THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 22, 1994 TAG: 9410200286
SECTION: REAL ESTATE WEEKLY PAGE: 3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARY ELLEN MILES, SPECIAL TO REAL ESTATE WEEKLY
LENGTH: Long : 138 lines
Northgate, consisting of 4 small, dead end streets, and approximately 42 custom-built houses, offers a taste of seclusion and harmony with nature ust a stone's throw from Suffolk's North Main Street.
Louise Obici Memorial Hospital is just across North Main Street and Lake Meade borders the neighborhood's West side.
Billy Chorey, owner of Chorey & Associates Realty, LTD., used to play in the area prior to it's development during the late 1960's and early 1970's.
``I remember it as a wooded forest on the lake,'' he says. ``The whole front area was lined with mature pecan trees; it was so strange being in the wilderness, yet within blocks of Obici Hospital.''
The pecan trees remain, along with the squirrels who ``harvest'' them. The wooded area also overflows with mature, majestic pine trees, not commonly found within city limits.
Chorey says if you're searching for ``woods, waterfront property and acreage,'' Northgate is the place to look. ``It's relatively convenient to the 58 Bypass, shopping, medical facilities. It's right off Main Street, yet affords privacy,'' he says.
In the 1950s, Nansemond County was considered ``country'' and Henry and Nell Pinner owned the land comprising Northgate and Obici Hospital, according to Wilson and Velma Askew, 44-year residents of Northgate, and friends of the late Pinners.
The Askews bought four acres of land for $10,000 in 1950. Velma Askew said she was raised a country girl, moved to the city as an adult, and felt like she was ``coming home to the country,'' when she and her husband bought their land.
The Askews owned a garden shop, and they grew their first nursery stock on the land they bought.
In 1952, they had their three-bedroom, two-bathroom colonial house custom built. At that time, the Pinners' house was the only other one in the subdivision. By 1954, the third house was built.
Henry Pinner was a business owner and horticulturist, the Askews say, who had beautiful gardens behind his home and around the lake. A prominent Richmond landscape architect designed the gardens, and Wilson Askew planted them.
The gardens were open for two years to garden clubs before Pinner had a stroke. Since then, much of the land was sold, the gardens torn down and new houses built. Askew recalls how beautiful the gardens were; while his wife spoke of the inevitability of progress.
Despite, and because of, the neighborhood changes over the years, Velma Askew believes the area is ``the most convenient place in Suffolk,'' with banks, medical facilities and stores nearby. She says she ``just wouldn't want to live anywhere else; it's home,'' adding that many of the original owners still reside in the subdivision.
Their children grew up together, and they feel a community cohesiveness. Recently, Velma Askew's niece moved into an English Tudor house in Northgate, and Askew says her niece hails her home as her ``little bit of heaven on earth.''
Newer residents, Larry and Ruth Felton, had their two-story, gray Cape Cod home custom built on 1 3/4 acres of waterfront property in 1985. They moved onto the street the Pinners' lived on, the last street to be developed.
The Feltons have seen many houses built since then. They chose to build their home in Northgate to be near waterfront property (they own the pond behind their house), surrounded by mature trees, yet in the city.
This was ``just the perfect area'' Ruth Felton said. They also wanted to be near Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, where their children attended school.
Larry Felton says their neighbors ``are excellent.'' ``They're there when you need them,'' Ruth Felton said, and ``they take pride in their houses and lawns.''
She says the neighbors are a diverse group, in age, employment status, etc., making the area more interesting.
Larry Felton feels the hospital is a ``real stabilizing force,'' ensuring that no heavy industry will be built nearby. Also, adds Ruth Felton, since there is no more land for sale, ``the neighborhood is as large as it's going to get.''
Although there is no formal civic league, the residents keep informed of issues of concern, and take action when necessary.
Larry Felton cited two instances when neighborhood and surrounding residents teamed up to prevent commercial property being built nearby. The Feltons feel fortunate that their neighborhood is safe, convenient, quiet and friendly.
Richard Harrell's four-bedroom, four-bathroom contemporary house was custom built in 1987. He also chose Northgate because of its waterfront property and peacefulness, yet its ``convenience to whatever you need,'' he says.
He, as well as many residents, was glad to see various mature species of trees in the neighborhood. He discovered a Hemlock tree on his property, a rare tree in this area.
So, he did what a nature lover had to do - he designed and built his driveway around the tree, so as to not disturb it. He sums up Northgate as ``nice neighbors and good peaceful living.'' MEMO: AT A GLANCE About the Neighborhood
Public Schools: Elephants Fork Elementary, John F. Kennedy Middle and
Nansemond River High schools.
Private Schools: Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, where many Northgate
children have attended school.
Shopping Areas: Suffolk Plaza and other shopping centers are close to
the neighborhood. It's also a short, four-lane drive to Chesapeake or
Peninsula cities to shop.
Recreation: The Suffolk YMCA, Lake Meade Landing Tennis Courts,
Birdsong Recreation Center and Suffolk Golf course are all nearby. Lake
Meade offers boating and fishing.
Assessments: The city assessor's office reports the range of evaluations
from $71,300 to $299,000, with the majority of houses falling between
$101,000 and $175,700.
For Sale
``The Old Pinner Place'' at 1 Northgate Lane, a 4,800-square-foot,
four-bedroom, four-bath colonial, with 2.8 wooded acres, is listed at
$295,000.
At 100 Northgate Lane, a four-bedroom, three-bath brick ranch is listed
at $275,000.
Sold
At 1805 N. Main St., a three-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom brick ranch on a
3/4-acre lot, with a pond in the back yard and two-car garage, sold in
June for $133,000.
At 101 Edgewood Ave., a three-bedroom, 1.5-bathroom brick ranch sold
this month for $89,900.
At 125 Longwood Ave., a five-bedroom, two-bath brick ranch, on a
3/4-acre waterfront lot, sold last November for $179,750.
ILLUSTRATION: Color photos by Gary C. Knapp
Velma Askew has lived in Northgate since 1952...
Shingled birdhouse...
Photos by Gary C. Knapp
Ruth and Larry Felton relax on their backyard patio. The Feltons
believe the proximity of Louise Obici hospital - just across North
Main Street - insures minimal change in Northgate.
The formal living room of Wilson and Velma Askew. They've lived in
the area 44 years.
by CNB