THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 22, 1995 TAG: 9507200306
SECTION: REAL ESTATE WEEKLY PAGE: 3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARY ELLEN MILES, SPECIAL TO REAL ESTATE WEEKLY
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
For folks who long for days when children felt safe playing in the streets, almost everybody knew everybody else, a lot of moms stayed home and helping hands stretched out easily, Cedarwood is the place to live.
Situated quietly off busy Cedar Road in Chesapeake, the community of about 240 households enjoys the sweet pace of just such a life.
Cedarwood's entrance is four lanes, divided by a landscaped median.
Development of Cedarwood, began in 1989. This area was the site of the 1990 Homerama house display.
The dwellings were constructed by four building companies and allows for distinctly different styles of home, ranging from all brick to aluminium. The neighborhood has one long main road with courts jutting out from it. The lots are a generous 12,000 square feet, all well tended.
Jenny Boyenga, an associate broker with Long & Foster Realtors, calls the location of Cedarwood ``just ideal, being between Dominion and Battlefield Boulevards. It has so many amenities close by, including easy access to the Interstate.'' Houses often sell very quickly - often in one day at their listed prices.
John Matteucci, president of the civic league and a resident since 1991, says the group sponsors an annual block party, maintains the landscaping in common areas, started a Neighborhood Watch program and always sends people to attend city meetings pertaining to their subdivision.
Matteucci and his wife, Roe, moved into their two-story, custom-built house with four bedrooms and 2 1/2 bedrooms from New York. Since then, they've added a sprinkler system, well and fence. They chose Cedarwood because they ``liked the mix of house styles and it was convenient to work.''
John Matteucci says the neighborhood comprises mostly young families with children. On weekends, there are ``kids all over the place,'' he says - playing in the streets and in backyard swing sets. Even so, ``it's quiet in here,'' he says, ``yet, we have everything just right outside the neighborhood - video stores, shopping, restaurants, etc. We're not far away from anything; yet, it seems like we are.''
Mary and Dave Perreta have lived in Cedarwood for two years, moving here from California. They previously lived in Virginia Beach, but didn't wish to go back to that ``overgrown'' area, Mary Perreta says.
Their traditional brick and vinyl house has four bedrooms plus a study, 2 1/2 baths and a second story. They live on a cul-de-sac, ``which is really excellent for our two children. It's out of the way,'' she says. ``I like that there a lot of different style homes here and everyone keeps up their yards. We also have woods behind us. I would really like to stay. I'm very comfortable here.''
Monica and Terry Griffin moved from another Chesapeake neighborhood into Cedarwood three years ago. The schools led them to the Great Bridge area, where the trees of Cedarwood lured them in. They have fond memories of their first two weeks in the neighborhood.
``We met about 90 percent of the neighbors during that time,'' Monica Griffin says. ``It's rare to find a group of people so friendly. There are lots of kids here. There are no bullies. Everyone is respectful of everyone else. And the kids can safely play in the cul-de-sacs.''
Bike riding and roller blading are also popular, thanks to the city's mosquito control, she says.
``It's a nice neighborhood with a good group of people,'' Griffin says. ``We'll be having a sprinkler system installed with another family soon. Here, you can always find someone to share the cost of something like that with you.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo on cover by Richard L. Dunston
Color photos by Richard L. Dunston
The neighborhood dates only to 1989 and was the site of a past
Homerama...
The Matteucci family: Roe and John and Children Michael, 7, and
Linda, 9.
Graphic with map
About the neighborhood
by CNB