THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, November 19, 1994 TAG: 9411250194
SECTION: REAL ESTATE WEEKLY PAGE: 3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KATHLEEN BUTLER, SPECIAL TO REAL ESTATE WEEKLY
LENGTH: Medium: 94 lines
When O.C. Warren moved into The Gardens in 1983, only a handful of houses dotted Honeysuckle Road.
``It was nothing but woods,'' he says. ``We moved in in March. That November the bulldozers came in.''
Today The Gardens is a well developed neighborhood of sprawling single-family homes, manicured gardens and ``good neighbors'' tucked in the woods across Lake Whitehurst from the Norfolk Botanical Gardens and a stone's throw from Norfolk International Airport.
``I like it very nice,'' Warren says. ``It's quiet and peaceful. I don't know where else you could find anything like this here for the money.''
Occasionally the whirr of a jet overhead drowns the honks of the Canada geese, but residents say the airport noise doesn't faze them.
``The planes don't bother me,'' Warren says. ``You just get immune to it.''
Elizabeth and Kenneth Farmer moved to The Gardens about 10 years ago. He owned a home in Chesapeake near the Ford plant where he works, she in Norfolk near the naval base, where she works.
When they married, they searched for a waterfront location that would be convenient for both.
``We wanted to be close to work and we wanted a lot on the water,'' Elizabeth Farmer says. ``We fell in love with the lot.''
The neighborhood has been developed in three stages, beginning in with phase one in the early 1980s.
About three dozen lots, ranging from a quarter acre to two-thirds of an acre, remain to be developed. Prices go from $44,800 to $199,000 depending on the size and location.
The slow development means The Gardens isn't a neighborhood of cookie-cutter homes; they are all custom-built - colonials, contemporaries and ranches. A deed restriction requires homes to be at least 2,200 square feet, Warren says.
The Farmers' two-story brick Georgian colonial sits on a quiet cul de sac overlooking Lake Whitehurst. Many residents own waterfront property that Elizabeth Farmer says gives them magnificent views of the Botanical Gardens, especially in the spring.
``You can see a lot from this side along the edges,'' she says. ``The view is real pretty.''
Because Lake Whitehurst is tied into the Norfolk drinking water, recreational boats - including sailboats, jet skis and peddle boats - are not allowed. But residents can spend afternoons fishing on the lake or just enjoying the wildlife.
Farmer says her husband is a nature buff who loves to watch the birds and animals - this year they counted 68 Canada geese with their young along with foxes, opossums, raccoons and ducks.
``There's so much wildlife,'' she says. ``My husband says he'll never move.''
In fact, residents say they love their neighborhood so much that almost no one has moved.
``Most people have been here a while,'' says Larry Cropper, a nine-year resident. ``I think only one house has been for sale since I've lived here.''
Part of that stability may be due to the residents' age. Most residents are older with grown or nearly-grown children.
``There are a few young kids,'' Farmer says. ``It's primarily a 40 to 50ish group living here. In our age group this is maybe the last home, the dream home we've always wanted to build.''
Although neighbors say they enjoy the tranquility of The Gardens, Farmer says there are plenty of activities to keep residents busy - whether its fishing on the lake, taking a quiet stroll or watching the grandchildren roller blade or race go-carts.
In the summer, Farmer says she and her next door neighbor take turns cooking out on the grill.
``There's a little bit of something going on all the time,'' she says.
But residents say perhaps the best feature is the neighbors.
``They're good neighbors,'' Warren says. ``That's what sets it apart.''
A few years ago residents experienced a wave of petty crime - kids breaking into cars at night. But the neighbors formed a civic league and appointed block captains to help quell the crime.
Today, residents says they still have the occasional break-in, but they feel safe in their neighborhood.
``To me, when we drive up in the driveway, it's like we've driven out of town - out in the country,'' Elizabeth Farmer says. ``It's so private here on the lake.'' MEMO: For full information in About the Neighborhood see microfilm.
ILLUSTRATION: Color photos by D. Kevin Elliott
Elizabeth and Kenneth Farmer moved to The Gardens about 10 years ago
because it was close to each of their jobs.
The Gardens, as seen from a vantage point across Lake Whitehurst...
by CNB