• psst … I’m a Realtor! Thanks for stopping by my website. I would love to help you find your dream home and community in the Hampton Roads or Williamsburg area or to sell your existing home. This website is 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, WilliamsburgsRealEstate.com and Mr Williamsburg.com were created as a resource for folks who are exploring a move to Williamsburg, VA , Hampton Roads VA and the surrounding areas of the Virginia Peninsula. On his website you can search homes for sale , foreclosures, 55+ active adult communities, condos and town homes , land and commercial property for sale in Williamsburg, Yorktown, New Kent, Poquoson, and Gloucester, VA as well as surrounding markets of Carrolton, Chesapeake,Gloucester, Hampton, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth Mathews, Newport News Norfolk, Poquoson, Smithfield, , Suffolk, Surry, Va Beach, Yorktown and York County Virginia You can reach John by email John@MrWilliamsburg.com or phone @ 757-254-813

Kids Stay, Play & Eat FREE @ Colonial Williamsburg this summer

March 2013-This summer, Colonial Williamsburg is making vacation easy, fun and affordable for families traveling with children under the age of 12. With the Kids Stay, Play and Eat Free offer, travelers can enjoy a value-loaded getaway to the Revolutionary City and take part in countless exciting programs, seasonal offerings, and special activities. Debuting in June, RevQuest: The Black Chambers, the new chapter of Colonial Williamsburg’s interactive, text message-based spy adventure, will take visitors on a secret quest to identify the foes to liberty.

Families will enjoy the excitement provided by this new summer offer, starting at $78 per adult, per night, featuring:

duke of gloucesterInteractive storytelling, hands-on programs, musical performances, walking tours and fun recreational activities make Colonial Williamsburg the best headquarters for a summer vacation.

This offer is also available at The Williamsburg Lodge, starting at $90 per adult, per night. Pricing is based on double occupancy and a minimum three-night stay is required. Pricing varies with room type and arrival date. The Kids Stay, Play and Eat Free offer is valid for up to four children per room with a paying adult.

For more information, visit http://www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/summerfree.

Note if you are a local read about the $10 annual Good Neighbor Pass to Colonial Williamsburg here

Good Neighbor Passes included

  • Unlimited admission to the Revolutionary City—35 Historic Area sites and 19 trade shops
  • Access to  three world-class art museums
  • Complimentary shuttle service
  • 10% off your purchases* at official Colonial Williamsburg stores, everyday!
  • 25% off tickets for most tours, evening programs, and carriage rides
  • 25% off up to 20 general admission passes each year per household for your friends and family
  • 10% discount on Busch Gardens & Water Country USA single-day admission tickets
  • Special Offers & Events
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Williamsburg VA Summer Breeze Concert Series 2009

merchantssquare1 Returning for the 18th season, Summer Breeze features a solid line-up of popular local and regional bands Wednesday nights  from 7 to 9 p.m., All concerts are free .

These concerts are always a fun way to spend a Wednesday evening with Family and friends.  Bring your dancing shoes and a chair, grab some sandwiches from The Cheese Shop and have a picnic.

The concerts are held in the middle of tree-lined Duke of Gloucester Street. During the months of July and August. The fun gets started on July 2 with an Independence Day Concert.

 

You can find the 2009 Summer Breeze concert schedule below. This program is sponsored in cooperation with the City of Williamsburg, Merchants Square Association and York County Arts Commission.

Summer Breeze Concert Schedule – July & August 2009:

Concert Dates: Concert Times: Performances By:
July 2 7:00-8:30 p.m.

USAF Heritage of America Band
Independence Day Concert

July 8 7:00-9:30 p.m. Charles Darden Jazz Group
July 15 7:00-9:30 p.m. Slapwater
July 22 7:00-9:30 p.m. Jae Sinnett Trio
July 29 7:00-9:30 p.m. Stingrays
August 5 7:00-8:30 p.m. USAF Heritage of America Concert Band
August 12 7:00-8:30 p.m. USAF Satellite Popular Music Combo
August 19 7:00-8:30 p.m. USAF Vector Brass Ensemble
August 26 7:00-8:30 p.m. USAF Heritage of America Concert Band

Click for a Location Map of Merchants Square in Colonial Williamsburg, VA

 

View Merchants Square , Colonial Williamsburg, VA in a larger map

Free Outdoor Movies in Williamsburg, VA

 

They’re back – for the 4th Summer in a row!  Sunday night at the movies – ABSOLUTELY FREE!

Through the generosity of local business people – like Joe at Middle Peninsula Insurance, Mark & Marshall at Chesapeake Bank, Billy & Sharon at The Fife & Drum Inn, Blue Talon Bistro as well as The City of Williamsburg, VA and Merchants Square – They are able to bring a series of films to downtown Williamsburg every Sunday night, all summer long.  If you aren’t familiar with the program, ask around!  The films are intended to be fun for the whole family .

The truth is, there aren’t a lot of places that still have the small town charm and sense of community that are needed to pull this off.  Hopefully all of you will have time to check out at least one of the offerings this summer.  We will be showing everything from The Wizard of Oz to Jaws, from To Catch a Thief to Rocky, even from Kung Fu Panda to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.  When was the last time you sat back and had this much fun on a Sunday night?

All you need is a lawn chair or a blanket and you are off to the movies!

moviesincolonialwilliamsburg

The movies are shown – outside on Prince George St., on Sunday nights at sunset or a little after.

We all look forward to another great summer of movies and we hope you’ll join us!

Don’t forget, bring a lawn chair or blanket.

Explore the other stores at Merchants Square in Williamsburg, VA here

 

Upcoming Films for 2009 include:

June 21: Wizard of Oz

June 28: Iron Man

July 5: Jaws

July 12: Kung Fu Panda

July 19: To Catch a Thief

July 26: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

August 2: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

August 9: Rocky

August 16: Wall-e

August 23: Thunderball (Sean Connery as James Bond)

August 30: The Sting

 

Location Map of Merchants Square , Colonial Williamsburg, VA

View Duke of Gloucester St, Williamsburg, VA- Merchants Square in a larger map

Governors Land Neighborhood Spotlight Williamsburg VA

gl10In Williamsburg, Virginia, the gold  standard for private country club communities has been set – Governor’s Land. Only seven short miles from Colonial Williamsburg and located where the Chickahominy and James rivers meet, it is private, on the waterfront, and truly a unique living experience. Tall stands of tree, shorelines, and wetlands distinguish the environment of this luxury residential community and offer leisure and recreational opportunities.

aerialgovernorsland

Driving through the entrance to Governor’s Land shows you why people who  clicktosearchhomesforsalepreviously lived all over the country have chosen to make that area their home, or have bought real estate there for their vacation needs. The area is not a retirement community, nor is it a resort. It’s friendly, it’s relaxed, and it’s already home to interesting people with varied backgrounds and professions, as well as people of all ages. They have come together in Williamsburg, Virginia at Governor’s Land because they want to enjoy the  unique lifestyle offered there.Governorslandwilliamsburgva

No matter whether you like Federal, Colonial, or Georgian architectural styles, there is an exceptional array of all three in Governor’s Land, and the homes and available building sites within the borders of the community are surrounded by tidal marshlands, water, meadowland, mature forests, and the fairways of the golf course. Tennis, two areas for swimming, a yacht club, 18 holes of golf, a marina, more than ten miles of trails on which to bike or walk, a  Country Club owned by the members and overlooking the Chickahominy and James rivers, and exercise facilities are all available.

governorslandrealestate

Green space is a commitment for the community. Sixty percent of the more than 1,400 acres has been dedicated to it. There will only be 733 homes built so that residents won’t lose out on their ability to explore 200 acres of beach and wildlife sanctuary along with the miles of existing nature trails. The James and Chickahominy rivers give residents more than four miles of shoreline that they can walk along and admire the  beauty. If they want more physical activity than a stroll, Governor’s Land also offers a lot of amenities for them to enjoy.

governorslandaerialgolf_edited

Golf – Tom Fazio, voted Golf Architect of the Year three times, designed the Governor’s Land course, which has twice received the ‘Top 10 course in Virginia’ ranking from Golf Digest. The Two Rivers Country Club golf course takes players through tidal marshlands and hardwood forests, along 1,000 yards of river frontage, and past crystalline lakes. There are clinics, tournaments, and programs of instructions year round. All abilities and ages are welcome, and Two Rivers is the only private community golf club that  Williamsburg, Virginia has to offer.

clubhousegovernorsland – As a social center, the clubhouse can’t be beat. Activities, gatherings, energy, and laughter are all in store for you there, and There are a lot of scheduled opportunities – as well as more informal ones – to enjoy. Some of these include Poker, Mah Jongg, Bridge, Pasta Night, Sundae Sunsets, speaker forums, and great dinners with seasonal fare in the River Room. If you have a boat up to 50  feet in length the marina in a protected private harbor is a safe place for it, and there is a well-maintained boat ramp for smaller, trailered boats.

