MEET OUR RESIDENTS!
Read Their Stories From Stroll Magazine:
John and Mary
After living for 29 years on Spring Marsh Lane, Mary and John were not planning to move for a few more years; they loved their home and the direct view of the lake. They saw the opportunity to have a new home, on one level with a beautiful view of “the meadow,” as Mary calls it, and the opportunity to customize their condo.
Mary and John met at the Walker Art Center and married in 1990. Their two grown sons both live out of state. They love coming to visit their parents at Hill Farm, “it feels like a resort,” they say.
John is a retired 3M executive and now works as an independent consultant focused on corporate development and life sciences startups. Mary and her little brother own and run Buerkle Honda-Hyundai and Acura, a family business started by their father in 1959.
During the winter months, they enjoy traveling to their home in Palm Springs where they play golf, go hiking and the food scene is amazing. Back in Minnesota, Mary and John have a pontoon on White Bear Lake, are members of the North Oaks Golf Club and love to eat out local; Meritage is also a favorite when they sneak a weekend in at their condo in downtown St. Paul.
Hill Farm has provided so many convenient features — from not having to leave the building to get the mail and dispose of the trash, to having a private garage — a unique feature for a condo property. “It is also great to be able to travel, knowing our home is safe, and knowing there are other people immediately around us and a property manager available,” says Mary.
The wildlife has exceeded their expectations. From many songbirds, the bald eagles, deer and the muskrat to now having a regular dance of sandhill cranes on the property and they frequently tap on the patio windows!
Mary and John recently hosted their extended family for a July 4th holiday party, and it was the “easiest party ever hosted. Cosetta’s catered and the party room is set up for hosting outside catering, and the best part, apart from using all the amenities, was no mess to clean up in our condo!”
Chuck and Kaye
“We were excited from the initial presentation in Spring 2022 and the plans for Hill Farm to simplify our living on a preserve.” Chuck and Kaye lived in Como Park since 1991 and wanted to downsize and plan for their retirement. Spending 6 months of the year in Bonita Springs, Florida, to finally escape from the Minnesota winters.
North Oaks was an obvious choice to be close to their three children and eight grandchildren, all of whom enjoy visiting Hill Farm and last Christmas, the whole family spent Christmas day celebrating together in the party room and club room at their new home. The amenities were perfect for their extended family, and they continue to host them and love the patio and extensive wildlife right outside their window. “We love seeing all the wildlife, and in these hotter days, the deer wander through the pond to cool down.”
“Location, location, location” is Kayes response; she enjoys how convenient everything is from Kowalski’s, Lunds & Byerly’s, and just a few minutes to the 35E so the cities are close.
Chuck is semi-retired in his family’s business and is happy that he no longer takes care of any snow or yard work. He is a huge sports fan and has been a Vikings season ticket holder for the last 54 years! He travels annually to France with his brother Tim, both “amateur historians” visiting WWII battlefields.
Kaye, a retired nurse, loves her family and spends lots of time with her grandchildren. She is also a dedicated Disney fan and has a very enviable collection of Walt Disney Classic figurines and had a perfect cabinet built in the new condo to display them.
Chuck and Kaye met at church over 50 years ago and will celebrate their golden wedding anniversary in 2027. They are excited to continue hosting their family at Hill Farm and are grateful for such a safe, quiet and friendly community where they have already made many friends.
Kathleen and Hugh
Kathleen and Hugh are no strangers to Minnesota. They moved from Dublin in 1969 to Duluth to begin their medical careers. They met while studying medicine at University College Dublin. Both are retired physicians. Hugh an orthopedic surgeon and Kathleen a pediatrician. They practiced in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, before retiring.
They have 5 children and 14 grandchildren — 3 on the west coast, they have a home close to them in Seattle and 2 more locally, a good reason to want to stay close by.
Before moving to Hill Farm, the MacMenamins lived in a house in North Oaks where Hugh had a woodturning workshop and Kathleen a big garden to tend and a pool. With their growing travel schedule, they wanted to downsize and have less maintenance.
Hill Farm was an obvious choice for them as they loved the area, how private it is and how convenient it is to the cities, too. Having a beautiful view and the constant wildlife is a bonus. The extra storage in a private garage has been great and so useful for all their wonderful furniture they hope to pass to their family someday. They have met many new friends and enjoy the ever-growing community.
Kathleen loves to cook and entertain, and Hugh plays the banjo in a traditional Irish music group. They recently hosted Hugh’s Irish music group at Hill Farm and gave an impromptu ‘concert’ to the delight of other homeowners. They enjoy walking the trails and some of the great restaurants close by, namely Ingredients in White Bear Lake.
Retirement is filled with many trips to Ireland and Europe, visiting friends around the US and taking their trailer across states, even up to Alaska. They also have a sailboat that they keep by their home in Seattle and have done trips up to Canada; another one is planned this summer. “Living at Hill Farm is so easy; we just lock the door and go.”
