The opening of Austin Square brings excitement, community spaces, and pickleball
The number of new independent living residents at Eagle’s Trace is growing significantly this spring as the Erickson Living community in West Houston, Tex. introduces its newest residence building.
“There’s great excitement in the air at Eagle’s Trace as we open Austin Square,” says Executive Director Stephen Aigner. “It’s a gorgeous building, and it pairs well with the existing buildings on campus. The size and space of Austin Square is generating a lot of enthusiasm for the future and all we’ll be able to do together.”
With 150 new apartment homes, Austin Square is the largest and tallest residence building on campus. It also brings additional amenities to the 72-acre campus, including the Life Enrichment Center, Waterloo Restaurant and outdoor dining patio, catering room, fitness studio, and pickleball court.
“When I think about the events we’ll host in the Life Enrichment Center, the space for residents to entertain family and friends in the catering room, and the additional benefits of a fitness studio and pickleball court— the new amenities in Austin Square give us something to look forward to,” says Aigner.
Exploring her options
Deb Oakley remembers the excitement of moving into a new residence building at Eagle’s Trace. She was among those who moved into the Amarillo Terrace residence building when it opened in November 2016.
“I first learned of Eagle’s Trace when I was looking for a place for my mother,” says Deb, a retired lawyer who relocated from Dayton, Ohio, to Houston in the early 2000s to be closer to her daughter and grandchildren. “I visited several communities in Houston. One of my tests was how they treated people going on the tour. Eagle’s Trace stood out because people talked to me. Staff interacted with the residents. There was a feeling of warmth and welcoming. That made an impression.”
Eagle’s Trace stayed in Debs mind, even as she built a house near her daughter and her family. “I had neighbors who went off to work each day,” recalls Deb. “When I retired, I was bored and started to think about Eagle’s Trace. I made an appointment with Jodie [Schroeder, sales counselor] and she told me they were planning to build a new residence building, Amarillo Terrace, with a scheduled opening of fall 2016.”
Deb liked the idea of moving into a new building with neighbors who would be moving in at the same time. She mentioned the possibility to her two daughters and grandchildren. “The one who was most in favor of a move was my granddaughter Amelia, who was 12 at the time,” says Deb. “She would stop by and see me on her way home from school. She told me, ‘Grandma, you should do this. You’ll meet a lot of people, you’ll have things to do, and you’ll be happy.’”
Getting to know neighbors
Convinced it was the right step, Deb reserved a two-bedroom Menger-style apartment on the ground floor of Amarillo Terrace.
“Everything I had seen before, the attitude and approach of the staff and residents, has been proven a hundred-fold,” says Deb. “There are no strangers here. People smile at you. If I want to talk, I walk down the hall. There’s always someone to talk to, something to do.” Although Deb didn’t know anyone who lived at Eagle’s Trace before she reserved an apartment, she soon discovered the social benefits that come with the opening of a new building.
“When we all moved in a little over four years ago, we met in the Oleander Lounge in the Amarillo Terrace lobby to talk,” says Deb. “We decided to form a coffee group, and that’s what really got things going.”
The organic connections that come with living in community are among the most enriching aspects of the Eagle’s Trace lifestyle.
A growing group
“The first time we met for coffee, 17 people came,” says Deb. “As time went on, we started to meet in larger groups. The coffee group continues to this day. Now, we use the card room in Galveston Crossing [residence building adjacent to Amarillo Terrace]. We meet Monday through Friday from nine to ten in the morning. On Tuesdays, we have a meeting. We currently have 52 people on the email list for the minutes. All of this sprang from the original coffee group.”
Deb says the connections with her neighbors have proved invaluable, particularly over the past year.
“This is the kind of place where people talk to each other and share information, everything from news about the [COVID-19] vaccines to where we want to go when it’s safe to travel again,” she says. “Amelia was right. This is a wonderful place to live.”
If you’re interested in living in a vibrant and active senior independent living community, request an Eagle’s Trace brochure today.
About Eagle’s Trace: Eagle’s Trace, one of 20 continuing care retirement communities managed by Erickson Living®, is situated on a scenic 72-acre campus in West Houston, Texas. The not-for-profit community of more than 960 residents and 500 employees is governed by its own board of directors, affiliated with National Senior Campuses, Inc., who provide independent financial and operational oversight. Additional information can be found at EaglesTraceCommunity.com.
Written by Sara Martin
