By Christine Tremain, VP Marketing & Development
Thank you to everyone who participated in our Wesley Spring Glen focus group at the end of May. Your feedback provides important information for our development team as we put the finishing touches on the construction drawings and specifications. As promised, we would like to share some high-level outcomes from the groups.
You may recall that the questions were organized in several sections with a rating scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being most important. Some amenities were ranked instead of rated on a 1 to 5 scale in order of preference with 1 being first choice. This created some confusion but didn’t seem to adversely impact the responses. Here is what we learned by section:
Outdoor amenities
Walking trails received the highest rating of the outdoor amenities with an average 4.54 out of 5. Covered outdoor space and a BBQ/picnic area followed with average ratings of 4.51 and 4.17. Resident gardens and a pet area were also important. Bocce ball (aka lawn bowling), a putting green and a pickleball court were of interest but less important to our survey takers.
Some of the write-in options included: benches, croquet, horseshoes, tennis court, mini golf, corn hole, a water feature, car wash area, fire pit and a hummingbird attraction area.
Indoor amenities
Overall, the library was the preferred indoor amenity with a 4.56 average rating while younger participants preferred a Creativity Center as the top indoor amenity. A club room and movie theater also rated 4.4 out of 5 with a place for games and cards, puzzles and an art studio rating over 4. We saw interest in pottery and woodworking as well.
A soundproof music room, a pub/brewery, travel groups, learning classes, foosball, racquet ball and ping pong were suggested as additional amenities to consider.
Parking/Storage/Transportation
Transportation received an average of 4.75. All age groups identified this amenity as a critical service for our focus group participants.
EV charging, a pet wash and bicycle storage were moderately important. Valet parking, RV storage and kayak storage were not important.
Write-in suggestions included guest parking, tool storage, extra storage and medical transportation.
Fitness
This section received the highest scores indicating that our focus group participants highly value fitness opportunities. Exercise classes, weight training and cardio equipment received high ratings from the whole group and an exceptionally high rating of 4.9 out of 5 with those who are younger. Walking groups were also popular with all age groups. Other fitness activities rated in the following order: Tai Chi, yoga, dance, bike riding and golf.
While not listed as an amenity for Spring Glen, a swimming pool was the most requested addition to the list of amenities as shared through the write-in option.
Wellness
Topping the list of wellness spaces was a hair/nail salon and a hot tub (or Jacuzzi). Spaces for massage and meditation/chapel were also important. The infrared and dry sauna received strong ratings from our younger respondents, and the Himalayan salt bath and steam room received moderate interest.
Dining
We gained valuable information from participants around dietary preferences and meal plans. Most enjoy a casual dining style with a variety of menu options.
Approximately 30% of participants ranked the 1 meal a day dining plan within their top three selections. The 20 meal per month and a la carte dining plans were ranked 22% and 23% of the time, respectively, followed by 2 meals a day at 19% and lastly, 3 meals a day at 8%.
Apartment Amenities
During the presentation, we reviewed standard finishes in the apartments and gathered feedback on custom or upgrade options. Residents often upgrade window coverings and flooring when given the opportunity. Adding shower doors is also common. These options also showed up as desirable from our focus group. In addition, upgraded appliances and an extended kitchen backsplash ranked 4th and 5th on the list of preferences.
Several people wrote in heated floors as an option they would want to add. Other creative suggestions included a waterfall shower head, spice racks, walk-in bathtub, bidet, efficient space design, high-quality faucets/fixtures, soft close drawers/cabinets, personal freezer and storage organization.
Apartment size, location and price
We looked at responses to apartment size in two ways: by first choice and top three choices. As a point of reference, apartment sizes were as follows:
- One Bedroom (750-850 square feet)
- One Bedroom plus (900-1,100 square feet)
- Two Bedroom (1,100-1,400 square feet)
- Two Bedroom Plus (1,400-1,500 square feet)
- Two Bedroom Plus (approx. 1,700 square feet)
31% of participants selected the Two Bedroom as their first choice followed by 28% selecting the largest 1,700 square foot Two Bedroom Plus and 25% selecting the One Bedroom Plus. The 1,400-1,500 square foot Two Bedroom Plus was selected first by 12% and the One Bedroom was selected first by 5% of respondents.
When we look at participants’ top three choices, the Two Bedroom ranked highest at 31% followed by the 1,400-1,500 square foot Two Bedroom Plus at 27%.
These results affirm the mix of apartment styles that are planned at Wesley Spring Glen matches the desires of our focus group participants.
Building Exterior
Lastly, we asked for feedback on the colors and materials used on the exterior of the building as seen on a colored rendering from the architect. The response was overwhelmingly positive with the front entry receiving the highest ratings. Some suggested that they would like to see the building look less modern and encompass more Northwest features. Another felt the look was “a little rich for the environment and surrounding area.” Respondents want the building to look warm and welcoming; be timeless, not trendy; incorporate lots of windows; and have good soundproofing between floors and apartments.
Thank you again to those who took the time to participate in the focus group. We appreciate your time and thoughtfulness in sharing your responses. The information we gathered is very helpful to the development team for Wesley Spring Glen.
If you were not able to participate, you can watch a recording of the Zoom focus group presentation here.