The Clubhouse and Marina

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Beach– For those who just want a day to relax, have a party, or enjoy a cookout or picnic, the beauty of Governor’s Land’s crescent-shaped sand beach can be a perfect place. Located along the James River shoreline, there is privacy, picnic tables, a grill, an outdoor shower, and an electric power outlet. In addition, the area is easily accessible from the parking area via gentle paths. It’s also a great place for annual events like the Two Rivers Country Club’s Yacht Club Christmas Party, a boat parade, caroling, and a marshmallow roast. Santa on an offshore barge is always a hit.beachatgovernorsland_edited

When it comes to safety and security, the staff at Governor’s Land is dedicated. The area is not gated but security is around the clock through surveillance cameras at the property entrance, regular patrols of both common areas and residential neighborhoods, and house checks by request if owners are going to  be away from home.

scenicviewgovernorsland

Only minutes from the downtown area of Williamsburg, Governor’s Land is close to restaurants, shops, medical facilities, and cultural activities. It is also served by three international airports within one-half to one hour – Norfolk, Richmond, and Williamsburg/Newport News.

Select home sites are still available in Governor’s Land, and the Governor’s Land at Two Rivers Homeowner’s Association fee is $635 every three months. There are different membership options available for those who live in Governor’s Land and for residents of Williamsburg. eMail John@MrWilliamsburg.com for details on membership info .

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List prices for homes in Governor’s Land today range from  $529,000 and $8,900,000. The price range for homes sold in the last 12 months was $625,000 to $1,125,000.

Within the past year, the average time on the market was 117 days, and the average price per square foot was $157.00. There are currently 14 homes for sale, and 15 have sold within the last 12 months. James City County Public Schools for Governors Land include Matoaka Elementary, James Blair Middle School, and Jamestown High School.

Click here for public school information

Nearby private schools include Walsingham Academy, Williamsburg Christian Academy, Providence Classical, Williamsburg Montessori ,and  Hampton Roads Academy

I would be happy to arrange tours and interviews with the administration of any of the schools referenced above. Send me an email to arrange.

Get in touch today for more information about the beauty, serenity, and quality of Governor’s Land. Email or call  John@MrWilliamsburg.com for a personal tour of this community.

Additional Information for Governors Land   Click this column for info
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Location Map of Governors Land in Williamsburg VA

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Scenes from around Governors Land in Williamsburg / James City County VA

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Brokaw to speak at W&M commencement

tombrokawwilliamsburgLongtime “NBC Nightly News” anchor Tom Brokaw, one of the most highly regarded figures in broadcast journalism, will receive an honorary degree and deliver the main address at the College of William & Mary Commencement Exercises on May 17, 2009 in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Read more here

Jazz Nite At Aromas in Williamsburg

February 24, 7:30 – 9:30 pm
Yes, Jazz Nite at Aroma’s is back!  The Harris Simon Trio will be joined by guest vocalist Stephanie Nakasian this Tuesday!  No cover charge.    Aroma’s is located on Prince George Street, adjacent to Merchants Square in Williamsburg, VA.

Harris Simon Group with Mike Brecker on iTunes – Swish

Harris Simon Group with Mike Brecker on iTunes – New York Connection

Harris Simon Interview

aromas If you’re looking for a great spot to relax and enjoy a steaming cup of Gourmet coffee or a Frosty and refreshing smoothie …… you’re in luck! Take a seat on the covered patio or venture inside for their World Class coffees to complement your “wakeup breakfast,” leisurely lunch, or casual dinner.

See for yourself why Aromas was voted…Best Coffee Shop in Williamsburg, VA !

It’s the kind of place you always look for when you get in a town. 

Read more about Aroma’s here

Location map of Aromas

Map picture

Upcoming Performances:

Jazz on Tuesday Nights 7:30 to 9:30 PM at Aromas Coffee House 431 Prince George St. Merchant Square Williamsburg, VA 23185
757-221-6676

February 24

Stephanie Nakasian – Vocalist
Harris Simon – Keyboard
Jason Jenkins – Acoustic Bass
Rich Mossman – Drums

March 3

Bob Ransom – Trumpet
Harris Simon – Keyboard
Jason Jenkins – Acoustic Bass
Rich Mossman – Drums

March 17

Stephanie Nakasian – Vocalist
Harris Simon – Keyboard
Jason Jenkins – Acoustic Bass
Billy Williams – Drums

March 24

Stephanie Nakasian – Vocalist
Harris Simon – Keyboard
Jason Jenkins – Acoustic Bass
Billy Williams – Drums

March 31

Bob Ransom – Trumpet
Harris Simon – Keyboard
Jason Jenkins – Acoustic Bass
Billy Williams – Drums

April 7

Bob Ransom – Trumpet
Harris Simon – Keyboard
Jason Jenkins – Acoustic Bass
Rich Mossman – Drums

April 14

Stephanie Nakasian – Vocalist
Harris Simon – Keyboard
Jason Jenkins – Acoustic Bass
Rich Mossman – Drums

April 21

Hermine Pinson – Poet and Vocalist
Harris Simon – Keyboard
Jason Jenkins – Acoustic Bass
Rich Mossman – Drums

April 28

Stephanie Nakasian – Vocalist
Harris Simon – Keyboard
Jason Jenkins – Acoustic Bass
Rich Mossman – Drums

 

Williamsburg VA Real Estate Windsor Forest Neighborhood

 entrancewindsorforest A Master Planned Community ,Windsor Forest  offers  a wide range of custom built resale homes. It is located in James City County area of Williamsburg,  Virginia.

Windsor Forest offers  it’s residents ( who join the association)  a swimming pool, tennis courts, Basketball Court, Soccer Fields, playground and a beautiful clubhouse. An active homeowner association has many  social events throughout the year.

wfhomeswilliamsburgva5_edited Detached homes offered in Windsor Forest in Williamsburg, James City County offer a wide array of architectural styles  and  home choices. From 3 bedrooms to 5+ bedroom models. Square footages ranges from 2000+ to over 5000 square feet.

The idyllic setting is one of the major amenities that attracts home buyers to the Windsor Forest Neighborhood just off Longhill Rd near Lafayette High School. poolwindsorforest The natural wooded setting and the protective greenbelts and scenic easements surrounding the neighborhood are also part of the drawing card.

Leaving Windsor Forest in its natural state was the  idea and hope of local developer  Robert S. Hornsby for the 321 acre tract of land he started developing in 1971. He purchased the land from Frank and Lester Bozarth, and put in roads, street lights, and lots all designed to leave as many trees as possible to protect the privacy of the residents.

wfclubhouse Currently there are seven homes for sale in Windsor Forest in James City County, Williamsburg VA. The prices range from $279,900 to $495,000

In the last 12 months there were ten homes sold in Windsor Forest. Sold prices ranged from $308,000 to $469,000.

The average days on market for a Windsor Forest home in the last 12 months was 73 days.

If you want to see all homes currently for sale in Windsor Forest, Williamsburg , Virginia click here:

Located on approximately 400 acres, Around 340 homes have been built so far.

wfhomeswilliamsburgva8 Home construction in Windsor Forest started in the 1970’s and continued on until the mid 2000’s . The annual home owner Assoc dues are  $175 . It covers all common Area Maintenance ( entrances, playgrounds, park areas , clubhouse, basketball courts and tennis courts) Pool Memberships are optional .

From the chart below you will see that  sale prices in 2008 ranged from $308,000 to $469,000 . List prices as of today range from $259,900 to $495,000. The average days on market for  homes in Windsor Forest in the last 12 months was 88 days . The average price per square foot on homes sold in Windsor Forest in the last 12 months was $149.14 . 10 homes sold in Windsor Forest  in the last 12 months. 6 homes are currently for sale.

Current Williamsburg/ James City County Schools for Windsor Forest Neighborhood are J. Blayton  Elementary, Lois Hornsby Middle and Lafayette High School

You can explore the Windsor Forest Homeowner Association Website here

Click here to Search all homes for sale in Windsor Forest

Click here to search all Williamsburg, James City, York County,New Kent , Gloucester homes for sale currently listed in the WMLS

Current Sales activity in Windsor Forest (Statistics from WAAR WMLS) as of Feb 21, 2009 for the previous 12 months

 
         
         
Low, Average, Median, and High Comparisons
  Closed Active Overall
Low $308,000 $259,900 $259,900
Average $372,986 $357,267 $367,091
Median $364,000 $359,450 $364,000
High $469,000 $495,000 $495,000
       
         
         

Location Map of The Windsor Forest  Community in Williamsburg, VA

Map picture

Are you looking for real estate homes for sale in Windsor Forest, Williamsburg county, Virginia? View recently listed real estate properties in Windsor Forest and surrounding areas or contact Mr Williamsburg a Williamsburg VA Realtor to help you find or buy your new Windsor Forest neighborhood home. We have hundreds of listings including new construction, new homes and waterfront. If you are relocating to Williamsburg ,Virginia contact us today for a free relocation package. We receive new listings everyday, so check back regularly!

The Mews Town home community-Williamsburg VA

The definition of mews :
a. A group of buildings originally containing private stables, often converted into residential apartments.
b. A small street, alley, or courtyard on which such buildings stand

A fitting description for “The Mews” in Williamsburg, James City County, VA.

With the feel of a village in Europe ,The Mews in James City County offers a wide array of town home choices. From 2 bedrooms to 4 bedroom models. Square footage ranges from 1300+ to over 2000 square feet. A few models were built with basements.
mews111One of the most scenic points in the community of The Mews is the Lake. It’s observation pier is the perfect place to watch relax and enjoy the sunset or watch the ducks frolic in the fountain. There is a trail that meanders around the lake for those who want to walk the neighborhood.

