The 55+ Active Adult community of Colonial Heritage in James City County VA is proposing an affordable townhome subdivision backing up to Jolly Pond Road. When the housing market was flush, Colonial Heritage had more than 200 acres rezoned from agricultural land to low density residential, with a plan for 50 mega-homes on 3-acre lots. Last year the developer, Lennar, amended the plan by requesting a cluster exception for at least 50 workforce townhouses on 60 acres. Eighty-five acres would be set aside in a conservation easement and 70 more would roll into the existing Colonial Heritage. The total cap is still 2,000 homes. The site is currently outside of the primary service area of water and sewer. To accommodate the dense project, Colonial Heritage tried to have the PSA expanded during the Comp Plan update, but failed. Lennar is trying again. Last month Kaufman & Canoles attorney Gregory Davis submitted a special use permit application to extend municipal water and sewer to the site. The workforce housing plan is touted as more attractive to the county and conveniently placed near the new Blayton Elementary and Hornsby Middle schools. The cluster plan would allow for open vistas and green space.
A William & Mary law professor used legal “mumbo jumbo” to undermine the authority of the Kingsmill Community Services Association, accused the group’s lawyer in a letter delivered by police . The professor fires back, saying the tactic is a “bush-league attempt at intimidation.”
The battle of legal letters has erupted as residents of James City County’s tony Kingsmill development question control of their community association by the foreign-owned InBev corporation.
The law professor, Don Tortorice, challenged the legality of the community association in the midst of homeowners’ concern over outside control of the group. In response, according to the Virginia Gazette , KCSA sent armed police officers to serve a letter from lawyer Elizabeth White, asking Tortorice to retract his “slanderous” statements.
The newspaper offers a link to the letter from White and Tortorice’s response.
He writes:
“If the purpose of your attempt at intimidation was to cower me with the threat of litigation, please understand that I am now, or at any time, eager to lay the integrity of my principles against yours and to test the correctness of my reading and interpretation of the law against yours in any judicial court or the court of public opinion.
Read more about Kingsmill in Williamsburg VA here
| This post was authored by local resident and REALTOR, John Womeldorf. John is known around town as Mr. Williamsburg, for both his extensive knowledge of Hampton Roads and the historic triangle, and his expertise in the local real estate market. His websites, www.WilliamsburgsRealEstate.com and www.MrWilliamsburg.com, were created as a comprehensive resource about living in Williamsburg and Hampton Roads, with the hopes of selling a house now and again. You can reach him at 757.254.8136 or John@MrWilliamsburg.com. |
Are you looking for rental housing in Williamsburg VA ? Are you a grad student or under grad at William and Mary ? If so your first place to search is the new William and Mary off campus housing website.
You will need to register to search but you can do that as a guest if you are not yet student.
The second place to look would be Craigslist ( search Williamsburg)
You can also try the Monticello Apartments at Powhatan ( behind Target & Ukrops) They have done less than 12 month leases and allow pets.
Oxford Apartments at New Town ( I don’t think they do less than 12 month rentals though)
Spottswood Commons Apartments on Longhill Rd ( Pets allowed and they do less than 12 months leases)
Sterling Manor at High Street on Richmond Rd ( they will do 7 month + leases and allow pets) adjacent to High Street with movie theater, Five Guys, Plaza Azteca, Firehouse Subs and more
Our local newspaper The Va Gazette will also have homes, town homes, condos, apartments for rent in their classified section here
You should also download and read William and Mary’s Guide to Graduate Living for Williamsburg and Gloucester VA ( 78pages ) Although it needs updating ,the guide will bring you up to speed on the area.
Click here for bus information for Williamsburg ( Routes, Schedules , etc.)
Click here for parking information around campus
Richmond Hill was envisioned as a pocket community of urban homes that maintained in-town convenience while providing the grace and elegance of manor living. The design premise was drawn along the classic Federal style found in the cities of Richmond, ( Monument Ave. ) Alexandria and Georgetown. The intent was to reproduce the richness of detail and pleasing scale of this style of architecture while keeping the building facades, landscaping, sidewalks, fences and exterior lighting both appropriate and compatible. Only 14 homes make up this small community.
