THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, February 1, 1997 TAG: 9701310463
SECTION: REAL ESTATE WEEKLY PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARY ELLEN MILES, SPECIAL TO REAL ESTATE WEEKLY
LENGTH: 113 lines
Laden with friendly neighbors, large yards and houses, cul-de-sacs named after flowers, tall pines, and sparkling palladium windows, the 5-year-old custom-built subdivision of Chesapeake Colony Estates in the heart of Great Bridge.
About 130 brick and Dryvit houses, mostly two-story contemporary designs, compose this 6-year-old neighborhood, which sits across the street from Hall Heights and the Great Bridge High School football stadium (which is at Great Bridge Middle School).
The stately entrance to Chesapeake Colony Estates features a brick sign in the median of a divided street. The sign has a gold-colored seal with a large ship depicted on it.
The homeowners grouped together, solicited funds, created a design and had the entryway built, according to resident Mike Britt.
About 85 of the homeowners gave $100 or more, he says. Off to the entrance's right is a lake, which feeds into the nearby Intercostal Waterway. During warm months, residents take advantage of the lake to fish and boat.
The first house was built about 1991, and construction continued through last year. The lots are at least 15,000 square feet, an area hard to come by these days in new construction. A few lots remain.
About eight builders helped create the neighborhood, says Britt. Many of the houses sport matching brick mailboxes and custom windows, although every house has a diverse style.
``It's a custom community of local people,'' says Debbie Borlase, associate broker with the Great Bridge office of William E. Wood & Associates. ``A lot of local business owners live there.
``They're people who've lived in Great Bridge for some time and have established their businesses there and are very community minded. Because of the growth of Great Bridge, there's a lot of face lifting going on in the strip shopping centers. A lot of speciality restaurants are coming in too.''
Neighborhood store owners Bill and Jan Bryant moved from another Chesapeake neighborhood into their four-bedroom, three-bath, 2,200-square-foot ranch in 1992. Since moving in, they've added a well and sprinkler system.
``We were the fourth house built,'' says Jan. ``My husband found the neighborhood. He rides around looking at neighborhoods. It's sort of like his hobby. We'd been watching the area being developed and liked it's smallness and convenience to our store.''
The Bryants own Sport Time, a sporting goods store on South Battlefield Boulevard less than a mile from their home.
``We were looking to downsize our house,'' she says, ``and this location's unbelievable. For anyone who needs to jump on the (Great Bridge) bypass to get to another city, it's a wonderful spot.''
``It's a totally contained neighborhood,'' says Bill Bryant, with no through streets. It's also a great spot for biking, walking and strolling with the babies.
``Probably the most traffic we get is on Sunday,'' Jan says, ``when the Sunday lookers drive around.''
The neighborhood is big on activities, Jan says. They have a neighborhood watch, a big annual garage sale, a fall event with food and entertainment for the kids, and a newsletter that keeps the residents updated on the events.
``It's a very social neighborhood,'' she says. The residents even have a neighborhood telephone directory that includes a list of babysitters.
The lake is superb in fulfilling its drainage function, says Jan. The subdivision appears low, and people often think it will have sitting water. But just the opposite is true, she says. ``The water drains very quickly, right into the lake.''
``It's a nice neighborhood,'' says Britt. ``We have a mixture of all nationalities and ages. And we have a block party every Labor Day.''
Britt, a builder with Germel Inc. built the Bryants house. He originally planned on moving his family into the house, but sold it to the Bryants and bought a lot around the corner from them to build his family's four-bedroom, 2 1/2-bathroom brick ranch.
Britt has lived in Great Bridge for a decade and says Chesapeake Colony Estate is ``an ideal neighborhood.'' He enjoys the cordial neighbors and the convenience to the bypass. ILLUSTRATION: Color photos by MOTOYA NAKAMURA
The lake in the subdivision...
Bill and Jan Bryant...
Graphic
ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Public schools: All Great Bridge schools.
Hospital: Chesapeake General.
Shopping: Greenbrier Mall is a 10 minute drive. Strip shopping
centers, such as Great Bridge and Wilson Village, Intracoastal
Plaza, Island Wharf Shops and the Harbor Watch Shops are close.
Recreation: Seven Springs Country Club and golf course. The
Chesapeake Central Library and little league fields are at the
Municipal Center. Lock Park, Funscape, Fun Forest, the YMCA, Great
Bridge Community Center and Great Bridge Swim & Racquet Club are
close.
Assessments: The city reports the range of assessments from $164,100
to $314,500.
FOR SALE
At 228 Tree Fern Drive, a five-bedroom, three-bathroom,
4,000-square-foot contemporary ranch, built in 1993, closed last May
for $228,500.
At 308 White Dogwood Drive, a five-bedroom, three-bathroom,
3,400-square-foot ranch, built in 1994, closed in June for $245,000.
SOLD
At 232 Tree Fern Drive, a five-bedroom, three-bathroom,
3,500-square-foot Dryvit contemporary two-story, built in 1993 on a
corner lot, with spiral staircase and two gas fireplaces, was listed
for $224,900.
At 214 Silver Maple Drive, a five-bedroom, 3 1/2-bathroom,
3,400-square-foot-brick traditional two-story built in 1992, with
deck and pool, was listed for $267,500.
At 100 Golden Maple Drive, a four-bedroom, 2 1/2-bathroom,
3,030-square-foot-brick traditional two-story built in 1994, was
listed for $250,000.