Offering a clubhouse, pool and tennis , town homes in the Mews are perfect for second home buyers and families alike.

mews2222 The are approximately 111 town homes in the Mews, constructed  between 1987 and 1994 . The quarterly home owner fee in The Mews is $314 and covers all Yard Maintenance, Common Area Maintenance, Garbage removal Use of the  Pool, Clubhouse , Tennis and maintenance of those  facilities.

mewsclubhouse.jpegFrom the chart below you will see that  sale prices in 2008 ranged from$145,000 to $264,000. List prices as of today range from $223,000 to $269,000. The average days on market for town homes in the Mews in the last 12 months was 151 days.

View of video of The Mews Town Home community in Williamsburg, VA

Current James City County/ Williamsburg Schools for The Mews are DJ Montague Elementary, James Blair Middle and Warhill High School

Click here to Search all homes for sale in The Mews

Click here to search all town homes and condos for sale in the Williamsburg, VA area

Click here to search all Williamsburg, James City, York County,New Kent , Gloucester homes for sale currently listed in the WMLS

Current Sales activity in The Mews (Statistics from WAAR WMLS)

Low, Average, Median, and High Comparisons
  Closed Active Overall
Low $145,000 $223,000 $145,000
Average $210,975 $239,071 $224,087
Median $217,500 $225,000 $224,000
High $264,000 $269,900 $269,900

Location Map of The Mews in Williamsburg, VA

Map picture

mewspool mews1111

Click the link below to “Take a drive thru The Mews in Williamsburg, VA using Google Street View”

View Larger Map

Call or email John Womeldorf/ Mr Williamsburg with any questions about Williamsburg, VA Real Estate.

John@MrWilliamsburg.com

757 254 8136

Ford’s Colony Community Spotlight- Williamsburg, VA

fordscolonywilliamsburgva Ford’s Colony is a gated golf community located in Williamsburg /James City County , Virginia. Offering  three 18-hole golf courses all designed by Dan Maples, that weave throughout  the community giving golfers a challenging place to test their game.  Ford’s Colony features two swimming pools, tennis courts, walking trails, and a clubhouse. Residents can enjoy an active lifestyle without leaving their neighborhood! Homes in this community range in price from $295K to $2.5 million.

Recently voted the number one master planned community in the United States, Ford’s Colony in historic Williamsburg, Virginia is a relaxed and graciousfcgc community offering a variety of home styles and amenities.
The hub of activity in the center of this 3,000-acre community is the Country Club, complete with award winning dining, meeting rooms, and a full-service Golf Pro shop. The Dining Room in the Country Club has repeatedly received the AAA Five Diamond award.

Continue reading

Senate Unanimously Approves Isakson Amendment to Stimulate Housing Market Homebuyer Tax Credit Revived Market in 1975 and Would Work Today

 

Sen. Johnny Isakson of Georgia has proposed a tax credit of up to $15,000 for homebuyers.

Here is a press release from his website:

The U.S. Senate today unanimously approved an amendment by U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., to stimulate the nation’s declining housing market by offering a $15,000 tax credit to individuals who purchase a home in the next year.

“It is time to fix America’s problem, not throw money at the symptoms. It is time to fix housing first. It is rare that we have a road map to success in times of difficulty, but this country has once before realized a housing crisis every bit as bad as the one we have today and economic troubles every bit as dangerous,” Isakson said. “We have a pervasive housing problem, and we have a historical precedent that works. I am proud this Senate has joined together, learned from history and repeated a method that worked by adopting this amendment.”

Specifically, Isakson’s amendment to the pending economic stimulus bill would provide a direct tax credit to any homebuyer who purchases any home. The amount of the tax credit would be $15,000 or 10 percent of the purchase price, whichever is less. Purchases must be made within one year of the legislation’s enactment, and the tax credit would not have to be repaid.

The amendment would allow taxpayers to claim the credit on their 2008 income tax return. It also seeks to prevent misuse by only allowing purchases of a principle residence and by recapturing the credit if the home is sold within two years of purchase. The amendment would sunset the current $7,500 housing tax credit on the date of enactment.

Isakson has pushed hard for a non-repayable tax credit for homebuyers because he knows that it will work. In the mid-1970s, America faced a similar housing crisis when a period of easy credit and loose underwriting flooded the market with new construction.  Interest rates rose, the economy slowed and America was left with a three-year supply of vacant homes. Congress responded by passing a $2,000 tax credit for anyone purchasing a new home for their principal residence. Isakson believes the results were clear and swift as home values stabilized, housing inventory dropped and the market recovered.

Last year, Isakson introduced legislation to specifically target those homes that were causing the unprecedented increase in housing inventory by offering tax credits to individuals purchasing a foreclosed home or a home where foreclosure is pending. In April 2008, the Senate passed legislation to stimulate the nation’s declining housing market that included Isakson’s proposal. However, the final version of the legislation that was signed into law included only a $7,500 tax credit for first-time homebuyers that must be repaid over a 15-year period. Isakson’s amendment that passed today would sunset that $7,500 tax credit.

 

Isakson has not made a decision regarding his vote on the overall economic stimulus legislation.

Williamsburg VA – Job Fair

The Greater Williamsburg, VA. Chamber & Tourism Alliance will bring prospective employers and workers together at its 23rd Annual Williamsburg Area Job Fair.

Job seekers can submit applications and meet and interview with representatives of area businesses and organizations. Local employers are expected to offer full-time, part-time and seasonal employment in areas such
as hotel and restaurant services, management, administrative support
staff, accounting, marketing, retail sales, housekeeping, nursing
and education.

The job fair will be held Wednesday, Feb. 18 2009, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Woodlands Conference Center.

Location: 105 Visitor Center Dr, Williamsburg, VA 23195

Map:

 

View Larger Map

White Hall Neighborhood Spotlight-Toano VA

White Hall in Toano, VA near Williamsburg is one of HHHunt’s newest master-planned communities. Here you will find a small, quaint community where you can live a rich, full life. At White Hall, you will choose from a variety of home styles that blend with the area’s distinctive architecture, at prices that are quite reasonable.

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At White Hall you’ll find a variety of new home styles starting in the $ 130’s.

A master-planned community in a pristine, rural setting, White Hall will offer a variety of single-family homes, town homes and town home-style condominiums perfectly suited for professionals, families and seniors who cherish their time at home — without compromising on seemingly infinite cultural, dining, shopping and entertainment opportunities just minutes away.

White Hall has been designed to maximize natural spaces, with the community being centered around a large, centrally located park. A strong pedestrian focus will provide an outstanding environment for homeowners and encourage activity and community interaction.  The centerpiece of the Whitehall community will be a restored farmhouse.

Facts about White Hall :

Set on 139 acres in the western part of James City County White Hall will have hickoryneckchurchover 58 acres of parks for the community with it’s features include the Historic Farmhouse clubhouse, Two Ponds,Rolling Topography. Adjacent properties are two schools, Stonehouse Elementary and Williamsburg Christian Academy
an historic church ( Hickory Neck Church)  and farms.

The original property known today as Whitehall Plantation stands about 75 yards east of the point where VA Route 30 and US Route 60 intersect, near Toano in James City County. Built for William Geddy in 1805-06. Whitehall represents more than two centuries of nearly continuous occupation by the Geddy family. The Farmhouse on the property will  become the focal point and central feature in this residential community.

The Weatherly House at White Hall which will become the clubhouse at White Hall

The farmhouse and park comprise approximately 40% of the total site which also include two ponds, a creek, multi purpose playing field,nature trails and the community amenity center.
Streets are arranged in a traditional Tidewater Virginia manner with a variety of lot sizes. Most homes have alleys and many front the parks and open space. Along Route 60, a view corridor to the farmhouse and adjacent historic church is enhanced by a significant amount of land that will continue to be farmed.

Weatherly at White Hall, offers town home-style condos by HHHunt Homes, all of which are low-maintenance anf EarthCraft certified.

These open floor plans include 2-3 bedrooms, 2 ½ baths, lofts, and kitchens with breakfast nooks,and are priced from the $130,000’s.
The Townes at White Hall, by HHHunt Homes and Ryan Homes, feature two- and three-story town homes offering low-maintenance living with 3-4 bedrooms, 2 full baths, spacious living room and dining rooms in addition to 1- or 2-car garages, priced from under $200,000.

Schools for the White Hall community are:   Stonehouse Elementary, Toano Middle School and Warhill High.

Warhill HS will offer HS students the ability to take college classes at the adjacent campus of Thomas Nelson Community College. Stonehouse Elementary is one of the top rated schools in James City County.

Single-Family Homes by HHHunt Homes and Ryan Homes feature comfortable layouts with elegant kitchens and baths, plus spacious living areas, priced from under $250,000.

