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Construction
Construction of Country Living at Westview Commons in Dayville is well underway. Courtesy photo.



Building for generations in northeastern CT
By James Doran Kellaway for Westview
DAYVILLE — Country Living at Westview Commons—a luxury living opportunity in the form of a 75-unit independent and assisted living facility—is a currently culminating venture that is decades in the making and on track to be completed autumn 2020.  It has been strongly, but carefully, pushed forward by David T. Panteleakos, Westview Commons owner; Donna Copeland, Westview Commons executive director; and Herbert Czermak, Westview Commons Owner, over the past two years with town meetings, financial planning, construction strategies, census research, and marketing development.  Their vision for a retirement lifestyle destination has been around for much longer; well before this recent stage of physical assembly.
David Panteleakos is a Westview Commons owner and currently the administrator/CEO of Westview Health Care Center: a 103 bed, nationally recognized, 5-star rated skilled inpatient nursing care and outpatient rehabilitation facility.  He has literally grown up in this environment, for he represents the third consecutive generation of his family to work in healthcare field.  Eileen Panteleakos (David’s mother) dreamt of a Westview-affiliated independent living facility during her preceding tenure as the administrator of the skilled nursing facility.  She stipulated that it should offer extraordinary value for a competitive level of investment within the market of retired living communities.  In 1998 Eileen Panteleakos and the president of Westview Health Care Center, Herbert Czermak, developed the initial plans for “a comfortable, caring, beautiful retirement home in picturesque northeastern Connecticut.”
As the baby boom generation has made its way to (and now through) retirement age, the corresponding shift in demographics necessitates that more options become available to seniors.  The growth of this population creates an increase in needs that a life at Westview Commons caters perfectly for older active adults.  They may desire to downsize a home, increase free time, hire supplementary domestic services, perform less landscaping labor, travel or retired individuals may simply want to make a few new friends and have more recreational options.  The executives developing this project firmly believe that independent lifestyles are the means by and for which those wishes will be met.
Not only will Country Living at Westview Commons be operated by administration and staff that remains keenly aware of senior’s desires with a state-of-the-art facility, but it will all be available at entry level pricing for this industry.  Moreover, this luxury complex will not require large down payments or long-term contracts.  For an all-inclusive price prospective residents will have their choice of one- or two-bedroom apartments complete with efficiency kitchens and spacious bathrooms, access to on-site parking including a 55-car underground garage, a comprehensive maintenance and repair policy, a loaded calendar of recreational activity and cultural events, and round-the-clock safety and security.  Emergency needs can be managed and called in by the Westview Commons staff at any time, day or night, and each unit is fully equipped with networked fire protection system.
Under construction now, the physical building already commands an impressive presence on the 32-acre Westview campus.  The total facility proper will amount to 115,000 square feet with residential units offering up to 1,085 square feet of space.  Individual dwellings are designed with ample distance between doors; residences extending down a pair of two-story wings.  Below raised ceilings the “A” wing and the “B” wing hallways elongate and intersect at the huge central core of the building.  Considerably more than a welcome lobby, this will be the cultural center of the Westview Commons community.  Its area is commanded by a 4,200 square-foot “Great Room” that functions as an elegant dining room with space to accommodate up to 150 people.  Looking northeast fills the eyes with exterior views that soar through the two-story window wall.  To the right is a lively scene hailing from Harrington’s Irish Pub.  Across from there, delightful tea and conversation brew at the Mediterraneo Café.  Walk up the grand staircase and there’s a movie theater with plush seats.  Back downstairs, light emanates from the doorways of Physician’s offices, the mail room, and the beauty parlor. 
Down each hallway quieter retreats await.  All 75 units have large private bath rooms, half of the units feature a second bedroom, and a third of the units have French doors leading to walkout patios.  Entering one of these spaces reveals the open concept design that invites a great deal of customization for resident furnishing.  Coffered ceilings increase the height above the spacious living rooms which gently ease into the kitchen, where a full refrigerator, glass range stove top, granite counters, and maple cabinets adorn the space and address culinary needs.  Throughout the area, dimmable lighting in the form of recessed elements and hanging pendant lanterns give the exact level of illumination desired.
The one-bedroom and two-bedroom model units are available for viewing, and scheduling an informative tour with Executive Director Donna Copeland is a great way to learn about specific details.  Whether expectations are deluxe or simple; whether independent living is preferable or assisted living is needed; whether interested individuals wish to expand their social circle or they just want to be able to invite their current friends to a glamorous new home where the only thing they have to worry about is getting a good seat at the piano concert down the hall—Country Living at Westview Commons is pleased to accommodate. More information about the new development can be found at www.westviewcommons.com or by calling Donna Copeland, Executive Director at (860) 428-2230.

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