THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 16, 1994 TAG: 9407140358
SECTION: REAL ESTATE WEEKLY PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARY ELLEN MILES, SPECIAL TO REAL ESTATE WEEKLY
LENGTH: Long : 148 lines
Just 15 years ago, Normand and Carolann Gregoire could gather vegetables from the farm next door to their three-bedroom ranch in Clearfield.
Back then, much of Clearfield was still a pick-your-own vegetable farm, says Normand Gregoire, one of the neighborhood's original homeowners. Even earlier, a hog farm occupied the site.
Today, the 65-acre tract is a small community of colonials, split-levels and ranches on manicured lots. The area is ``very quiet and peaceful,'' Gregoire says. ``Everybody seems to get along fine.''
In the beginning, he says, ``the area was all barren land,'' and the lots, averaging 8,000 to 10,000 square feet, had to be landscaped. Now, the neighborhood offers many large, majestic magnolias and a variety of other trees.
Back then, Gregoire recalls when a park, a convenience store and a state-run prison farm were the only nearby landmarks.
``It was just like being in the woods,'' Gregoire says.
``The only thing that was bad then was if you wanted to go out to eat. You had to eat at the one local restaurant, or go to another city,'' he says. ``Today, we have everything.''
Clearfield embraces a handful of winding lanes, mostly cul-de-sacs, south of Butts Station and Kempsville roads in Chesapeake. A newer section, Clearfield Estates, lies east of the original neighborhood.
Initially, Clearfield residents formed a civic league, Gregoire says, but it ``just didn't take.'' Before it disbanded, Gregoire, then chairman of the league's beautification committee, oversaw the sale of 200 crape myrtles to residents.
Many of the trees line Bowling Green Trail, the largest street in the 123-home neighborhood. They gently sway in the summer breeze, an elegant reminder of the first caring residents.
Today, Clearfield Estates' civic league has begun recruiting their neighbors in Clearfield, hoping to establish a joint league.
Ray and Marie Sullivan Markham's three-bedroom colonial was built in 1984, making it one of the newest homes in the community. Their lot, on a raised corner, is one reason Marie Markham likes the house so much.
``It has an air of grandeur,'' she says, smiling. The Markhams are the house's second owners, moving in about eight years ago.
The Hampton Roads natives chose Clearfield because it was close centrally located to their extended families and near their church. At first, they considered the colonial a starter home.
``But once we were blessed with our daughter, Chrissy,'' Markham says, ``we decided it was more important to invest in our child than a bigger, better house. Therefore, we customized this house for our own needs.''
Over the years, the Markhams have added a well pump, a deck and an in-ground sprinkler system for the front lawn.
As for the neighborhood, she says, it is ``quiet and friendly - people walk dogs, stroll children and tend their yards.''
Markham also praises Clearfield's convenient setting. It's a short drive from Greenbrier Mall, Chesapeake General Hospital, two libraries and the much-enjoyed Chesapeake City Park.
Many young families in Clearfield use the playground equipment in the park, Markham says. Also, it's the site of the annual Chesapeake Jubilee festival.
``There are always lots of friendly children and moms for me and Chrissy to socialize with.''
The average home in Clearfield generally ranges from $80,000 to $90,000, said Jeff Countess, an agent with GSH Real Estate in Chesapeake. Most houses on the market tend to sell quickly.
In fact, a few residents, including Jeff and Amy Fuller, have seen people driving through the area, asking if any homes are for sale. The Fullers, both elementary school teachers, know firsthand how quickly the area's houses sell.
Their house, Jeff Fuller said, ``hit the (real estate) computers at noon, and they had our contract by 7 p.m. that same day.''
The Fullers moved into their three-bedroom ranch in September, after a two-year search in Chesapeake for their first house.
When they walked into the foyer of the Clearfield home, Amy Fuller recalls, they felt that ``this is it.'' The carpeting matched their furniture in two rooms.
Since then, the only changes they have made were replacing wallpaper with paint, and putting up borders in a couple of rooms.
``We liked that this house is the only brick house on the cul-de-sac,'' Jeff says. ``And from the outside, you could never tell it was 15 years old.''
``It's a great starter for us,'' Amy says. ``It's been a true blessing.
``One of the things we like is that it's a neighborhood, yet not a huge, sprawling one, like some others,'' she says. ``There are just a few streets.''
Such a setting is just right the Fullers, both from western Pennsylvania and accustomed to small-town life.
``It feels safe here,'' Amy says. ``It's nice to have that little sense of home again.
``It's quiet, it's out of the way - even though we're right off Butts Station Road,'' she says. ``It doesn't seem like we're in the midst of anything real busy.''
Jeff adds, ``We can get anywhere within 30 minutes - Norfolk or Oceanfront.''
``We've already established some good friendships,'' Amy says. ``We hate to think of anyone moving. It's just really home now.'' MEMO: ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Public schools: Greenbrier Primary, Greenbrier Intermediate,
Crestwood Middle and Oscar Smith High schools.
Shopping areas: Greenbrier Mall and surrounding shopping centers are
a few minutes away by car. Other shopping centers are nearby on
Battlefield Boulevard.
Recreation: A branch of the YMCA is about 1 1/2 miles from the
neighborhood. Chesapeake City Park, even closer, contains playground
equipment and is home to the annual Chesapeake Jubilee festival.
Greenbrier Golf Course is also near the neighborhood.
Assessments: The range is from $71,500 to $107,400, reported the
Chesapeake city assessor's office.
FOR SALE
A sampling of current listings:
At 804 Bowling Green Trail, a three-bedroom, two-bath ranch is listed
at $93,900.
SOLD
A sampling of recent sales:
At 820 Bowling Green Trail, a three-bedroom, two-bath ranch sold for
$93,000 in June after two days on the market.
At 1000 Bowling Green Trail, a three-bedroom, 2 1/2-bath house sold
for $96,900 in May after five days on the market.
At 505 Arondale Court, a three-bedroom, two-bath ranch sold for
$87,900 in February after 71 days on the market. ILLUSTRATION: Color photos by D. Kevin Elliott
Ray and Marie Sullivan Markham, with daughter, Chrissy, 3, added a
backyard deck to their three-bedroom colonial after buying it in
1986. The neighborhood, Marie says, is ``quiet and friendly - people
walk dogs, stroll children and tend their yards.''
Amy and Jeff Fuller bought their three-bedroom brick ranch in
September. ``We've already established some good friendships,'' Amy
says. ``We hate to think of anyone moving.''
Clearfield's 123 homes line a handful of streets, mostly
cul-de-sacs, off Butts Station Road. The colonials, ranches and
split-levels are on lots averaging 8,000 to 10,000 square feet.
Photos by D. Kevin Elliott
Ray and Marie Sullivan Markham, with daughter, Chrissy, enjoy
Clearfield's nearness to Chesapeake City Park. Greenbrier Mall and
Chesapeake General Hospital are also convenient.
Clearfield residents Amy and Jeff Fuller: ``One of the things we
like,'' Amy says, ``is that it's a neighborhood, yet not a huge,
sprawling one, like some others.''
by CNB