Click here to search all homes, condos, town homes for sale in the White hall community in Toano, near Williamsburg VA- James City County

View Larger MapWhite_Hall_plat_0001

UPDATE JUNE 2010:

See more photos of White Hall here

HH Hunt starts construction of detached and town homes at White Hall

hh hunt whitehall toano va

RECENT PICTURES June 2010

ryan homes white hall toano va

whitehall toano va

ryan homes white hall toano va

History:

The original White Hall Tavern was built in 1805 by William Geddy, who was an upper middle class planter and blacksmith. He built the home for his son (james Geddy) who was a silversmith, and the purpose of the home was to represent “the improving quality of housing for all Virginians during the early Republican period.” Tax records have indicated that because William Geddy was a wealthy planter, he most likely possessed a number of adult slaves as well.

During the mid-1800s in the midst of the United States Civil War, the plantation home served as a site crucial to the Confederate Army. Due to its convenient location within a somewhat close proximity to Richmond, the capital of the Confederacy, it was a site that provided important intelligence gathering and distribution of information pertinent to the South’s advancement in the war.

The 200 acres of surrounding land had been in the family since the 1760’s. The United States Department of the Interior declared it a national historical landmark in 2007.

psst … I’m a Realtor! Thanks for stopping by my website. I  would love to help you find your dream home and community in the Hampton Roads or Williamsburg areas of Virginia or to sell your existing home.

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 the Williamsburg/ Hampton Roads area and  and his expertise in the local real estate market.

His websites, WilliamsburgsRealEstate.com and Mr Williamsburg.com were created as a resource for folks who are exploring a move to Williamsburg, VA , Hampton Roads VA and the  surrounding areas of the Virginia Peninsula.

Here you can search homes for sale , active adult communities, 55+ communities,condos and townhomes , foreclosures/ REO,  land, building lots, commercial property  in Williamsburg , Yorktown, New Kent, Gloucester, Poquoson as well as the surrounding areas of Hampton Roads, Virginia
You can reach John by phone at 757-254-8136 or email him at John@MrWilliamsburg.com

I look forward to serving your real estate needs!

Best,

John

Te

Williamsburg VA Real Estate- Condos/ Town Homes

Mr Williamsburg :My wife and I are considering Williamsburg VA as a place to relocate to. We are looking for one floor living under $250k. What communities and homes would you recommend ?

Answer: First I would want to know a little more about what you are looking for . How many bedrooms ? How many square feet ? Is an attached home ok ?  Where do you want to be ?  Do you want a garage ? Close to the outlets ? Close to Golf ? Close to New Town ? It also depends on when you want to move. As of today here are a few choices to consider. Do you want to be in a 55+ active Adult community ? or a neighborhood with kids and neighbors of all ages ?

These are my favorites and everybody has their own likes and dislikes..

Braemar_2 If you, want to be surrounded by a golf course and are ok with a brand new 1244 sq foot 2 bedroom first floor condo without a garage.  I would suggest Braemar Creek. It’s only 2.5 miles from Monticello Marketplace with Grocery Stores, Restaurants, banks, Target and most other needs. New Town is approximate 3 miles away with it’s 19 places to eat, 12 screen movie theater, Barnes and Noble, many shops , Doctors , dentists and just about any business you would want including a Trader Joe’s.. The HOA at Braemar Creek is $148 a month.  Taxes are approximate $1700 a year as of 2008. Braemar Creek as a very nice clubhouse with kitchen, big screen TV, fireplace, patio overlooking the pool, tennis courts, playground . Not sure if it’s allowed but my happy clients who have bought there ( I can put you in touch with them for first person recommendations ) walk the Williamsburg National Golf course which is adjacent to Braemar Creek. 

Here are a few pictures and floor plans of the homes at Braemar Creek

 

Click here to search all new and resale condo/ town homes for sale at Braemar Creek in Williamsburg VA

#2 recommendations would be Fairway Villas within a 1/4 mile of Braemar Creek surrounded by woods, close to everything above. Resale @ $200k  , pool, tennis.  HOA is $145 monthly and includes all exterior maintenance of home and yard, use of pool, tennis, trash collection.

Click this link to go to Google Street Views and you can pretend you are driving around the community:  You have to try it if you haven’t used it before !

Call me if you can’t it figure it out I can walk you thru how to use it.

Here are all the condo/ town homes available for sale in Fairway Villas

5555555555555555_edited #3 would be Claiborne on Richmond Rd.  By the way all of the communities were built by the same builder Fransicus Homes.( well respected quality builder in the area) So they all have similar floor plans.  The main difference is the location and amenities. Claiborne has a clubhouse only, no pool or tennis. It’s a little closer to CW, very close to the Outback Restaurant on Richmond Rd. There is one resale there for $208k, 1429 sq feet, 2 bedroom, HOA is $165 monthly. This is the only one in The City of Williamsburg which has a lower tax rate than the others in James City County.. .54 per $100 versus .77 per $100

Here are all the available condos/ town homes currently available in the Claiborne Community of Williamsburg VA

Taxes are only $1230 annually as of 2008. 

Here is a Google Street View of Claiborne.

There are a few others that have a first floor configuration. Bristol Commons next to High Street. I only mentioned the top choices that have availability at present.

Click here to search all new and resale homes , town homes, condos for sale in 55+ active adult communities in the Williamsburg VA area

 

Click here to search all new and resale condos and town homes for sale in the Williamsburg/ James City County/ York County areas of Virginia

 

 ch6 Lastly if you want a garage ( most of my clients do )   That’s another list altogether but prices will start at around $260k. If you increase your price range slightly to $275,000 that brings up a lot more possibilities. There area few home currently available in the 55+ active adult community of Colonial Heritage. All homes are almost maintenance free. All have first floor living. The community of Colonial Heritage in Williamsburg VA offers many different social clubs, indoor and outdoor pools, fitness centers a grand 26,000 square foot clubhouse with restaurant, meeting rooms, ballroom, library and much more. an 18 hole golf course is available. You don’t have to be a country club member to play. ( golf fees are optional and not required of home owners in Colonial Heritage) It is quickly becoming a very popular place to live in the Williamsburg VA area.

One other 55+ active adult community in Williamsburg VA that will not appear in the Williamsburg VA MLS/ home search above is the Villas at Five Forks.

You can click here to read information about Villas at Five Forks in Williamsburg VA prices start below $290,000

 

Click here to search all new and resale homes , town homes, condos for sale in 55+ active adult communities in the Williamsburg VA area

Note: Once you open any of the searches you can sort them by:

Price (high to low) Price (low to high) or Bedrooms (high to low) Bedrooms (low to high) or Sq. ft. (high to low) Sq. ft. (low to high) or Date Listed (new to old) Date Listed (old to new)  All by clicking the   icon that looks like this :

 Sort by: Price (high to low) Price (low to high) Bedrooms (high to low) Bedrooms (low to high) Sq. ft. (high to low) Sq. ft. (low to high) Date Listed (new to old) Date Listed (old to new)

One point I would like to make. I would never try to sell someone a more expensive home. A common thread I have noticed with most people I work with is, They always start low. ( which I can understand)  Quite a few will start in one range and then increase to a higher point to find what they like. Since they don’t know the price range of the area they will always start low.

By moving up in price from $250k to $270k and below you open up a lot more possibilities in communities and homes with  garages and other features. Also remember the prices you are seeing on my website are typically negotiable and simply a starting point. ( note: no two sellers are alike)

If you would like/ appreciate Colonial Heritage there is a detached home in there for $269k list price. I would bet it can be bought for less. Interesting the lowest price sale in the last 12 months was $280K

It’s interesting there is always a 50/50 split on where the folks I work with want to live.
One group does not want to live with a bunch of old fogies…

The others do !

Hope this helps

Call me or email me for further information, a personal tour or to receive an updated list of all homes that fit your criteria.

Cheers,

John

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Why we love living in Williamsburg VA

Ok. It’s been awhile . I am plagiarizing myself from an earlier post.

