Garden Communities surprised Westmount Village resident Diana Lacey with a once-in-a-lifetime gift: a year of free rent. Diana has lived in the Woodland Park community for 50 wonderful years. Diana says that the community’s property management team members have made the decision to remain in her Passaic County home for five decades an easy one. “They’re always there when I need them,” Diana says gratefully. “They called me a week before and asked to meet me at the leasing office – they said they had a little gift to give me for living here for 50 years. You could tell from their eyes that they were all just happy for me. We all hugged and kissed. It made my day.”
Diana’s Story
Diana is a former publicist and public relations consultant, having run her business from her home for over 35 years. While she was born in Union, NJ, she lived in New York City for several years, where she worked for Conde Nast Publications. However, “I got friendly with a set designer in Montclair who lived here,” says Lacey. “When I visited her apartment, I sat on the terrace and knew I wanted to live here, too.”
Diana has enjoyed watching the neighborhood change and grow, noting that there were no banks, shopping centers, or library when she first moved in. “Then, we had only a general store.” She enjoyed the diversity of the area, saying “it was like a little New York, very diversified. I wanted to live with a variety of people. And there were many interesting people —and everyone left their doors open.”
Diana continues to recommend the community to others, as “the air is still cleaner than anywhere else, because of the elevation and the trees. We have deer, wild turkeys – even a fox! I sit here and look out at nature. It’s like Disneyland.”
We think it’s wonderful here, too, Diana.
The Golden Resident Gift
We are proud to have awarded several residents the honorable title of Golden Resident. Diana joins Dorothy Jean Jones at Princeton Gardens, Ruth Sherman at West Mill Gardens, Lillian Bostard at Greenfield Gardens, and so many more in this elite club of Golden Residents. This honor is bestowed upon a resident who has lived in their community for 50 years and we are proud to award these loyal tenants with a full year of rent-free living!
“That’s what this program is all about – saying ‘thank you’ to individuals who have planted roots and helped to create an enduring sense of community,” says Dave Platt, the Westmount Village Property Manager. “They take as much pride in our developments as we do,”
About Westmount Village
Westmount Village is a charming collection of 894 rental apartments with 1- and 2-bedroom layouts. Each apartment features spacious interiors, a private balcony or patio, resident-controlled air conditioning, and an eat-in kitchen, among other features. Enjoy the late summer sun at the community swimming pool and feel safe with security lighting around the property. Bring your furry friend, as Westmount Village is a pet-friendly apartment community.