Three neighborhoods in York County VA. received the 2008 Neighborhood of the Year award.

Villages of Kiln Creek Homeowners’ Association  received the award for Safety. The Kiln Creek association was chosen for numerous initiatives that have or soon will result in improved safety for their community, including successfully reducing the level of speeding and hit and run incidents in the neighborhood by posting additional signs about the fines associated with speeding, and installing security cameras to monitor the area and deter would-be criminals.

Kiln Creek also holds regular crime watch meetings and has started an email list to enable crime watch captains and residents to share information when anything happens in the neighborhood.

 Running Man Community Association’s  was selected for the Neighborhood Cooperation and Spirit award. The Running Man association holds many successful community events throughout the year, including a Bicycle Rodeo, an Annual Easter Egg Hunt, Halloween Parade, Annual Yard Sale, block parties and at Christmastime, the Luminary Gift to the County, in which almost 100 percent of the homes participate.

In addition to scheduled community events, residents of the Running Man community are often seen running and walking in their neighborhood, waving hello to neighbors working in their yards. Many neighbors are involved with the Neighborhood Watch program, and several are very active in county service.

Yorkshire Downs Master Association received the award  for Beautification. Over the past year, Yorkshire Downs’ Board of Directors has actively pursued all options within the budget to increase the aesthetics of the community. As well as undertaking ongoing maintenance and repairs within the community, the association has restored a number of areas such as the club house, swimming pool, bridge and retention pond.

One of the larger projects included the installation of new playgrounds and lighting at both the swimming pool and town homes locations. But the largest and most impressive single project is the installation of a walking pier and reinforcement of a bulk head behind Clydesdale Drive. The intention of this installation was to reduce severe shoreline erosion, which has become quite a hazardous issue for residents over time. The walking pier is not only a creative resolution to safety-related problems, but also serves to further improve the appearance of the community.

The York County Virginia Neighborhood of the Year awards program were initiated in 2002 following a request by several homeowner associations to recognize and highlight the efforts of the county’s homeowners to improve their communities. 

I applaud all of these communities for their awards. Being a board member and active volunteer in my own neighborhood Windsor Forest) in  Williamsburg/ James City County VA. I understand how difficult it can be to get things accomplished in a neighborhood.

Free Homeowner Workshop on Thursday, Sept. 25  

Freddie Mac, BB&T Bank and the York County Virginia Department of Community Services/Housing Division are partnering to sponsor a “Get the Facts: Dispelling the Myths of Homeownership” workshop.

The future home buyer workshop is to be held Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008 from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. at the Yorktown Library, 8500 George Washington Memorial Hwy (Rt. 17), in Yorktown, VA.

Attend this free “Get the Facts” workshop to learn what it takes to become a homeowner. There will be no confusing jargon, no fine print and no sales pitch, just the information you need to better understand your path to homeownership.

For more information, contact the York County Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization Division of the Department of Community Services at 757-890-3885.

Eagle Harbor, Isle of Wight Virginia has now been selected “Community Of The Year” three times by the Peninsula Housing & Builders Association ( PHBA)  Its charm encompasses not only the quality and diversity of homes featured in this unique community, but also in the lifestyle that is experienced by those choosing to live here.

Newport News and downtown Norfolk just a short drive away. In the center of Eagle Harbor in Isle of Wight is Celebration Park, where families and friends come together. Meet your neighbors here, or go fly a kite on the grassy banks of Eagle Lake. Play a round of Garden Golf™, or make a splash at the pool. 

The quality homes at Eagle Harbor are a cut above the rest. Along quaint streets lined with sidewalks and streetlamps, traditional architectural details make way for innovative floor plans you simply will not find in other neighborhoods.

Single family homes range in price from the low $300s to over $674,500. Condominiums start in the low $200s.  Home sizes range from 1200 square foot condos to 4200 square foot detached homes.

Sold home Statistics for Eagle Harbor in Isle of Wight: The price range last 12 months for detached homes in Eagle Harbor ranges from $267,000 to $570,000. The average days on market was 220 days. The average price for square foot was $139.37. The average square footage was 2866. The ratio from list price to sale price was 96%

The price range in the  last 12 months for atached homes/ condos sold in Eagle Harbor ranged from $208,990 to $320,900. The average days on market was 153 days. The average price for square foot was $148.99. The average square footage was 1722. The ratio from list price to sale price was 100%