GOLD STAR COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
Traditions of America at Hanover Bethlehem, Northampton County, Pennsylvania
Life in an HOA community can be wonderful. A wonderful life is what there is here at Traditions of America at Hanover. TOA at Hanover is a gated, 55+ community, located in Bethlehem, Northampton County, PA.
Building began in 2008 with the last home built in 2013. The community met the criteria for the CAI Gold Star Award in 2019, were renewed this year, and are very proud of it. Our 5- person executive board and management team, FirstService Residential, worked together to assure we were meeting all the requirements for this honored recognition.
Our exceptional community has 241 homes, a two-story clubhouse and tons of other amenities. Within our clubhouse is a great room, bar area, pool table room, poker room, Mahjong room, full kitchen, library, theater, aerobics room, spa, gym, plenty of storage, and in each rest room there is a shower, steam room, and lockers.
Outdoors we have a pool with tiki hut, shuffleboard, cornhole, a firepit, and tennis / bocce courts. A walking path with a stunning wooded area surrounds the community. The wooded area is maintained by community members who have planted beautiful foliage along the route.
The community is proud to have over 112 volunteers in our community. The Social and Fundraising Committees hold regular events such as holiday parties, potlucks, ladies’ lunch, and a weekly wine and cheese event on Fridays. In nice weather, we even hold events outside by the pool. Our monthly newsletter keeps the community well informed. Other activities include card games almost every day, a book club, meditation classes, African drum classes, yoga, aerobics, lectures, exercise classes, billiards, bowling league, bocce league, ladies’ night out, and men's night out.
Our Architectural, Facilities, and Landscaping / Grounds Committees keep the clubhouse and grounds in tip top shape. Their work helps to keep our monthly fee lower by doing work that we would have had to pay someone to do. They are awesome!
We also have active Finance, Pet, Community Relations, and Internal Dispute Resolution Committees.
The finances are in fine shape. The reserves are right in line with the reserve study. The board was able to keep monthly assessments down, only increasing by 4.5% when the inflation rate was 9.8%.
As you know, insurance, gas and electricity rates are increased
frequently. We shop around to get the best rates possible. Every year we look at our contracted services such as landscaping, elevator upkeep, gate upkeep, snow removal, roof maintenance, and community management to assure that we have the best and most economical vendors.
Living in TOA at Hanover has allowed a relaxed retirement life most of our homeowners crave. Our neighbors help each other. The grounds are amenable to walking and biking.
The Lehigh Valley, Bethlehem in particular, was voted one of the top 100 cities to live in the country in 2022. The area provides multiple activities, live music, historic sites, festivals, amusement parks, and is within driving distance of New York City, Philadelphia, Pocono Mountains for skiing and camping, as well as Lancaster for a visit to Amish Country; and … Bethlehem is home to the #1 free 10-day music festival in the country, Musikfest.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Paula Haurie is an executive board member at Traditions of America at Hanover.
4 2 NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2023
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