THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, September 24, 1994 TAG: 9409240123
SECTION: REAL ESTATE WEEKLY PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARY ELLEN MILES, SPECIAL TO REAL ESTATE WEEKLY
LENGTH: Long : 106 lines
Sweetbriar, with approximately 85 single-family, ranch-style houses, is a small, wooded area off High Street West in Portsmouth, tucked away from bustling city life near Coleman's Nursery.
The neighborhood used to be the Old Ferguson Farm, says resident Mary Davenport. The venerable manor house, on Ferguson Drive, was built in 1893. A farm house once stood there. Most of the subdivision's houses were built from the 1940s through the 1960s.
``I love Sweetbriar,'' says Trudy Dayanim, a Portsmouth native and agent with GSH Real Estate in Churchland. ``It's one of my favorite areas, because it doesn't change. There's very little turnover.''
Violet and Frank Stevens felt the area also had good schools and would be a nice place to raise their three children. During the almost 30 years they have lived in their 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom ranch, they have seen no new houses built. During that time, they have made renovations, and converted their back porch into a den..
Violet Stevens enjoys the convenience of their church and shopping. Her husband adds that ``the area is convenient for travel to any direction - Newport News, Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Chesapeake, within minutes.''
Stevens thrives on yard work as recreation, as their well groomed yard reflects. Their shrubbery, trees and flowers peacefully sit in a lawn full of pleasant surprises.
The back yard offers a scenic view of Lake Sweetbriar (the spelling differs). As a nearby church's chimes fill the air, two dogs jump in the lake for their afternoon dip.
The back yard's ``main attraction'' is a large deck and pool, also family built. The comfy deck furniture, flowers and cool blue pool water beckon the Stevens' at the days' end.
``We feel safe here,'' says Violet Stevens. She enjoys walking through the area, and is not hindered by traffic.
Mary Sue O'Brien and her husband, Paul, moved to Sweetbriar three years ago. Mary Sue describes her close neighbors as ``very gracious people,'' explaining that when she and Paul moved in, all of them did something special to welcome them.
Tom and Norma Hoddinott have lived in the area 23 years. Four years ago, they relocated within the area to a waterfront home. With the city's help, they were instrumental in raising the necessary funds to replace the gas lights which mark the neighborhood's entrance. Norma Hoddinott and another neighbor planted the flowers which are near the gas lights.
Mary Davenport moved into her husband Lige's three bedroom, 1.5 bathroom custom-built ranch when they were wed shortly after he built it in 1958. The couple had Sterns Creek, a tributary of the Western Branch of the Elizabeth River, as a backyard view.
Mary Davenport still boasts about the original double oven and refrigerator which still work. ``They don't make appliances like that any more,'' she says.
The house rests on a large lot, among many azaleas and a variety of trees. A screened in porch on the back of the house allows easy access to the yard's abundant nature.
Mary Davenport is happy that the porch allows her granddaughter to witness nature in a protected environment. Squirrels, rabbits and a variety of waterfowl can be observed easily. There's also a view of a tree said to be at least 150 years old.
The most prominent change Davenport has seen during the more than 20 years she's lived there, has occurred in the last four years. ``There's been an influx of young families with children,'' she says. She thinks the change is a positive and enjoyable one, bringing liveliness to the area, with children riding bikes and playing. When her children were young, they had only a handful of neighborhood kids to play with, she says. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos D. Kevin Elliott
Mary Davenport has lived in Sweetbriar for 30 years. She brags that
the kitchen still contains some of the original appliances.
Violet and Frank Stevens raised their three children in the
neighborhood. They enjoy the view of the lake from their back yard
where they're added a pool and a deck.
ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Public Schools: Churchland Primary, Churchland Elementary,
Churchland Junior High and Churchland High Schools.
Shopping Areas: Chesapeake Square Mall is 15 minutes away by
car, and several strip shopping centers are close to the
neighborhood.
Recreation: The Portsmouth YMCA is very close to the
neighborhood, and the Churchland Swim & Racquet Club is nearby.
Sterns Creek provides water recreation.
Assessments: The Portsmouth assessor's office reports the range
of assessments from $76,910 to $177,680.
FOR SALE
A sampling of current listings:
At 5200 Amherst Drive, a 2,430-square-foot, 3-bedroom,
2.5-bathroom brick ranch, built in 1954, with skylights and security
system, is listed at $119,900.
At 3000 Ferguson Drive, a 3500-square-foot, 4-bedroom,
3.5-bathroom colonial manor, built in 1893, with greenhouse and
mother-in-law house, on the water front, is listed at $385,000.
SOLD
At 5201 Sweetbriar Circle, a 3-bedroom, 3-bathroom ranch sold for
$100,000 in June, after 259 days on the market.
At 5228 Amherst Drive, a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom ranch sold for
$99,900 in June, after 25 days on the market.
by CNB