Enjoy the Outdoors at The Retreat at Mountain Brook
Whether you’re hosting a large party or intimate gathering, The Retreat at Mountain Brook’s outdoor amenities offer something for everyone. “Our clubhouses feature large, beautifully decorated lounges and coffee bars and overlook tile-decked saltwater pools with outdoor kitchens and cabanas,” says manager Amy Hodges. “For small gatherings, guests can congregate in the covered outdoor kitchen area. Larger groups can spread out at multiple tables across the pool deck, creating a café-style setting that is becoming a popular outdoor-entertaining trend.” Residents who enjoy tennis can invite guests to play at two championship-modeled courts right in their own backyard. Oversized balconies, sunrooms, and patios provide even more options for entertaining guests and extending the generous personal living space The Retreat affords. Ground-level flats even offer fenced-in yards. “With peaceful, tree-studded surroundings, the spaces also are great for curling up with a cup of coffee, glass of wine or book, and enjoying the sights and sounds of nature,” says Hodges. “Both sunrooms and balconies/patios offer residents the opportunity to cultivate container gardens of flowers, herbs, or vegetables, and sunrooms can double as home offices.” The Retreat is located adjacent to the Flora Johnston Nature Trail, giving residents even more possibilities for recharging in the rolling, forested hills, adjacent to the Mountain Brook community. “To top things off, this quiet, secluded getaway is only minutes from the city’s downtown, international airport, restaurants, shopping and entertainment,” says Hodges. “This combination of being close to urban conveniences while surrounded by natural treasures is what sets The Retreat apart.” Originally published in B Metro, The Magazine of Metro Birmingham Living
Right in Your Backyard: Community Garden and Pet Park
When The Retreat at Mountain Brook‘s team was looking at unique amenities to offer their residents, two ideas sprung up: a dog park and community garden. “So many residents have pets and when you work all day it’s important to spend quality time playing and enjoying your four-legged friends,” says Amy Hodges, manager of The Retreat. “It’s really all about providing a sense of community and a place for people to come together and love where they live!” When residents arrive at The Retreat, they will immediately find this luxury community revolves around the enjoyment of the outdoors with its walking trails, outdoor kitchens, and saltwater swimming pools. The community garden is a central part of this outdoor oasis. “We plan to have a large herb garden, seasonal flowers for cutting, and other things,” says Hodges. “If residents have gardening ideas, we want them bring them to the table.” In addition to the garden and park, The Retreat team wanted a cheerful mural to welcome residents and visitors as they drive up to the apartments. They sought out the right artist for the job and ultimately chose Lydia Randolph from Mentone, Alabama. “The mural is an expression of the good times to be had by all at The Retreat. It provides a whimsical backdrop of all the things you’d expect to see in a garden-sunflowers and daises, puppies, frogs, tomatoes, and herbs,” says Hodges. “People from the neighborhood are actually stopping to see what we are doing and thanking us for improving the view.” Originally published in B Metro, The Magazine of Metro Birmingham Living.
We Love Community at The Retreat at Mountain Brook
“’Community’ is a central theme you’ll hear us talking a lot about,” said Amy Hodges, manager of The Retreat at Mountain Brook, the revitalized luxury apartment community located just off Montevallo Road on Sharpsburg Drive. “Our goal is to be involved in the community, supporting causes and organizations that are important to our residents.” One of these initiatives includes sponsoring the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce quarterly luncheon in April at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, another organization The Retreat looks forward to working with. “We will have a community garden on site where residents can enjoy cutting fresh herbs and flowers,” says Hodges. “We also realize how important pets are, so we are in the process of creating a fenced in dog park on premises for our resident’s use.” Location is another reason The Retreat’s residents choose to live there. Residents at the Retreat are surrounded by Birmingham’s best restaurants, shopping, and entertainment opportunities. The nearby Avondale community offers unique restaurants such as Melt and Post Office Pies as well as Avondale Brewery for those looking for exciting nightlife with local brews. Its an easy drive from The Retreat to Crestline Village, about three miles away. There, you can be pampered at Smart Skin Spa, shop at a variety of boutiques, grab a bagel at Crestline Bagel, or lunch at Urban Cookhouse, and of course enjoy an afternoon of Margarita’s at La Paz—all just a short distance from home. Originally published in B Metro, The Magazine for Metro Birmingham Living.