The location off of South Henry Street just past the W&M Law School gives residents proximity to the College of William and Mary, Colonial Williamsburg , Three Golf Courses, indoor tennis plus the shopping and dining of nearby Merchants Square in Colonial Williamsburg. Sales are rare in this coveted neighborhood.
As of Feb 2010 there were no homes for sale in Richmond Hill. Only one home sold last year in Richmond Hill for $750k.
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Williamsburg/ James City County Schools for Richmond Hill: |
You can search all currently available homes in Williamsburg VA here
Do you live or did you live in Richmond Hill ? Please post your thoughts on the neighborhood below in comments.
Be sure to read my other Williamsburg VA neighborhood spotlights here
Have a question about a Williamsburg Home or Neighborhood ? Send me an email John@MrWilliamsburg.com
Map Location of Richmond Hill in Williamsburg VA
View Richmond Hill in a larger map
Developed in the mid-1960s as a residential community by the Savage and Cocke families, the original neighborhood consisted of 24 lots ranging in size from three-quarter to one-and-three- quarter acres. The location off of South Henry Street just past the W&M Law School gives residents proximity to the College of William and Mary, Colonial Williamsburg , Three Golf Courses, indoor tennis plus the shopping and dining of nearby Merchants Square in Colonial Williamsburg. Most of the homes are sited in a wooded landscape. Many original homeowners still reside in the houses they built nearly 40 years ago. A testament to the communities desirability.
Most of the homes in The Coves are masterpieces, custom designed and meticulously maintained by the owners. Sales are rare in this coveted neighborhood.
As of Feb 2010 there were two homes for sale in The Coves ranging from the mid $400’s to almost a million. Only one home sold last year in The Coves for the low $400’s.
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Williamsburg/ James City County Schools for The Coves: |
You can search all currently available homes in The Coves, Williamsburg VA here
Do you live or did you live in The Coves ? Please post your thoughts on the neighborhood below in comments.
Be sure to read my other Williamsburg VA neighborhood spotlights here
Have a question about a Williamsburg Home or Neighborhood ? Send me an email John@MrWilliamsburg.com
Map Location of The Coves in Williamsburg VA
View The Coves Williamsburg VA Neighborhood in a larger map
With a rich history, great location and — according to the 2006 Guinness World Records — the “longest pleasure beach in the world,” Virginia Beach, Virginia is the chameleon of ocean resorts, offering something for everyone. At least for everyone with money to spend, given that prices are surprisingly high compared with such direct competitors as Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
One reason is that despite the abundance of beach (Guinness notes 38 combined miles on the Atlantic and Chesapeake Bay), much of the best real estate is owned by the federal government. The city of Virginia Beach is bookended by large military bases Dam Neck, Fort Story, Oceana and Little Creek Amphibious Base, curtailing expansion.
Another reason is demand: Virginia Beach draws second-home owners from Richmond, Washington, D.C., and beyond with recreational opportunities and convenience to top cultural, historic and entertainment attractions, all in a beachfront setting that is famously family-friendly. Best Life magazine recently rated it the second-best place in the country to raise a family (Honolulu was No. 1.)
Within an hour are the prime historic sites, Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown. Busch Gardens is a huge draw, and Norfolk is home to the Virginia Opera and Symphony, Chrysler Museum, the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts and more. Recreation options include boating, fishing and beachcombing, plus “great golf, tennis and, believe it or not, surfing.” Virginia Beach is home to the annual East Coast Surfing Championship.
With nearly a half-million residents, Virginia Beach is the most populous city in the state. But despite its size and inland urban attributes, most second-home activity is in a narrow corridor near the water, another reason prices can be high.
Oceanfront homes a begin at more than $2 million, It’s expensive, but you get a lot of house for the money here compared to second-home places like the Hamptons” in New York or the beaches in New Jersey.
