spend time with your family,” Turano says. “Knowing what Long Island costs to live, this really kept me here and it really helped us out and allowed us to continue a beautiful lifestyle.”

The development is being built in three phases, with phase one completed and nearly sold out. Phase two is currently underway and is a third has been sold, for a combined 65 units bought so far, with more in contract. Phase three starts in 2021.

Conveniently located right off exit 68 on the Long Island Expressway, a half hour drive from Syosset and near the gateway to the East End’s farms, vineyards, golfing, shopping, and waterfront — assuming residents can tear themselves away from their beautiful abodes.

“The level of finish and quality of the home, our open floor plan, the wood floors, the marble counter tops … There’s nothing like it in Suffolk right now in terms of retirement communities being built,” says Steven Dubb, a principal of the Jericho-based Beechwood Organization, Long Island’s largest homebuilder. “The condo lifestyle is what our residents are looking for.”

At the heart of the community is an active 11,000-square-foot clubhouse boasting a ballroom, oversized gym, bar, barbecue area, firepits, patio, pool, and all the amenities of resort-style living.

“It feels like you’re on a vacation,” says Maria Pini — like Turano, an empty nester — who moved to the community from Woodbury with her husband. “It’s really that kind of atmosphere. There’s no pressure.”

Of course, what makes a community great is not just top-notch houses with high-end creature comforts, but also quality people.

“We now have more friends than we could have possibly met anywhere else,” Turano says. “And they’re all just like us — the same exact story. They’re here on Long Island, they had the big house, the kids moved on, and this was their opportunity to stay on Long Island because the taxes are reasonable and the maintenance fees are reasonable. Everyone’s loving it here and I honestly can’t say a bad thing about it.”

The Beechwood Organization is hosting an open house at Country Pointe Meadows from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12. The community is located at 1 Grace Hall Lane, Yaphank.