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50-Year London Terrace Resident Recognized with a Year’s Free Rent
OLD BRIDGE, N.J. (Oct. 5, 2023) – It is rare indeed for people to live in the same apartment for half a century. It is even less common for a multifamily property owner to reward that loyalty. It was not surprising, then, that Fred Gilfillan, a resident at London Terrace in Old Bridge, called it “surreal” when he was awarded a year’s free rent by Garden Communities.
“I was dumbfounded,” said Gilfillan, who moved to London Terrace with his late wife, Patricia, in 1973.
Short Hills, N.J.-based Garden Communities established its Golden Resident Club in 2020 to honor residents who have occupied their apartments for at least 50 years. So far, the company has celebrated more than a dozen recipients, with Gilfillan the latest addition.
When he learned that members of the Garden Communities property management and corporate teams planned to come to his apartment to present his Golden Resident award, he filled the flower box out front with mums for the occasion. He was, he said, surprised by the extent of the ceremony – which included a giant customized check acknowledging his status, flowers and candy.
“The people who work here are good people, salt of the earth, who come and help when you need it,” said the new awardee, describing Garden Communities as magnanimous. “It’s a great place to live and the apartments are always occupied, or don’t sit empty for long.”
A Glorious Place to Live
The Gilfillans’ relocation from western Pennsylvania to Old Bridge had distinct advantages. Not only did the community offer a good school system, but the apartment was perfect for a growing family; they raised their two sons there. “The space has both an upstairs and downstairs, almost like a small ranch,” Gilfillan said, which provided plenty of room for both a pool table and table tennis.
Patricia Gilfillan was an avid crafter, and the apartment’s décor always changed with the seasons. Today, the apartment still carries the red, white, and blue artworks created for the Fourth of July. Fittingly, the bouquet presented to Mr. Gilfillan at his awards ceremony echoed those colors.
“I can’t change it to Halloween yet,” said the grandfather of four. “I do that together with my twin grandsons, so I have to wait until they come.”
Speaking affectionately about his neighbors, Gilfillan described London Terrace as “the American melting pot,” with people of all ethnic backgrounds. “It’s glorious,” he said.
According to Garden Communities’ Maria Friscia, who supervises the Golden Resident program, the residents’ loyalty and longevity is echoed as well in the Garden Communities team at London Terrace. “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.”
Garden Communities is a leading New Jersey-based real estate owner, builder and operator in the multifamily niche. In addition to its many long-time communities, Garden Communities’ robust project pipeline will introduce dozens of new developments in the tri-state area over the next several years. The company is well recognized for its focus on meeting the needs and desires of today’s modern renters.
PHOTO CAPTION: Fred Gilfillan (in orange), with members of the London Terrace property management and Garden Communities corporate teams
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Media Contact:
Sandy Crisafulli / David Wilderotter
Caryl Communications
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sandy@caryl.com / david@caryl.com