The Knolls

Independent Assessment

The Knolls is confirmed as a genuine, established, ranch-style 55+ townhome condo community with consistent multi-source agreement on its general location (Knolls Drive, off Oxhead Road), unit configuration (predominantly 2 bed/2 bath, attached one-car garage, sun-room), and clubhouse/pool/bocce/shuffleboard amenity base. A minor discrepancy in the community's opening year was found across sources (1981 per most, circa-1984 per at least one listing) and in unit count (approximately 180 per one source, though this was not independently corroborated against a recorded plat); both are reported rather than resolved to a single figure. Reported HOA fees also show an increase over time (from roughly $355/month in an October 2017 listing to approximately $455/month in more recent listings), which is treated as ordinary fee escalation rather than a conflict. Nothing in the sources reviewed independently confirmed the identity of the original developer.

Who May Find This Community Appealing

Buyers who want an established, ranch-style 55+ townhome with an attached garage and sun-room, in a quiet North Shore setting near Stony Brook University Hospital, and who value a full slate of low-key social clubs (bridge, bingo) alongside a heated pool, are a strong fit for The Knolls. Its position among the cluster of three similarly styled Stony Brook communities also suits buyers comparison-shopping within a single, familiar neighborhood.

Homes, Builders & Development History

Most sources place The Knolls' opening in 1981 (at least one listing describes a circa-1984 build), delivering ranch-style, attached townhome-style condominium units in groupings, predominantly two bedrooms and two baths with some one-bedroom and 1.5-bath layouts. Each home has an attached one-car garage, a sun-room, central air conditioning, electric heat, and a backyard patio. The identity of the original developer was not independently confirmed, and the build-year discrepancy across sources was not fully reconciled. The community is fully built out, and current purchases are resale.

Current Pricing & Market Positioning

Nearby comparable sales in the vicinity of The Knolls reported prices roughly between $300,000 and $650,000 (averaging around $420 per square foot), with one documented 2025 sale at $540,000. Buyers should request current closed comparables specific to the unit and floor plan under consideration from a local agent familiar with Stony Brook, since broader neighborhood comparables may not perfectly reflect The Knolls' own recent transaction history.

New Construction vs. Resale Considerations

The Knolls has been fully built out since the early-to-mid 1980s (sources vary between 1981 and circa-1984), so all current purchases are resale. Buyers should budget for a full independent inspection and should request the association's current financials, reserve study, and governing-document package before purchasing.

Taxes, Insurance & Special Assessments

Homes at The Knolls are subject to Town of Brookhaven and Suffolk County property tax at the current municipal and county rate. Buyers should confirm current tax figures directly with the Suffolk County Tax Assessor's office and request the association's current financials and reserve study before purchasing.

Community Layout & Lifestyle

The Knolls offers an established, ranch-style 55+ townhome lifestyle centered on its clubhouse's social calendar (bridge, bingo, and other clubs) alongside a heated pool, bocce, and shuffleboard. Its attached garages and sun-rooms, combined with fully maintained lawns and snow removal, suit buyers who want a genuinely low-maintenance home in a socially active, established North Shore community.

Shopping, Healthcare & Airport Access

The Knolls is located on Knolls Drive, accessed via Oxhead Road, in the Stony Brook hamlet of the Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County. The community is reached via Route 347 to Nicolls Road to Oxhead Road, placing it minutes from Stony Brook University Hospital.

Age Qualification & Material Ownership Restrictions

The Knolls is marketed as an Active Adult (55+) community, consistent with the federal Housing for Older Persons Act (HOPA) framework requiring at least one resident 55 or older in at least 80% of occupied units. The community's own recorded governing-document age-restriction language or verification procedures were not independently reviewed; buyers should confirm the exact current standard directly with the HOA before purchasing.

Tradeoffs & Limitations

Sources show some inconsistency in The Knolls' exact opening year (1981 vs. circa-1984) and total unit count, so buyers should independently confirm both directly with the HOA rather than relying on any single secondary source. Reported HOA fees have apparently risen over the years (from roughly $355/month in 2017 to approximately $455/month more recently), so buyers should confirm the current figure and recent fee-increase history. The Knolls' amenities are more modest than the newer nearby Oaks community (no tennis or putting green), so buyers wanting that fuller amenity set should compare directly.

Comparison With Nearby Communities

The Knolls is one of three separately governed, similarly located 55+ condo communities clustered near Oxhead Road in Stony Brook, alongside Strathmore Gate (opened 1970-71, 150 units) and The Oaks (built 2005, 45 units); all three are distinct communities. The Knolls sits in the middle of the trio both by age (opened 1981, between Strathmore Gate's 1970-71 and The Oaks' 2005) and by reported price level.

Current Listings

A connected local agent can provide current available resale inventory, recent closed comparables, and current HOA fee information at The Knolls.

When was The Knolls built?

Most sources place the community's opening in 1981, though at least one listing describes circa-1984 construction. Buyers should confirm the exact date directly with the HOA.

How does The Knolls compare to Strathmore Gate and The Oaks?

The Knolls sits in the middle of the three clustered Stony Brook 55+ condo communities both by age (opened 1981, between Strathmore Gate's 1970-71 and The Oaks' 2005 construction) and by typical reported price level.

Is The Knolls legally age-restricted?

It is marketed as an Active Adult (55+) community consistent with the federal HOPA framework. The HOA's recorded governing-document language was not independently reviewed; confirm directly with the association.

What is the HOA fee at The Knolls?

Reported at approximately $455 per month in recent listings, up from roughly $355/month cited in an older 2017 listing. Confirm the current exact figure directly with the HOA.