Reasons We like living in Williamsburg, VA

Voted one of the Top 5 Best places to retire by Money Magazine ( when we reach that age)
Good neighbor passes to Colonial Williamsburg
Grand Illumination at Christmas
Great Wolf Lodge
Farmers Market on Duke on Gloucester St
Kimball Theater
Williamsburg Regional Library Concert series
Williamsburg/ James City County School System
Colonial Parkway from Jamestown to Yorktown
Williamsburg Winery/ Wedmore Place
Dinner at Chownings Tavern/ Fat Canary/ Blue Talon/ Opus 9
Desert at the Trellis ” Death by Chocolate”
Capital to Capital Bicycle Trail
Muscarelle Museum of Art
Dewey Decibel Concert Series at the Williamsburg Library Theatre
Golf at Golden Horshoe Golf Club, Williamsburg National, Stonehouse, Kiskiak, etc 17 Local Courses
First Night Williamsburg
County Recreation Center
Grocery Shopping at Ukrops, The Fresh Market, Trader Joes
An Occasion for the Arts
Brewster’s Ice Cream
SUMMER BREEZE CONCERT SERIES Concerts on Duke of Gloucester Street
Shopping at Prime Outlets, Merchants Square, Williamsburg Pottery
Bush Neck Farm – Pick-your-own strawberries, apples, blueberries, asparagus, sweet corn, peaches, pumpkins.
Busch Gardens Seasons Passes “Howl-Scream”
Water Country
The Plantations along Rt 5 , Shirley, Sherwood, Berkley etc.
Williamsburg Ale Werks Williamsburg’s only Microbrewery
William & Mary Football/ Tailgate Parties in the Fall
Mountain Bike Trails Freedom Park, New Quarter Park York River State Park
Kayaking/ paddle boats at Chickahominy Riverfront Park, Waller Mill Park and Little Creek Reservoir
Concerts at the newly renovated amphitheater at William & Mary
Paul’s Deli, Greenleafe Cafe
The wonderful playground Kidsburg/ Mid County Park
Skate Park at JCC Rec Center
New Town and it’s wonderful shops and restaurants
Prime Outlets
Phi Beta Kappa Hall – Performing Arts Series
Ewell Hall, Department of Music – Performing Arts Series
Christopher Wren Society at William and Mary
Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Classics at St. Bede Concert Series
The Virginia Arts Festival presents performances by the world’s top-flight artists in classical music, dance, theatre and jazz.
The Williamsburg Symphonia, Classical Music Series
Virginia Shakespeare Festival @ W&M
Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum
Dewitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum
at Colonial Williamsburg
Aromas Coffeehouse
An Occasion for the Arts
Colonial Polo Cup
Tavern Ghost Walks in Colonial Williamsburg
“Revolutionary City,”
Spending the night in a Colonial Home in Williamsburg
4th of July fireworks at Busch Gardens and Colonial Williamsburg
The Spa of Colonial Williamsburg
McCormick-Nagelsen Tennis Center
Spending the night at the Williamsburg Inn or Lodge
Youth Sports Teams: Baseball, Soccer, Lacrosse, Swimming, Football, Volleyball, Wrestling, Karate, Ballet, gymnastics, etc.
WISC (Williamsburg Indoor Sports Center)
Blueberry pancakes at Chickahominy House
Christmas Parade in Colonial Williamsburg
Tide Radio and WBACH radio stations and WRRW
William & Mary College”The second Oldest College in the U.S.
Kingsmill, Fords Colony, Governors Land, Stonehouse, Greensprings neighborhoods all with wonderful golf facilities.
Rock and Roll half Marathon in VA Beach
Shamrock Marathon in VA Beach
Paul Shagrue ” Out of the Box on 89.5
North End of Va Beach Ocean Front
VA Living Museum
Hampton Bay Days
Mariners Museum
ECSC East Coast Surfing Championships at VA Beach
Proximity to the Mountains/ Skiing
Proximity to Va Beach and the Outer Banks
Harborfest in Norfolk
Ghent in Norfolk
Sandler Center for the Performing Arts in VB
Ferguson Center in NN
nTelos Pavilion in Portsmouth
Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Va Beach
VA Aquarium
Sailing on the Chesapeake Bay
Rafting up on the Chickahominy
Boating on the Chick and realizing it looks just like it did in 1607 ( they filmed the movie here)

Relatively low taxes..

Williamsburg VA-Restaurant Week Jan 25-Feb 1,2009

Williamsburg VA Restaurant Week featuring some of the best  in town Sun, Jan 25, 2009 until Sun, Feb 1, 2009

The Williamsburg Area Restaurant Association presents the 3rd Annual Williamsburg Restaurant Week. Celebrate the New Year and off season by dining at a selection of more than twenty restaurants offering dining at a fraction of the price. Two-course prix fixe lunch menus are $10.09 and three-course prix fixe dinner menus are $20.09 or $30.09. Tax, alcohol and gratuity not included. Reservations suggested for dinner.

More information visit: http://www.williamsburgarearestaurants.com

2009. 
Enjoy Williamsburg’s finest dining at a fraction of the price…
Select from two course prix fixe lunch menus for $10.09
and three course prix fixe dinner menus for $20.09 or $30.09

Here is a list of participating restaurants in the Williamsburg VA Area

    415 Grill at the Williamsburg Hospitality House * L/D $20.09
    Backfin Seafood Restaurant * D $20.09
    Berret’s Seafood Restaurant * L/D $20.09
    Black Angus Grille * D $20.09
    Blue Talon Bistro * L/D $20.09
    Buon Amici * L/D $20.09
    Capitol Pancake House * L
    Cities Grille * D $20.09
    Dudley’s Farmhouse Grille * L/D $30.09
    Gaberial Archer Tavern * L/D $20.09
       (at the Williamsburg Winery)
    Giuseppe’s Italian Café * L/D $20.09
    LeYaca * D $30.09
    The Magnolia Dining Room * L/D $20.09
       (at Colonial Heritage)
    Opus 9 Steakhouse * L/D $30.09
    Outback Steakhouse * D $20.09
    Riverwalk Restaurant * L/D $20.09
    Shackleford’s II Restaurant & Raw Bar * D $20.09
    Spectator’s Family Sports Pub * L/D $20.09
    The Trellis * D $30.09
    *Beverage*Alcohol*Tax*Gratuity not included
    *Reservations suggested
    *May not be combined with any other promotions or discounts.

Explore the menu’s here

.

Email:
info@williamsburgarearestaurants.com

Foreclosures/ REO – Williamsburg VA

Coming soon. Not yet listed. Williamsburg VA Foreclosures/ REO/ Short Sales, James City County VA/ York County , VA.

Address:  LOW RIDGE, WILLIAMSBURG, VA, Penniman East, almost 2000 square feet, 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath, built in 2001, priced below $240k

____________________________________________________

Address:  SMALLPAGE TR, Pointe at Jamestown, WILLIAMSBURG, VA
     4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths,   Price: 324,880.00

____________________________________________________

Address:  QUEEN BISHOP LN, WILLIAMSBURG, VA, Off of Jamestown Rd

3 Bedroom with loft, very open floor plan, Lake Powell Point, Built in 2004, located on a cul de sac. Price TBD

____________________________________________________

For further information on any of these properties or updates on foreclosures/ REO’s in the Williamsburg or greater Hampton Roads, VA. area contact John Womeldorf     John@MrWilliamsburg.com  or on his website www.MrWilliamsburg.com

mrwmbglogo.jpeg

John Womeldorf is Mr. Williamsburg, sharing his thoughts, real estate expertise, and “all things Williamsburg” in an effort to spread the word that Williamsburg and Hampton Roads, Virginia is the greatest place on earth to live!

This informational update provided by Mr Williamsburg.com/ John Womeldorf . A local Realtor assisting home buyers and sellers in the Hampton Roads and Williamsburg areas of Virginia.

Research the area at www.WilliamsburgsRealEstate.com

Ask any questions about homes, neighborhoods, schools, amenities, recreation , shopping or anything else about the area.

Search Homes for Sale

Click here to Search all homes, town homes, condos and building lots for sale in Williamsburg, James City, New Kent, York, Gloucester, Charles City Virginia

Click here to search all homes, town homes, condos and building lots for sale in Va Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth,Franklin, Sussex, Southhampton, Emporia, Greenville, Mathews, Suffolk, Surry, Smithfield, Newport News, Hampton , Poquoson, Gloucester or York County VA

 

Williamsburg VA 2008 A Year In Review

From an article in the Va Gazette By Cortney Langley  Dec. 2008

The recession slowed the growth of housing and commerce for the first time in 10 years. Still, there was plenty left to propose and oppose.

James City County set out to revise the Comprehensive Plan with various forums and committees taking the public pulse.

A new slow-growth group called J4C produced research papers challenging various assumptions and projects. The outgoing Democratic majority tightened a James City ordinance to expand stream buffers to 300 feet instead of 100. The new Republican majority promptly unwound that and eventually compromised at 225 feet, then defeated the whole measure. The stream buffers were among many disputes in which four of the five members criticized each other as politically partisan. Almost 900 Ford’s Colony residents petitioned to block a big continuing care facility across the road as too big, generating too much traffic and burdening the HOA. They found a zoning loophole to support their case legally.

The HOA agreed not to sue when management backed down on applying full residential rights to those in a proposed senior care facility. Others still opposed the project on grounds of traffic and scale, even after it was scaled back from 944 units to 739. Despite a last-minute gimmick to stop it, the James City supervisors approved, but the financing dried up during the national credit crisis.

Also near Ford’s Colony, a plan for 240 workforce housing units on News Road was pulled back to weave it into the new Comp Plan. It was considered DOA after the continuing care controversy. Ford’s Colony announced Westport as 100 large homesites across Centerville Road but removed from the controversial continuing care facility.

Two-year assessments found York home values up an average of 15%. The Board of Supervisors reduced the real esate tax rate from 69.75 cents per $100 of assessed value to 65.75 cents.

York county administrator James McReynolds said he needed $26 million worth of expansion and new buildings for his various departments.

A new task force promised to have ideas on developing workforce housing by summer. Work languished, but the group plans to take up the mantle in 2009.

High Street scaled back 99 townhouses to 36 in the first phase as real estate sales continued soft. The Movie Tavern theater that was supposed to open by Labor Day was delayed to November, and then to March along with the retail shops. By year-end, two of five apartment buildings at High Street began to be occupied.

Two new sets of stoplights were erected for High Street, bringing the total in greater Williamsburg to 87. Yet very few were synchronized to keep traffic moving.

The Salvation Army set out on a feasibility study for a $6 million complex of teen center, child care, computer lab, food pantry and other services to the community. The site is on Richmond Road near 199.