A look at three Virginia Beach neighborhoods
North End. The North End, as locals call the neighborhoods in the northeastern corner of the city, is one of the most prestigious addresses in Virginia Beach. Residents have fiercely protected the area from commercialization. Many families have lived there for generations. Some of the homes in the North End are second homes for wealthy families and individuals from the state capital in Richmond or other cities around the state. The neighborhood’s eclectic character results from the juxtaposition of quaint cedar-shake cottages, some dating from the early part of the 20th century, to modern stucco beach mansions. Giant live oak trees and pines dominate the landscaping, and the sound of waves breaking on the beach in many places drowns out the noise of cars passing just beyond the oleander hedges.
Homes start at about $500,000 a block from the beach and stretch into the millions overlooking the Atlantic Ocean
SEARCH NORTH END VA BEACH HOMES FOR SALE
See what homes sold for in the North End of VA Beach in the last 12 months
South End. This is the heart of what most people think of when they picture Virginia Beach, with a developed coastal resort strip of hotels, restaurants, attractions and condos. Though prices on the beach run into seven figures, starting four blocks off the water, there are more modest condo developments, and you can find something nice under $300,000. Buyers of second homes off the water tend to be on limited budgets but still want to walk to the beach. There are a number of high-rise condos with a lot of services from $250,000.
SEARCH SOUTH END VA BEACH HOMES FOR SALE
Croatan. A residential beach neighborhood just south of the resort strip past Rudee Inlet off the main road, it has less traffic and the area’s only deep-water port to accommodate larger boats. It has many second-home owners but few tourists. The main appeal of Croatan is a quiet community right on the beach that also has two inland lakes and three-quarters of a mile of shoreline.Single-family houses in Croatan start around $725,000. Those on the water begin at about $2 million.
SEARCH CROATAN VA BEACH HOMES FOR SALE
See what homes in Croatan sold for in the last 12 months
Birdneck Point -With the most affordable waterfront lots hovering around $1,000,000 Birdneck Point is not for everyone. But that is a major part of this neighborhood’s charm. The homes in Birdneck Point are as beautiful as they are unique. No two are alike which is a refreshing change from some of the newer developments in Virginia Beach. Best of all you get lots of trees and waterfront
One of the first things you will notice upon entering Birdneck Point is the golf course. The Cavalier Golf and Yacht Club VA Beach is a private club on the north end of Birdneck Point.
SEARCH BIRDNECK POINT HOMES FOR SALE
See what Birdneck Pointe homes sold for in the last 12 months.
| This post was authored by local resident and REALTOR, John Womeldorf. John is known around town as Mr. Williamsburg, for both his extensive knowledge of Hampton Roads and the historic triangle, and his expertise in the local real estate market. His websites, www.WilliamsburgsRealEstate.com and www.MrWilliamsburg.com, were created as a comprehensive resource about living in Williamsburg and Hampton Roads, with the hopes of selling a house now and again. You can reach him at 757.254.8136 or John@MrWilliamsburg.com. |
East Beach in Norfolk, Virginia was home to one of the most successful Homearama shows in 2004 (during the height of the new homes market in Hampton Roads.) After surveying many other sites throughout Hampton Roads it has been chosen as the site of the fall 2010 Homearama show.
After weeks of buzz, Tidewater Builders Association has officially announced it will head back to Norfolk’s East Beach coastal community for its Fall 2010 Homearama showcase of homes, set for October.
In 2004, East Beach was host of one of TBA’s most successful Homearamas to date. The neighborhood’s original 16 homes created a streetscape that many at the time likened to a Hollywood movie set. It almost seemed as though there was some Hollywood magic in the air – as everyone associated with the event took great pride in what they had created.
It seemed almost surreal that this upscale streetscape featuring porches, bay front greens, and exquisite architectural detail could have arisen from the dust of an area once best known for its blight.
As such, the event was cause for great celebration from the city’s leaders, who saw validation in their decision to pursue redevelopment there.
It was also a hit with Homearama visitors – at over 110,000 strong, they created a record attendance.
East Beach was among three locations the association was considering.
