“I always wanted to live down the shore, so when I was offered the position, I saw it as a chance of a lifetime,” recalled John.
Greenbriar II was one of the first communities in the Greenbriar brand which was introduced in New Jersey in 1969 by U.S. Home and later built upon by Lennar, one of the country’s largest homebuilders. Four decades later, the Greenbriar tradition of excellence, value and unmatched lifestyle experiences continues to set the standard for active adult living in New Jersey.
For Hlavacek, Greenbriar II provided an eye-opening lesson in the emerging concept of a true lifestyle community with resort-like amenities and services and luxurious home designs catering to younger, more active adults.
“I had a background in construction, so selling new homes was very exciting for me,” noted John. “I also enjoyed seeing the community’s growth and progress; watching residents move in, using the clubhouse and all the amenities and forming friendships. Watching this unfold led me to understand that we weren’t just selling shelter, but the community as a whole.”
His early realization that the Greenbriar brand was about more than just homes helped John contribute to a successful sell-out of Greenbriar II and endeared him to the homebuilder’s top executives, leading to subsequent assignments at new Greenbriar communities. However, no-one at the time would have predicted his tenure would reach 30 years and counting.
“John has been a tremendous asset to the company over the past three decades and his 30-year anniversary is a wonderful milestone for us all to celebrate,” noted Don Bompensa, President of Lennar’s New Jersey Division. “It’s a true testament to his positive attitude, tireless work ethic, honesty, integrity and the incredible level of respect and admiration he’s received from both his peers and the thousands of homebuyers he’s worked with over the years. That he joins countless others who have also been with us for extended careers says a lot about the Lennar family and gives us great pride that we’ve assembled such a stellar team of professionals who directly represent us to the home buying public.”
As an active participant in a number of new Greenbriar communities over the years, Mr. Hlavacek has enjoyed a front-row seat during the evolution of the award-winning active adult community brand.
“The Greenbriar name and what it represents has a longstanding history in New Jersey that has resonated with homebuyers, but it’s also changed with the times, and that’s made it very appealing,” says John. “When I initially began, the standard home design in active adult communities consisted of a basic ranch style with one or two bedrooms, one or two bathrooms and a one-car garage, but as the years progressed, so did the homes.
“All of a sudden, we were offering two-story residences with a loft, two-car garage and the occasional basement. Buyers were very impressed. In fact, I’ll never forget the day a purchaser commented on how much these looked and lived like ‘real homes’.”
John eventually made his way to Lennar’s Greenbriar Oceanaire community in Waretown just north of Long Beach Island, which he helped grand open in October of 2001. The award-winning community boasts 1,400 distinctive single-family homes — less than 300 of which remain available for sale — and a true resort-inspired lifestyle stemming from a 38,000-square-foot clubhouse which offers year-round entertainment with its indoor and outdoor pools, tennis and boccie courts, a fully-equipped fitness center/spa, game rooms, library, computer and craft rooms and a grand ballroom. The community also offers an Arthur Hills-designed, 18-hole championship golf course that is located completely within the community and challenges players on all levels.
“We’ve come a long way since Greenbriar II,” said John. “Greenbriar Oceanaire epitomizes Lennar’s steadfast commitment to designing and creating a country-club atmosphere for homeowners who are eagerly entering a time in their lives when it’s all about them and their enjoyment. Whether retired or not, it’s hard to walk through this community and not envision yourself living here and enjoying all that it has to offer.”
Lennar’s industry-leading innovation and expertise in the active adult community marketplace can also be found at Greenbriar Stonebridge, a community of 946 single-family residences in Monroe Township. The community features nine distinctive designs, including some with loft options, as well as new “Twin” duplex designs. A 41,000-plus square-foot clubhouse — the largest in an active adult community in the state of New Jersey — features a grand ballroom, magnificent theater with stadium seating, billiards room, state-of-the-art fitness center, indoor swimming pool, two-story great room, card room, computer center and meeting rooms. Outside, residents will enjoy a resort-style pool and expansive sun deck and tennis courts.
Greenbriar Fox Ridge is a brand new active adult community featuring 336 luxury one- and two-bedroom, single-level condominium residences; exciting resort-like amenities and a picturesque Rockaway Township setting. The homes are located in three-story elevator buildings with secured underground parking. The community, which has no affiliation with the existing Fox Hills community in Rockaway Township, will be gated and is conveniently situated amidst a breathtaking, mountainous country setting. A 16,000 square-foot grand clubhouse features a fitness center, outdoor swimming pool, social rooms and a tennis court.
For more information on any of the Greenbriar communities, please visit http://www.greenbriarnj.com.
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