An extended runway was ruled out at Williamsburg-Jamestown Airport, which seemed to scotch any federal subsidy for acquisition. By year-end, it was going to take more than $3 million to buy the airport or $16 million to rebuild elsewhere. Some citizens were adamantly against James City County putting up the money. The death of co-owner Jean Waltrip complicated matters.

Philip Morris completed the expansion and conversion of the Route 143 plant to make spit-free tobacco. 1,200 acres were put on the market by Williamsburg Pottery, though Kim Maloney clarified the business would remain intact. With no buyers at hand, the property was later taken off the market. Longtime farmer Don Hunt closed Hill Pleasant Farm. He had no plans to sell to developers but asked for the land-use designation to change to mixed-use with the Comp Plan update. The York supervisors compromised on requiring Kiln Creek Golf Club & Resort owner Dick Ashe to cut the grass of its abandoned nine-hole course.

Overcrowding worsened at Stonehouse Elementary, but a 9th school was still two years away.

Pockets of retail vacancies were showing up at Patriot Plaza and were persisting at Williamsburg Crossing.

A revised version of controversial condos were approved on South Henry Street despite criticism that they were out of scale.

Williamsburg Community Chapel spent $15 million to expand to 70,000 square feet with an auditorium for 1,500.

York denied its first mixed-use development of apartments and stores, on Route 17 at Battlefield Road. 10 four-story buildings for mixed use at Route 17 and Battle Road worried York residents as too massive.

The York supervisors were lobbied heavily to approve in a 3-2 vote a house on the Chesapeake Bay that was within the 100-foot Chesapeake Bay resource protection area.

The Honda dealership in Norge sought to expand, but neighbors complained of encroachment. Neighbors in Chisel Run protested Prime Outlets expanding across Olde Towne Road after two dozen older trees were cut down. James City had a raft of road projects, but the state budget was cut in half to $3.5 million. Two James City supervisors had second thoughts about approving a $50 million contract with Newport News Waterworks. It’s good for up to 5 million gallons a day. Water rates raised 12%- 15%, with more to come.

VDOT ramped up its traffic studies in ways that would cost developers more time and money, but slow-growth advocates hailed the move for reflecting a more cumulative impact.

J4C came up with six pages of ways to prevent flooding through improved draining. The crux of the problem was assigning responsibility for flooding after a development is built.

Three days of citizen meetings led to a vision of the Eastern State campus for mixed uses and housing around various mental health components. Sites emerged for at least one new school, an office park, apartments, “Geriatric Square” for research, and faculty housing.

Neighbors near Hubbard Lane protested expansion plans for a mini-warehouse behind James-York Plaza. The Planning Commission recommended denial of the proposal and the application has yet to go to the Board of Supervisors.

Seasons Trace sought a second road out of the subdivision in the event of hurricane flooding.

The city budget was ho-hum except for a 15% hike in water rates to pay Newport News Waterworks in times of need. Last year the rates went up 10% and more hikes are coming, in part to cover costs of the new King William Reservoir. Geologist Gerald Johnson lost his fight to save the last patch of 5-million-year-old fossils along the bluffs of the James River. Kingsmill wanted the site for more homes.

Williamsburg VA Volunteer Opportunities “FISH”

FISH – sounds like part of the dinner menu from last night, but FISH is a local agency that helps those in need by providing food, clothing and transportation to thousands of people in the community each year.  The agency is run entirely by volunteers. 

Fish offers help to local families throughout our community. A family or person in need may receive food such as dry ingredients, canned goods and infant formula, along with sanitation supplies on a monthly basis. Throughout the year FISH offers clothing and household goods. FISH offers their services with the help of hundreds of community volunteers. These folks interact with the families and individuals who come to FISH for help.In addition, FISH provides transportation to medical appointments for people who call to make those arrangements in advance.

 Bud Voorhess, president of the board for FISH, says the number of clients served by FISH is up 13 percent this year over last.  Folks getting food from the agency jumped from 5,424 in 2007 to 6,178 by this November.

Voorhess says the economic conditions are certainly a driving factor behind the rise in clients FISH serves.  The number of new households visiting FISH in 2008 has grown by 22 percent, which is a clear indicator to Voorhess that families here are being affected by the poor economy.

FISH needs support to help its growing number of local clients.  Even if you think you can’t help, there’s a lot you can do just by cleaning out the pantry and closet in your home.  Here are some items they can use that you may be able to provide: any warm clothing, especially coats, hats, and gloves; also food items that are non-perishable like canned fruit, cereal (hot or cold), instant coffee, spaghetti and sauce, tuna fish, Spam, macaroni and cheese boxes, and soup.

If you have an extra few dollars and would like to purchase goods, FISH needs diapers of all sizes, dish and laundry detergent, toilet paper and other toiletries.

“Also, if you’ve got time, volunteer,” Voorhess says.  “Everyone has something that they can find to share, even time.”

He says FISH is feeling the pinch of the recession, too, but he also says that “donations are holding.  I think we can keep our head above water.  The community has really come through for us so far.”

Drop off your donations at the FISH office, 312 Waller Mill Road in Williamsburg, 23185 or call them at (757) 220-9379 to volunteer. Can’t do it right now? Not to worry – help is needed year round.

John Womeldorf is Mr. Williamsburg, sharing his thoughts, real estate expertise, and “all things Williamsburg” in an effort to spread the word that Williamsburg and Hampton Roads, Virginia is the greatest place on earth to live!

Mr Williamsburg.com " Williamsburg VA. Real EstateContact me at John@MrWilliamsburg.com

Research the area at www.WilliamsburgsRealEstate.com

Or ask any questions about homes, neighborhoods, schools, amenities, recreation , shopping or anything else about the area.

Click here to Search all homes, town homes, condos and building lots for sale in Williamsburg, James City, New Kent, York, Gloucester, Charles City Virginia

Click here to search all homes, town homes, condos and building lots for sale in Va Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth,Franklin, Sussex,

Williamsburg/ James City County Water Conservation

By Cortney Langley VA Gazette Dec 2008
While the James City Service Authority’s rebate program is
aggressive enough, the James City County
Citizens Coalition is taking it one step further.
The activist group has teamed up with
Ferguson Enterprises to provide even
deeper discounts on water-saving appliances.
The new program, dubbed “Flush &
Save,” builds on the $75 rebate JCSA
offers on WaterSense toilets.
Ferguson has agreed to provide an additional
20% discount to county residents
participating in the program, according to
a release.
WaterSense appliances are rated for
efficiency under a U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency program. It applies to
toilets with a 1.28-gallon maximum flush.
In this area, the toilets run $250-$750,
according to the James City Service
Authority. A 20% discount can shave $50-
$150 off that.
Additionally, the EPA estimates that a
family of four saves, on average, 4,000
gallons of water a year with the efficient
toilets, equaling another $90 annual savings.
Meanwhile, the J4C is met this month
with a number of local plumbers to try to
negotiate installation rates down, also. The
group is hoping that plumbers will agree
to trim $25 from installation costs.
J4C member Kensett Teller said the J4C
was already planning Flush & Save when
county officials rolled out the expanded
rebate program.
If the program is taken up en masse, she
said, the impact on the county’s water use
could be profound. She estimates savings
to exceed more than 500 million gallons
per year if 30,000 toilets are swapped out.
Although toilets account for almost a
third of indoor water use, the EPA estimates
come in lower, with about 120 million
gallons per year.
Teller said the J4C hopes to make a list
of participating plumbers available.
While Ferguson and some plumbers
may be willing to offer discounts, the service
authority does not endorse any specific
vendor.
More — Find out more at http://bewatersmart.
org or http://jcc-j4c.org. Contact
Heather Sewell with Ferguson Enterprises
at 220-0200 or at 6540 Mooretown Rd.

Williamsburg VA Locals Restaurant Specials

BLACK ANGUS GRILLE
Chef/Proprietor is an alumnus of the Culinary
Institute of America
NEW $10 Menu Available for a limited time only.
Expires Jan. 31, 2009. Not valid with any
other discount. For local diners only.
Quality food at chain restaurant prices.
Prime Rib
Salmon
Crab Cakes
Any Pasta Entreé
Baby Back Ribs
Fried Shrimp
Catfish
Roasted Garlic &
Spinach Meatloaf
Chicken Parmigiana
Add an extra
$5 Get Cup of Soup & Dessert
All entrées, except pasta entrée, come with a choice of roasted garlic
mashed potatoes, wild rice blend, pasta or roasted red skin potatoes.
* Year around Locals 20% discount on all regular entrées (except $10 menu and excluding tax).
Please inform your server that you are ordering from the $10 menu.
Coming in 2009!
Burgers, Paninis, Pita Sandwiches & Pasta in addition to our regular menu.

