Developer's Next Gen homes adapt to the new normal

With the climate of the home, workplace, and cities changing because of the current pandemic, residents are rethinking their priorities. With schools incorporating distance learning into their plans and workers telecommuting, adapting homes to meet the new demands can be challenging.

A local builder has taken the situation into consideration and is designing new homes with technology and floor plans that accommodate homeowners' changing needs.

Lennar Homes at Gossamer Grove in Shafter is offering a cutting edge phase of homes that take the new family dynamic to heart, giving home buyers a unique opportunity to have their house be more than just a home.

Lennar is tailoring its innovative Next Gen floor plans to serve as home offices, complete with a break room and coffee bar, a state of the art gym or even a classroom that keeps kids engaged.

With home life changing, Lennar has changed with it. With more people working from home, the Next Gen homes reflect the way families are currently living, working and playing. The homes provide a completely separate suite with their own entrances, some with their own garages.

With experts expecting that by the end of 2021, 25 to 30 percent of the workforce will be telecommuting at least part of the week, it will be necessary for workers to have a living space that can also accommodate a working space.

Chandra Clemmey, a new home sales consultant for Lennar Homes, said Lennar has finished their new phase of homes and are offering their Next Gen homes for families that need it all. "In total at the development, we have sold well over 300 homes and have started offering our new Next Gen homes," Clemmey said. "Lennar is planning to build around 3,000 homes in the area, so we will be here for quite a while."

With the next phase there is also a new park for the residents. The park has a railroad theme to it, with a functioning rail car on site. "With more and more parents thinking of giving their children a home learning environment instead of in person school," Clemmey said, "these homes are perfect for them to live, work and play all from their home."