Situated along the Chesapeake Bay in East Ocean View, East Beach was created nearly a decade ago on an 105-acre tract that was once home to some of Norfolk’s most blighted neighborhoods. East Beach’s other border to the south is Pretty Lake — an arm of the bay.
Boaters enjoy immediate access to pleasure boat marinas on Little Creek Inlet, which provides easy passage to Chesapeake Bay.
The architectural mood here is “beachy,” with a quintessential New England flavor and houses to match. The Bayfront Club sits on Chesapeake Bay beach, and offers a pool, a weight/cardio room, and a bayfront room for weddings and gatherings.
Like other traditional neighborhoods, East Beach is a haven for pedestrians. Streets are deliberately narrow to slow traffic, allowing residents to walk or cycle safely to nearby parks, the beach, or the deepwater marinas along Pretty Lake. Public parks and greens are everywhere – even along the Chesapeake Bay – so that neighbors can gather and play. Porches are wide to encourage sitting, and close to the street to spark conversations with passersby.
Within a couple of years, East Beach will open a town center with a combination of restaurants and shops. In the meantime, just outside the community but within easy walking distance are four restaurants, a variety of shops, fishing access and several marinas.
With only about 20 percent of the 700 planned residences sold, there are plenty of spots for newcomers to find their niche.
It will have about 15 homes, including some moderately priced cottages. Frye said 24th Bay Street will be rerouted to create housing lots designed around several dozen trees and some large sand dunes. Some of the trees are more than 100 years old, he said.
Although plans for Homearama have not been completed, Frye said some of the cottages could sell for $300,000, which would make them the least-costly houses in East Beach. Others will be priced at $700,000.
Tentative dates for the fall Homerama show are Oct. 2-17, 2010. TBA is also having its first spring Homearama, scheduled for May 8-23, 2010 in Founders Pointe in Isle of Wight County.
My own preference for a Homerama show would showcase homes from $200k-$250k. When are we going to make housing affordable ? What about “Green Building ? “ Lets see who can build the most efficient home with the lowest net utility cost. Last years show at Culpepper Landing was a huge hit with its price range. I was just in Richmond VA ( Chesterfield ) and was amazed at the features and style that builders were able to offer in the low $200’s price range.
OK, that’s it for my rant for now.
| East Beach at a Glance Size: 100 acres Designer: Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company Developer: East Beach Company, LLC (East Beach Renaissance, The Leyland Alliance) Groundbreaking: 2000 Current home, condo and town home prices in East Beach range form $300,000 to $2,950,000 |
View a map of East Beach Norfolk, VA
If you are a vendor wanting to exhibit at the East Beach Homerama show contact TBA here
 This post was authored by local resident and REALTOR, John Womeldorf. John is known around town as Mr. Williamsburg, for both his extensive knowledge of Hampton Roads and the historic triangle, and his expertise in the local real estate market. His websites, www.WilliamsburgsRealEstate.com and www.MrWilliamsburg.com, were created as a comprehensive resource about living in Williamsburg and Hampton Roads, with the hopes of selling a house now and again. You can reach him at 757.254.8136 or John@MrWilliamsburg.com. |
James City County’s Economic Development Authority announced last week it is revamping its business incubator program, including expanding its offerings to more than just technology companies and ending its management agreement with the Hampton Roads Technology Council in favor of the College of William and Mary.
All parties said the new direction came at the urging of HRTC, which has run the JCC Technology Incubator since its inception in 2007 as part of the Hampton Roads Technology Incubator System.
After early success at the JCC incubator, it became apparent that focusing solely on technology companies was limiting the project’s growth.
The county looked to W&M, particularly to its Technology and Business Center, to take over management of the incubator, to be renamed the JCC Business and Technology Incubator.
"We’re just expanding the focus," said Steven Yavorsky, assistant director of economic development in JCC. "We were just a technology incubator. We’ve expanded it to include more business models."
Under the terms of the management agreement with W&M, the county will continue to fund the incubator as it had during HRTC’s tenure, to the tune of $70,000 from January through April 2011, Yavorsky said.
W&M will now be the executor of developing and implementing the business and operations plan of the incubator.
