Woodland Park resident Ursul Hillmer says she has had a wonderful life – and she credits some of that good fortune to living at Westmount Village. Born in Germany and formerly of Manhattan, Ursul and her late husband, Ralph, moved to the apartment community shortly after the birth of their first son, William.
Now in her 50th year as a Westmount Village resident, Hillmer has been awarded a year’s free rent by property developer and owner Garden Communities as part of the company’s “Golden Resident” program. “I was shocked,” said Hillmer. “I cannot thank them enough.”
Before moving to New Jersey, Hillmer was secretary to the manager of a North German steamship line. Her husband, who she met through a co-worker, worked for State Farm Insurance. Their first date, she recalled, was a glorious lunch at the Waldorf Astoria. When State Farm transferred her husband to New Jersey, they scrambled to find a place to live – preferably with two bedrooms.
“We didn’t buy a house because my husband moved around so much,” Hillmer said. On the advice of a friend, they checked out Westmount Village – then only one building. “I could walk the kids on a dead-end street by the woods and know everyone,” she said. Today, she said, it is a truly beautiful place, with 58 buildings, gardens and a swimming pool. And she still goes for walks – three times per day.
A self-professed “homemaker,” Ursul raised two boys, William and Ralph, in her Woodland Park home. When the boys grew up and moved out, she had their beds removed and changed that space to a sitting room. Her younger son now lives just one block away, while her eldest lives in Manhattan. Her husband died some 19 years ago. To alleviate some of her loneliness, she got two dogs, twin chihuahuas Chloe and Sebastian. She also has two granddaughters, who come often to take her out.
A Great Place to Live
Hillmer has known Westmount Village’s facilities manager, John, for 20 years and credits him with keeping the community in pristine condition. “I’ve never had a complaint here,” she said. “The manager and workmen always come when I call them and treat me very nicely. I’ve always had polite and professional service.” And she’s found the people in the surrounding apartments to be very nice. She often recommends the complex to friends looking to move.
While surprised by the news that she was a Golden Resident and would receive a year’s free rent, she was especially appreciative of the flowers and chocolates she was awarded after the announcement. “They were German chocolates, my favorites,” she said.
According to Garden Communities’ Maria Friscia, who supervises the Golden Resident program, loyalty and longevity are common themes throughout the firm’s legacy portfolio. “Garden Communities residents and employees, alike, have found more than just a place to live or work – they have found a place to call home,” she said. “This program is just so meaningful for everyone, and the celebration is always so heartwarming.”
