Seasons on Lanier got a new owner and now has a new name.

The active senior community, which was purchased by West Palm Beach, Fla., investment firm Kolter Signature Homes in February, will now be called Cresswind at Lake Lanier.

A grand opening event is scheduled at the Browns Bridge Road community from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 17. It is open to the public.
The name includes the Gainesville development into the company’s holding of age-targeted communities.

“We have other communities at various stages of being purchased, and having been purchased in Florida, that will also carry the Cresswind brand name,” said Bob Rademacher, Kolter vice president.

Kolter is currently designing the development’s amenities.

“Right now we’re in the planning stages,” Rademacher said.

“We’ve already contracted with architects for a fully amenitized clubhouse.”

The plans include a fitness area, teaching kitchen, arts and crafts rooms and an indoor swimming pool.

“Everything is focused around a lifestyle, rather than just a house purchase,” Rademacher said. “I kind of like to describe it as, we want to be a cruise ship on land.”

The troubled development is finally being completed after some financial issues put progress on hold.

Levitt & Sons, the community’s developer, filed for Chapter 11 in 2007. The bankruptcy left the developer unable to build promised amenities, some homes partially constructed and sidewalks unfinished.

Kolter’s February purchase included 14 furnished model homes, 45 complete or partially completed homes, 169 developed lots, 147 partially developed lots, 290 empty lots and 30 boat slips. There are now 50 homes for sale, including the furnished model homes.

While the community was left in limbo, residents took up the slack by maintaining public areas.

“The residents did a spectacular job of taking care of an extremely nice community; our hat is off to them,” Rademacher said. “Our job is made a lot easier by their efforts.”