Bella Vida Voice – November 2025

Opening Message

From exciting construction milestones to creative community moments, this month’s newsletter is filled with reasons to celebrate. Get an insider’s look at our progress from Greystone’s Caleb Pirtle, relive recent VIP events, and learn how you and a friend can each save $10,000 when you move into Bella Vida.

 Construction Update: Q&A with Caleb Pirtle from Greystone

As progress continues to rise on the hill, we sat down with Caleb Pirtle of Greystone for an inside look at what’s happening behind the scenes at Bella Vida. From remarkable views to major milestones, here’s what he had to share:

1. What will VIPs be surprised to see when they get up on the site someday? 

I am always impressed by the scale of the project and the elevations that come with it. The tower will certainly have beautiful views. I’ve also never seen earthwork of this scale before. The machinery being used is more typical of what most Texans would see on highways. I would also give kudos to the contractor for keeping a bustling site organized and safe.

2. We’ve seen all the exciting progress going on at the hill. How would you describe the overall progress on the Bella Vida site so far?

The progress we have made on the hill has been challenging, specifically because of the limestone that we are building into. Doing earthwork and utilities in solid rock is time-consuming, expensive, and unforgiving. Given the challenges we have faced, I would commend the team for keeping the critical construction activities progressing. We will all be excited to be “out of the ground.”

3. What are some of the significant milestones the construction team has reached in recent months?

a. Tree clearing within the allowed time window.
b. Independent Living Tower underground MEP rough and slab-on-grade concrete pours.
c.  Independent Living Tower first elevated deck form, place, and finish.
d. Water utilities completed critical sections and are now being looped within the community.
e. Electrical utility design completion and start of installation.
f. Wood framing is expected to start being delivered to the site in November.
g. Significant progress on site walls that allowed us to substantially complete the rough grading.

4. What’s next on the construction timeline as we move into the next phase?

The critical path for all of the housing types will be completing concrete work and starting wood framing. This will be “going vertical.”

For the Villas and Quads, slab-on-grade pours will begin, then framing will start to go up. For the Independent Living Tower, expect to see the concrete structure continue to go up, and then the wood framing will begin.

6. What role did resident feedback or Forefront Living’s experience with other communities play in shaping these designs?

Forefront Living and Greystone have a long history of working together, and specifically, new construction at either expansions of their campus in Dallas or new construction at satellite campuses. The design team, through many of these projects, has largely remained the same, so we have been able to take lessons learned from previous projects and implement the changes into our current projects. Bella Vida is a more refined product of the Forefront vision, in my opinion, because of this process.

7. What part of the finished community are you personally most excited to see completed?

Seeing residents move in and settle into a community, and enjoying their time, is the biggest payoff. It is ultimately the goal of all the team members and will define the success of the project.

On November 7th, we hosted our first “Bagels with Brooks” event along with about 35 Bella Vida VIPs. During this session, I provided information about Forefront’s membership in LeadingAge – a national association of nonprofit and mission-driven aging services providers. The most recent LeadingAge conference was held in Boston from November 2nd to 5th. This provided the opportunity to meet with many of the potential partners who will help to equip and enable Bella Vida to operate successfully from its start.

Since we are starting a new community, most vendor arrangements must be put together from scratch, including vehicle dealers, dementia training programs, regulatory support platforms, scheduling software, medical suppliers, etc. During the meeting, we also discussed ongoing work to create a preferred provider list of trusted partners. Bella Vida will have several flexible options in-house to meet the healthcare needs of its residents. We also want a list of external partners who can help meet needs such as at-home nursing care, inpatient rehabilitation, and hospice care. Residents will always have the freedom to choose who provides their care. In those instances where someone doesn’t already have a provider in mind, we want to be able to recommend additional high-quality partners.

Bagels with Brooks concluded with a question-and-answer session covering topics such as the construction timeline, parking plans, activity spaces, resident council formation, and landscaping. One area of particular interest was the availability and assignment of charging equipment for electric vehicles. We will be providing more detailed information on these topics during our next session in January. Our plan is for Bagels with Brooks to become a recurring monthly event in the run-up to our campus opening—and eventually transition into a monthly all-resident meeting. The goal is to provide a forum for our VIPs to receive updates on operations, timelines, and organizational priorities, and to pose questions to the administrative team. I look forward to seeing you at an upcoming session!

We’ve enjoyed seeing everyone during walk-in hours! Please note that there will be no walk-in hours on Friday, 11/28. Thank you!

There’s no better way to begin your Bella Vida chapter than with a friend by your side. Now through December 31, 2025, when you and your friend both choose to make Bella Vida home, you’ll each receive a $10,000 discount off your entrance fee. It’s our way of saying thank you for helping grow our beautiful community together. (Terms and conditions apply.)

For more information, please contact your Senior Living Advisor or call 210-660-5558.

October VIP Social 

Our October VIP Social was all about connection and fun! Guests explored the Alegria, Amor, Belleza, Brisa, Cielo, and Corazon floor plans while mingling in a lively, welcoming atmosphere. Each guest shared a fun fact on a sticky note name tag, which served as an instant icebreaker that kept the laughter flowing. Every 20 minutes, a gong rang to encourage fresh conversation and movement throughout the beautifully arranged, fully catered space. It was a fun, relaxed and down-to-earth evening, and the memorable group toast photo is now featured on our new 10 & 10 Referral Flyer!

Save the Date for These Upcoming Events

Mark your calendars for these exciting events exclusively for our Bella Vida VIPs. Stay tuned for invitations with more details on each event coming soon to your inbox or mailbox!

1746 Lockhill Selma Rd, San Antonio, TX 78213

Mark your calendars for a festive celebration filled with holiday cheer, delicious bites, and joyful connections. Get a chance to spend time with future neighbors and the Bella Vida team.  We look forward to toasting the season with you!