1433 Richmond Grill, Williamsburg VA
757 229 6823
www.BlackAngusGrille.com

___________________________________________________________________________

The Seafare Restaurant 1632 Richmond Road • Williamsburg VA
(757) 229-0099
Williamsburg VA LOCALS’ APPRECIATION SPECIAL
$39.95* per couple
Offer valid December 20 – January 15
For Starters
Homemade Rum Bread
Along With
Your choice of one of our Homemade Soups (French Onion, Crab
Bisque, Clam Chowder) or salads (Special Caesar or House)
Next Enjoy
Your choice of one entrée per person:
• Broiled Seafood Combination including shrimp, scallops, oysters
flounder filet, jumbo lump crabmeat.
• Broiled Norwegian Salmon Filet topped with dill sauce
• New York Strip Steak broiled to perfection
Entrées served with either Baked Potato, Steak Cut French Fries
or Rice Pilaf
Top Off Your Meal With Our
Chocolate Lava Cake for Two with Ice Cream
* Not to be combined with any other offer. Reservations suggested. Must present ad in the Gazette

Williamsburg VA Luxury Apartment Rentals

Although I don’t work in the rental market in Williamsburg VA I thought I would take a minute to share one of the nicest apartment developments in the Williamsburg VA area. Located in the newly developed High Street Community. Very close to Colonial Williamsburg and the College of Williams and Mary .Sterling Manor will consist of 191 apartment homes. Within High Street  there will also be condominiums, town homes, office space and a 250,000 square foot lifestyle retail center. A New Movie Theater is slated to open in 2009 along with various others stores and eateries.

Various floor plan apartments are available at Sterling Manor at High Street from a spacious one bedroom to a two-bedroom apartment home with a porch or balcony, the choice is yours and the options are endless. Garages are also available as an option.

Apartment living has never been more comfortable or convenient. Each apartment home sets the stage for a hassle-free, upscale lifestyle.

The kitchen, with its refrigerator, dishwasher and self-cleaning oven, takes the work out of dining, while the full size stack-able washer and dryer make cleaning less of a hassle. Wall-to-wall carpeting, ceramic-tiled kitchen and bathroom floors and designer mini-blinds add that extra feeling of “home.”  

High Street will offer entertainment, luxury, convenience, and modern amenities all within a traditional Colonial American urban setting. Halfway between Richmond and the Chesapeake Bay on the Virginia peninsula, Williamsburg is part of the greater Hampton Roads metropolitan area of southeastern Virginia. Located in the heart of the city, it is a true urban mixed-use development and a dramatic addition to the City of Williamsburg.

At Sterling Manor, residents can take full advantage of the exclusive Clubhouse designed to reflect a refined Georgian style, located centrally within the apartment community. It is designed to offer the ultimate in entertainment, comfort and convenience. The amenities will include a resort-style outdoor swimming pool, lavish clubroom, a cinema screening room,  business center, billiards room and a full fitness facility.  

Currently there are special incentives being offered for those signing new 13 month leases at Sterling Manor Apartments at High Street. Please inquire to find out the latest specials !

I would be happy to forward further information to schedule an appointment for you to come by  Please let me know

If you click the link below it will take you to a few of the floor-plans offered at Sterling Manor Apartments. If you then click the interactive tab it will allow you to to place your furniture within the floor plan !

One Bedroom Floor Plan

Two Bedroom Floor Plan

Two Bedroom/ two bath  Floor Plan

 

 

( Roads are not yet shown on the map)
You can click here to explore/ search all town homes/ condos For Sale in the High Street Community in Williamsburg VA

John Womeldorf is Mr. Williamsburg, sharing his thoughts, real estate expertise, and “all things Williamsburg” in an effort to spread the word that Williamsburg and Hampton Roads, Virginia is the greatest place on earth to live!

Mr Williamsburg.com " Williamsburg VA. Real EstateContact me at John@MrWilliamsburg.com

Research the area at www.WilliamsburgsRealEstate.com

Or ask any questions about homes, neighborhoods, schools, amenities, recreation , shopping or anything else about the area.

Click here to Search all homes, town homes, condos and building lots for sale in Williamsburg, James City, New Kent, York, Gloucester, Charles City Virginia

Click here to search all homes, town homes, condos and building lots for sale in Va Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth,Franklin, Sussex,

Map of High Street

First Night 2009 Williamsburg Virginia

Celebrate the New Year in Williamsburg at First Night Williamsburg 2009. Over 65 performing acts are scheduled to provide entertainment throughout the College of William & Mary campus and select locations around Historic Williamsburg. It’s a great event the whole family will enjoy!

Find out more at their website here : http://www.firstnightwilliamsburg.org/

You know you’re from Williamsburg when…….

This was authored by Williamsburg VA resident Jill Carter it originally appeared in the VA Gazette and is now on Facebook. Just thought I would share.