The revamped incubator will continue to be housed in its existing 2,500-square-foot space. The space, Yavorsky said, also limited technology companies in the incubator because it lacks the lab and manufacturing space that has benefited HRTC’s Hampton incubator.
The expanded offering has already paid off. JCC also announced its newest resident to the revamped incubator, MODU-System America LLC. The company is a two-person operation that, according to the county, will become the U.S. subsidiary of its Malaysian-based parent company, MODU System, a worldwide manufacturer of modular conveyor systems that has locations all over the world.
"The geographic location here is strategic to our efforts to penetrate the U.S. market," John Douglas, vice president of sales for MODU System America, said in a prepared statement. "The incremental office space approach that the incubator provides gives us the flexibility to grow as our market share and employee needs grow here."
The incubator also has landed a procurement assistance program from George Mason University as its second client. The companies that were clients in the incubator under HRTC’s management have chosen not to continue on in the new arrangement, Yavorsky said. Most had reached maturity and were prepared to leave the system.
The parties will set out to market the overhauled incubator program to try to recruit new businesses. The partnership with W&M will also allow incubator clients access to the college’s expertise and will potentially give students and professors a place to commercialize research produced at the school.
In addition to the less than vibrant growth of tech entrepreneurship in JCC, HRTC’s Early has said for some time he believes entrepreneurship in general in all of Hampton Roads needs to grow and be nurtured and that lack of entrepreneurship is "a dilemma we need to change if possible."
HRTC strives to do so, but it requires many more voices to make it happen," Early said. "In Hampton Roads if you try and fail, you get a scarlet letter for your efforts. In Silicon Valley, you get a badge of honor."
In meeting with a prospective home seller last night it dawned on me how badly people want to hear good news about the real estate market. The seller actually said "only tell me good things ,no bad news please".
Good News: Three of my listings in Williamsburg have gone under contract in the last two weeks, a forth may have an offer coming in, one had multiple offers, I am seeing lots of buyer activity, multiple inquiries from many people looking to sell and move up, first time home buyers, people looking to buy lots and build, people looking to buy investment property and many more…
So yes Virginia the real estate market is picking up.
Thanks to all who made 2009 my best year ever !
BTW if you are looking for an exceptional larger home in Fords Colony ( over 4000 square feet) I will soon have one available………
What’s your take ?
 This post was authored by local resident and REALTOR, John Womeldorf. John is known around town as Mr. Williamsburg, for both his extensive knowledge of Hampton Roads and the historic triangle, and his expertise in the local real estate market. His websites, www.WilliamsburgsRealEstate.com and www.MrWilliamsburg.com, were created as a comprehensive resource about living in Williamsburg and Hampton Roads, with the hopes of selling a house now and again. You can reach him at 757.254.8136 or John@MrWilliamsburg.com. |
Have you ever used Google Street View ? Its a great program that allows you to “ Drive an area” from your computer.
Google is in the process of filming the world with their specially equipped vehicles. They did our neighborhood in the fall a few years back. How do I remember , I can see the Halloween decorations hanging in my yard !
You can now you can take a virtual tour of Busch Gardens and Water Country in Williamsburg, Va..
“We’re thrilled to be among the first theme parks in the world to get the Google Street View treatment,” said Dan Dipiazzo, vice president of marketing for Busch Gardens and Water Country USA. “Now, no matter where you are, you can enjoy an online experience of our parks while planning your vacation. The only thing missing is feeling the first drop of Griffon or getting splashed in Surfer’s Bay wave pool.”
Click here to take the “Tour” of Busch Gardens
Click here to take the “Tour of Water Country
 This post was authored by local resident and REALTOR, John Womeldorf. John is known around town as Mr. Williamsburg, for both his extensive knowledge of Hampton Roads and the historic triangle, and his expertise in the local real estate market. His websites, www.WilliamsburgsRealEstate.com and www.MrWilliamsburg.com, were created as a comprehensive resource about living in Williamsburg and Hampton Roads, with the hopes of selling a house now and again. You can reach him at 757.254.8136 or John@MrWilliamsburg.com. |
