WOODSTOCK — HearthSide Towne Lake, a senior living community, is now fully occupied, less than one year after opening.

Developed by Atlanta-based NorSouth Development and built by NorSouth Constructs, the $15.3 million, 100-unit apartment building is the centerpiece of a health care-oriented development located at Interstate 575 and Towne Lake Parkway.

“We know there is a strong demand for affordable rental homes for seniors near their grown children and grandchildren,” said Brendan Barr, vice president of NorSouth Development. “That’s why we develop HearthSide communities in established areas like Towne Lake, Cherokee County’s largest residential neighborhood. Even though we anticipated the demand, we are extremely gratified with how quickly the community has become fully occupied. In fact, HearthSide Towne Lake was more than 80 percent occupied just seven months after its opening in late December 2011.”

The development was awarded EarthCraft Multifamily certification, recognizing its sustainable and energy-efficient design and construction, from the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association and Southface Energy Institute, which administer the EarthCraft program.

Buildings certified through the EarthCraft program must meet a number of criteria including indoor air quality, energy and water efficiency, resource-efficient design and building materials, waste management and site planning.

Although Barr estimated that designing the community to EarthCraft Multifamily standards added approximately 1.5 percent to the construction costs, he said residents will save an average of 15 percent of their monthly utility costs.

The designation is also important to city of Woodstock leadership since it sets an example for future development in the area.

HearthSide Towne Lake revitalized a failed townhome project, a casualty of the recession, into what is now a health care-oriented mixed-use development.

The community now includes the new Pinnacle Orthopedic Center and a Walgreens, and a new 100,000-square-foot medical office building is under construction by Northside Hospital.

A Cherokee County Medical Office is immediately adjacent to the property.

The community’s proximity to Interstate 575 provides residents with easy access to North Georgia’s mountains to the north, and the city of Atlanta to the south, and Woodstock’s charming historic downtown is just two miles away.

“One of my first initiatives when I took office was to draft an ordinance allowing an affordable rental community for seniors to be built in the city,” said Donnie Henriques, mayor of Woodstock. “We worked closely with NorSouth Development throughout the process and are delighted with the result. I believe Hearthside Towne Lake is a beautiful facility in the perfect location.”

The amenity-rich community offers residents a lifestyle full of opportunities for enrichment and social interaction. In addition to classes, parties and other special events, residents can enjoy HearthSide Towne Lake’s private gardens, media room, fitness center, art studio, sunroom, outdoor grilling area and petanque ball court.