Chapel Valley Residents Like The View

Some Of The Apartments In The Fitchburg Development Overlook Mckee Farms Park.

Wisconsin State Journal    Sunday, May 23, 2004

Pamela Cotant For the State Journal

Some Chapel Valley residents will have a front row seat to the fireworks and other activities at Fitchburg Days this weekend at McKee Farms Park.

The balconies of some units in the Fitchburg senior apartment development overlook the 57-acre Fitchburg park nearby.

Anna Netz, who in 1996 moved into the first of two Chapel Valley buildings shortly after it went up, moved Saturday from one corner apartment on the third floor to the other corner facing the park.

"Being on the third floor, it's beautiful. It's quite a view," said Netz, whose apartment has cathedral ceilings because it's on the top floor.

Larry Keleher, property manager, said location is the biggest draw for Chapel Valley, at 5771 and 5781 Chapel Valley Road off Highway PD.

With the park nearby and ample grounds around Chapel Valley, the site has an open feel, he said. Plus it's near a variety of businesses.

Keleher said a number of residents have children living in surrounding neighborhoods.
Netz moved from California to be around family members who live near Chapel Valley. She also has found it accessible to a number of places.

"The location is the number one priority," Netz said.

Chapel Valley offers activities from cards to exercise in the Rose Room, the community room with a kitchen. It was named after the first resident manager, Rose Lazarz.

Chapel Valley has 110 units in two L-shaped buildings that wrap around a central courtyard. The second building was built in 1999.

"I love it because it's quiet," said Annette "Toots" Caruso, a resident who works part-time as a receptionist in the corporate office of American Girl.

The one and two-bedroom apartments range from 756 to 1,143 square feet and are in wings off lounge areas.

The market rate rents range from $832 to $842 for one-bedroom units and from $1,050 to $1,125 for two-bedroom units.

Most of the income eligible units are for those with 60 percent or less of the Dane County median income. Those rents range from $640 to $735 for one-bedroom units and are $870 for two-bedroom units.

Chapel Valley also has a small number of units for those at or below 30 or 40 percent of the median income and the rents are lower.

Rent includes heat and storage that's mostly on the same floor as the unit. Underground parking spots are an extra $35 a month.

Dan Fleming of Fleming Development, which manages Chapel Valley, is part owner there as well as at the nearby Sylvan Crossings assisted living facilities, where Chapel Valley residents would get preference if they wanted to move. He also is part of owner of the ranch style Remington Park condominiums - designed for empty nesters - across the street from Chapel Valley.

"The idea is to have a senior community," Keleher said.