Just one year after its groundbreaking, a new Lubavitch town in the Pocono Mountains is quickly becoming a reality, as families from Anshei Lubavitch of Crown Heights visited the growing development on Sunday for a special open house.

Located on 65 acres in Jefferson Township, Pennsylvania, the new community is being developed as a Chassidishe community, with more than 40 homes already at various stages of construction. Nearly half of the homes have already been sold, reflecting the strong interest from families looking for a close-knit Lubavitch community outside of the city.

While the community is officially being developed as a summer community, a source tells Anash.org that many families are already planning to make the move and live there year-round, pointing to the potential for a permanent Lubavitch presence in the area.

During Sunday’s open house, families toured the property and walked through homes that are currently under construction, getting a firsthand look at the progress made since the groundbreaking just a year ago.

The homes are being built by Motti Hershkop of Kingston, PA, located approximately 30 minutes from the development. With construction moving ahead across the property, the community is beginning to take on the appearance of an actual neighborhood, with homes going up throughout the large tract.

Rabbi Yossi Garelik will serve as the Rov and mashpia of the community, providing the developing community with a strong foundation of Torah and Chassidishkeit.

Much of the infrastructure for the future community is already being prepared. Plans include playgrounds, pools, baseball fields, basketball and other courts, along with additional amenities designed to make the community comfortable for families throughout the year.

The open house was arranged as a family event, allowing prospective and current residents to experience the community together. Children enjoyed inflatables and other activities, while families gathered for a BBQ and spent time touring the grounds.

For families from Crown Heights, the visit offered an opportunity to see firsthand the progress of a project that was only an idea and a tract of land a short time ago. With dozens of homes now rising and additional infrastructure being prepared, Kiryas Anshei Lubavitch is steadily developing into a new Chassidish community in the Pocono Mountains.