The new Traditions at Royalton Place boasts loads of amenities and a feeling of community for residents

By Ken McEntee

An Italian-themed pot luck dinner was in full swing during a recent visit to Traditions at Royalton Place. While some residents wisely congregated near the food inside the recreation center, others took their plates outside to the patio to cluster around the crystal clear heated saltwater swimming pool.

Frequent social gatherings are quickly becoming a tradition at North Royalton’s newest luxury living community for people aged 55 and better, says Cindy Pagel, who had moved in just about a month earlier with her husband, Don.

“We just love it here,” Cindy says, while trying to ignore Don’s tongue-in-cheek attempts to organize a midnight swim party. “There is always something exciting to do, and the residents try to get everybody involved.”

The friendly atmosphere that made the Pagels feel instantly welcome, insists Beth Bakker, regional manager for Gross Residential, the local family operation that developed and manages Traditions, is just one reason why the community is in high demand. The first of four 76-unit buildings is nearly sold out after opening last August, and residents this month are moving into the second building even before the finishing touches on the building are complete, Beth says.

“We looked at other 55 and over communities, but we knew as soon as we saw Traditions that this is where we wanted to call home,” smiles Cindy.

After living in a three-story colonial with “lots of stairs and lots of maintenance,” she explains, it was time to give up lawn mowing and snow shoveling and spend more time enjoying life.

Tradition’s amenities impressed Cindy and Don even before they realized what a fun place it was.

“It’s more spacious than other places we’ve seen,” Cindy says. “I’ve never seen so much storage space, and the apartments have so many conveniences.”

For example, says Property Manager Jessica Cunningham, all of the two-bedroom units have two bathrooms and a laundry room with full-sized, side-by-side washers and dryers. One-bedroom units have one bathroom and a laundry room. The variety of floor plans can include kitchen islands and granite counters.

What Traditions doesn’t have, Beth emphasizes, is a trash room.

“Residents simply leave their trash outside their door and we pick it up,” she explains. “Over the years I’ve seen people trying to lug garbage bags down hallways, or even to outdoor dumpsters, and I suggested free valet trash pickup to the owners. They were right on board with it. It illustrates their commitment to listening to residents and giving them what they need to make their lives easier.”

Cindy jokes that Don’s request for a zip-line from his apartment to the pool was denied, but residents enjoy plenty of other amenities, like a fitness center, attached and detached covered parking areas, an internet café and outdoor grilling and lounging areas.

Despite the many features, rent at Traditions starts at only $980 per month for a one-bedroom apartment, and $1,180 for a two-bedroom unit.

Traditions’ first building, Beth says, has five units left, and the premium floor plans are sold out. At the end of June, however, 46 of the 76 units in the second building will open up—and 23 are already rented.

“We had an open house on a Saturday afternoon and took 21 applications in just two-and-a-half hours,” Beth says. “People were impressed.”

You can get your own tour of Traditions at Royalton Place by calling Jessica, at 440-848-3010, Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., or weekends, from noon to 5:00 p.m. Traditions is located at 9185 Traditions Way, at the corner of York and Royalton Roads, in North Royalton. You can learn more at TraditionsAtRoyaltonPlace.com.