THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, April 15, 1995 TAG: 9504130312
SECTION: REAL ESTATE WEEKLY PAGE: 3 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 90 lines
The intersection of Virginia Beach Boulevard and Military Highway in Norfolk is a very busy place. Military Circle Mall, Janaf Shopping Center and numerous strip centers near that junction form one of Hampton Roads' shopping meccas.
But years before this commerce emerged, a quiet suburban neighborhood was developed in the same area - Poplar Halls. It seems almost out of place with all the activity around it.
Started in the late 1950's, the subdivision was once part of old Princess Anne County. On Jan. 1, 1959, Poplar Halls became part of Norfolk after an annexation.
In 1959, the Poplar Halls Civic League was formed. Active from the start, the league members helped originate the Norfolk Federation of Civic Leagues. The league was also instrumental in persuading the city to put a branch library in Janaf Shopping Center.
Poplar Hall Drive, off North Military Highway, is the subdivision's main entrance. The two sides of the road are separated by an exceptionally wide, treed median.
Poplar Halls was developed in several stages. The older sections containfive house models, including ranches, raised ranches, bi-levels, tri-levels, and four-levels, all of which were popular during that building period.
Some homes border Meadow Lake and Silver Lake. The newer Sandy Bay Point section contains mostly larger homes, many of which look out onto Broad Creek, a finger of the Eastern Branch of the Elizabeth River.
There are over 700 homes in all parts of Poplar Halls. Trees are everywhere. Many yards are testimony to their owners' gardening abilities.
David and Betty East have lived in their four-leveled home with five bedrooms and three baths on Beacon Hill Court since the beginning. David East is retired from the military and Virginia Chemicals, and Betty is a retired school teacher. They have five grown children.
``It's a very central location,'' says Betty East. ``We're close to Janaf Shopping Center, Military Circle, and the interstate. This is a very stable community. Many have been here for 20 to 30 years.''
She has been president of the civic league several times, and she says it's always been a strong, active civic league.
Joshua Paige is the current president of the civic league. He lives on Bayberry Drive with a grown daughter in a four-bedroom, three-bath tri-level. He has lived in Poplar Halls 24 years.
He says that about 50 percent of the homeowners in the area belong to the civic league. Dues are $6 a year, and members meet monthly in Poplar Halls Elementary School. There is also a monthly newsletter.
He talks enthusiastically about the neighborhood's first annual carnival last October.
``We brought out people who didn't know each other,'' he says. ``We had the Norfolk Police Department come out, as well as the teachers and principals of the schools our children attend. There were children's games and refreshments. It was such a success that we're planning on making it a yearly event.''
Russell and Daisy Lee are residents of the Sandy Bay Point part of Poplar Halls. They bought their three-bedrooms, two-bath split-level in 1974. Since buying their home, they have added a family room, deck and spa.
Russell Lee is retired from the federal civil service, and Daisy Lee is a teacher. Russell Lee explain explains why they bought in Poplar Halls:
``We'd been looking in lots of places. One day our Realtor showed us this house, and that was it. We looked at, liked it, and bought it.''
``I was sold on the view - lots of trees,'' says Daisy Lee. ``We had the treed view for 10n years until the Waverly neighborhood was built. Before the developer built the houses, he met with the homeowners like us who bordered the development. He listened to our concerns, and did a good job with the new area. He was able to leave some trees.''
Poplar Halls is a diverse middle-class neighborhood. Residents are blue-collar, pink-collar and white-collar. At one time the neighborhood had lots of military. Now many are retired. Several streets have an informal network whereby residents keep an eye out when the someone is away. Residents say the area has a low crime rate.
On a recent spring afternoon, the trees and flowers were blooming along quiet streets. The only real traffic was youngsters on bicycles and rollerskates. ILLUSTRATION: Color photos by Paul Aiken
Poplar Halls was once part of old Princess Anne County.
Daisy Lee...
Graphic with map
About the Neighborhood
by CNB