YOU KNOW YOU’RE FROM WILLIAMSBURG WHEN:
1.You can get to the Williamsburg Regional Library…without using Rt. 60 or 199.
2.You were excited when Lowe’s opened.
3.You know who has right-of-way at Confusion Corner.
4.When you hear “It’s tourist season,” you automatically think to pull out your guns.
5.You know seven different ways to get to one place.
6.You know your way around William and Mary…but you’re not a student.
7.You see someone getting excited about pictures from Colonial Williamsburg, and you usually follow up with a story beginning with “I was there once with my friends…”
8.You have a sudden urge to back slap every little child you come across wearing colonial garb with tennis shoes.
9.Seeing someone dressed in colonial clothing at 7-11 or a grocery store no longer fazes you.
10.You know where the Amphitheatre is.
11.You use Kidsburg more as a teenager than you ever did while a child.
12.And it’s usually after dark.
13.You know where to find radioactive jellyfish.
14.Busch Gardens is a regular hangout place.
15.You know at least five people that work at Busch Gardens.
16.You drive past a historic landmark at least three times a day.
17.You make fun of said historic landmarks.
18.You visit the neglected corpses in Colonial Williamsburg.
19.You know who “Kennedy” is.
20.You have at least one friend who was born in Williamsburg.
21.Most of your graduating class is going to VA Tech, VCU, CNU, JMU, or William and Mary.
22.You don’t have to look at some one’s license plate to know that they’re a tourist. They just suck at driving.
23.You say “The Climbing Tree” and everyone knows what you’re talking about.
24.You’ve been swimming at College Creek, despite the radioactive waters.
25.You actually know where College Creek is.
26.You know where the signs on the Parkway switch from “Do Not Pass” to “Pass With Care.”
27.You can think of at least five bed-and-breakfasts off the top of your head.
28.You know that when people say “The Sunken Gardens,” they are actually referring to a rather large field with sidewalks.
29.You know what “LP” means.
30.And you don’t care.
31.You know where the “Four Minute Stoplight” is.
32.Everyone else in the country is excited about Jamestown 2007. You’re dreading it because you won’t be able to get out of your neighborhood.
33.You know the ferry schedule.
34.And you were happy when they FINALLY made it free!
35.Your friends find really cheap gas and call EVERYONE they know. Even people they haven’t talked to in at least six months.
36.You know where at least three thrift stores are. And none of them are run by the same organization.
37.You’re at PBK more than the college students are.
38.You know what PBK is.
39.Two of the most feared words in consecutive order: Grand Illumination.
40.You know about the free parking garage.
41.You know where “The Underground” is.
42.You know that “The Underground” and the free parking garage are the same place.
43.And you marvel at the fact that tourists are willing to pay $9 to park.
44.You remember when the Cheese Shop was not in Merchant’s Square.
45.You were sad when Baskin Robins and The Blue Talon burned.
46.You’re bloody pissed that the College Delly is turning into another damned Starbucks.
47.And you know that the new Starbucks will give the greater Williamsburg area 8 Starbucks total. And that pisses you off, too.
48.You know at least 4 Polish people and at least 5 Russians.
49.You know the double meaning behind the name of “Lafayette” High School.
50.You remember when Jamestown High did not exist.
51.You remember when 199 East did not exist.
52.The construction of 199 affected your family’s finances.
53.Your house could be considered a historic landmark.
54.The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation can make you repaint your house because “it’s not the right colour.”
55.You can’t remember the last time Lafayette High had a good JV Football team.
56.You know which of the middle schools used to be a high school.
57.You still don’t understand the school redistricting.
58.You’ve been busted by the William and Mary cops.
59.You know one of these people: Brian Ready or Jessica Harms.
60.You know who Mr. Snyder is. And you cringe in fear at the mention of his name.
61.You know where New Kent is.
62.You know three different ways to get to Newport News. And none of those ways involve 64 or 199.
63.You know how to pronounce the words “Chickahominy,” “Poquoson,” “Boutetourte,” and “Gloucester.”
64.You know who the Guinea Men are.
65.You remember BEFORE Wawa. And you were so happy when we finally got one!
66.You managed to live six months without a movie theatre.
67.You know what “Tommy Tech,” “CW,” and “The Burg” are.
68.You know EXACTLY what faults there are in Disney’s version of “Pocahontas.”
69.And you’ve practically smacked every little kid that asked where the waterfall was.
70.Mapquest got directions to your house wrong.
71.You don’t think Norfolk Airport should be considered an international airport just because it goes to Puerto Rico. After all, Puerto Rico is one of the United States’ territories.
72.You know what bars Colin Farrell frequented while filming “The New World.”
73.You hear “Hurricane Warning” and get excited because you’ll probably have at least three days off from school.
74.Noreasters don’t bother you anymore.
75.You know where the “Hurricane Evacuation Route” is, but you’ve never actually had to use it.
76.You’ve heard about the time that “Lafayette High School almost blew up.”
77.You most likely knew one of the people responsible for that.
78.You know what the real name of Confusion Corner is.
79.You hear that we have a really good chance of getting snow, and we never see a flake.
80.When we really do get snow, a half-inch will get us out of school for at least one day.
81.You can name over half the restaurant on Restaurant Row.
82.You know what Restaurant Row is.
83.You spent time in “learning cottages” during elementary, middle, or high school, or more than likely, all three.
84.You’ve memorized the layout of Busch Gardens (including a few shortcuts).
85.You wish Sno-to-Go was open year-round, despite freezing temperatures in the fall/winter.
86.You think Presidential Park was the biggest waste of any one’s money EVER.
87.Yet you still go there just to pretend to pick the Presidents’ noses.
88.You know at least two Fife and Drummers.
89.You freaked out the day Target came to town and immediately started calling it “tar-jay.”
90.You know where every single one of the five million pharmacies are.
91.And you can’t believe there was just another one added.
92.You remember how pissed off everyone over 40 was when they heard about Hooter’s being built, despite the fact that Hooters is in York County, not Williamsburg.
93.You know what “Rhino Poop” is.
94.You went to Jamestown High and could bet money on a bomb threat happening at least once a day.
95.You remember when New town was just the new Corner Pocket.
96.You remember when the Jewish Mother caught on fire.
97.You know that the Prime Outlets was first called Berkley Commons.
98.You no longer have to go to the Patrick Henry Mall for Old Navy or any other good shopping.
99.You don’t have to go on the ghost tour to know Matthew Whaley is haunted.
100.You remember when feeding the animals at Waller Mill Park was allowed
101.You still are friends with someone you knew in kindergarten.
102.You remember what life was like before Wal-Mart, but you still shop there.
103.The Pottery used to be the only mall in town.
104.You can’t go out without running into someone you know.
105.You know that DOG Street has nothing to do with furry pets.
106.If you remember were Roses used to be.
107.If you remember when the Outlet Mall had more than 5 shops open in it.
108.If you remember when The Pottery was actually halfway decent looking, and you still wonder to this day why it maintains its status as a tourist attraction.
109.You remember when the Last Word was filled for weeks with nothing but parents arguing about whether or not “Pimp and Ho” Parties are appropriate.
110.You were most likely at said “Pimp and Ho” Party.
111.You know that the Colonial Parkway has three lanes- one for each direction of traffic and one for passing.
112.And you laugh and swear at people who drive 30 mph while driving in the middle of the three lanes.
113.When vacationing you never understood why everyone doesn’t have amusement parks 5 minutes away.
114.You take a field trip the Living Museum every year K-8.
115.A little kid asks where Miko is, and you say that you saw him in several bloody pieces across the road.
116.Or that you ran him over on your way to work/school/home that day.
117.And then you laugh when they start to cry.
118.You’ve memorized when Quota Time starts, ends, and where the prime locations are for the Quota to be filled.
119.And yet you’ve still managed to be pulled over.
120.And it’s rather likely that you were pulled over a few days later, as well, for the same violation.
121.You’ve done the same stupid thing several times, and yet you still do it anyways because it provides some entertainment.
122.You would follow the ghost tours at night and try to scare the tourists.
123.You swam out to the sandbar at College Creek, even though you knew people had died from the undercurrent before.
124.You go to the College Delly more often than the William and Mary students do.
125.Everyone you meet was born somewhere else.
126.You claim you hate the Last Word, but it’s the first thing you read when you get the paper.
127.It takes you five minutes to get out of a parking space because no one will let you out.
128.When you go to IHOP at the late/early hours it takes you hours to get your food and often walk out before it gets to you.
129.You know at least two places were the speed limit is 8 or 18 mph.
130.You’ve been stuck behind an old person in a Buick going 30 on 199.
131.You know the fireworks have three locations and you know where to stand to see all three.
132.You know which three fireworks were mentioned.
133.You go to one school, but your friend, who lives on the other side of the street, goes to a different one.
134.Extra points if they go to another school system.
135.You know how to pronounce Toano.
136.You know not to go on the parkway at night.
137.You think it’s funny that people actually visit CW and Jamestown.
138.It’s normal to wait 30 minutes to an hour in line at sno to go… and it’s worth it
139.You know what CW, FC, WF, BG, and WC are… and you’ve been to them all at least 5 times
140.If you go to LHS… class color day is the most important day of the year.
141.And every year the administration says there won’t be another one because of how horrible the behavior was.
142.You know where you can find a speed limit of 12 3/4
143.You know how to get to Richmond without using 64
144.You can tell what neighborhood people live in by the sticker on their bumper.
145.Your high school student lot had nicer cars than the teacher lot.
146.You know what “The Pile of Poop” is.
147.And you’ve played mini-golf there several times.
147.You have trouble remembering what the real name to “The Pile of Poop” is.
148.You know where you can find the speed limit 23 1/2.
149.Every one you know has taken at least 1 AP Class
150.You can name at least five people who shouldn’t have
151.You go to Yorktown Beach in the winter
152.You get offended when people say “its not a real beach”
153.You can pick out historical inaccuracies in movies.
154.You’ll stop watching a movie because of the historical inaccuracies.
155.You argued over the historical accuracy of Elizabeth Swan’s wedding dress in Pirates of the Caribbean
156.You know that both Thomas Jefferson and Jon Stewart hate WM.
157.You own something that says William and Mary on it even though you have no intention of actually going there.
158.The only reason someone goes out of state for college is because they got accepted into an Ivy League.
159.You don’t care about the Wren cross but want them to put it back so that way everyone will shut up!
160.Over half the population of your town are college students.
161.You’re more scared of stubbing your toe on a brick than you are of getting mugged.
162. The weather man may say one thing, but what actually happens is a completely different story.
163.You know that once the light turns yellow, you can fit at least four more cars through before it turns red.
164.The light is orange, not red.
165.You’ve used that excuse in court.
166.In the summer, you wish it was colder, and in the winter you wish it was summer.
167.You know that Williamsburg was voted in the Top 5 Places to retire in 2006 by Money Magazine.
168.You swim in the James River, despite the riptide warnings and knowing that it’s radioactive.
169.You explode the radioactive jellyfish at College Creek.
170.You know the best places to get your boom-boom on at College Creek.
171.You’ve never actually used any of those places.
172.But you’ve seen someone else using them.
173.You’ve had at least one teacher that talked to him or herself.
174.And you’ve participated in his or her conversations with him or herself.
175.You’ve had at least one of the Crawfords.
176.You know that there’s nothing to do after 9pm.
177.And yet you still manage to get yourself in trouble with either a business owner or the police.
178.While in CW, you curb your appetite on the free peanuts and the Peanut Shop.
179.You’ve straddled Thomas Jefferson.
180.You’ve also burned yourself on him in the process of straddling him.
181.You bask in 86* and sunny weather at the beach, then wake up five days later with an inch and a half of snow on the ground…and it’s still snowing…in April.
182.You forget when the last time Haynes had a “Half off everything” day. Not because it was a long time ago, but because they have some sort of huge sale three times a week.
183.You’ve taken a random road trip and ended up in the depths of New Kent.
184.You felt fine about being in New Kent because you knew it wasn’t hard to get back home.
185.You’ve figured out which stoplights have real cameras at them.
186.You know which cars are undercover cops because our police force has problems with hiding all of the equipment.
187.You give someone three different times as to how long it’s going to be before you get somewhere: one if there’s traffic, one if it’s steady traffic, and one of there’s NO ONE on the road.
188.You can’t understand why it took so long for the county supervisors to figure out that a third high school was, in fact, needed…about five years ago.
189.You give directions not by road names, but by landmarks. Example: Turn left at the Crown, then go about a mile, then turn left in front of the IHOP. Go over the bridge. Hooters is the second building on the right.
190.You aren’t getting the day off from school for Jamestown 400th because the schools like you. Oh no. It’s because the Jamestown 400th is renting the school buses for tourist transportation.
191.You’ll drive all the way over to Surrey to get gas that’s only 10 cents cheaper. But you enjoy the ferry ride!
192.You’ve gotten lost while driving IN Williamsburg, and somehow ended up at the Ferry, or in either York, Yorktown, or Newport News. Extra points if you end up in the middle of New Kent…without even knowing you were in New Kent.
193.You’ve been stuck in the “Four Minute Stoplight” for an excess of 8 minutes. Extra points if you’ve been stuck for more than 11 minutes.
194.You’ve been at the “Four Minute Stoplight” in the middle of the night, with no one around, looked both ways, and if there was no traffic in your immediate vicinity, went through the red light.
195.You’ve done #194 at any red light.
196.You speed up when the light turns yellow just so that you don’t have to wait…even if you end up running a red light.
197.You laugh at the tourists that freak out at the sight of those little black snakes. You then proceed to go pick it up and carry it over to them.
198.You think you tripped over a branch? Oh no no no. That was one of those little black snakes.
199.You’ve resorted to some form of illegal activity to amuse yourself, yet you’ve never been arrested.
200.You’ve mastered the art of lying to the cops.
201.You’ve been pulled over multiple times for the same infraction within a one-week time period.
202.You’ve filled out the “Best of Williamsburg” although you were under the age of 18. You just put in your parent’s name. Or just made one up.
203.You know I-64 traffic patterns so well that you can exactly time your trips according to the check-in times to the houses and hotels in the Outer Banks.
204.50% or more of your neighborhood is made up of the elderly.
205.You’ve been pulled over for listening to your music “too loudly.”
206.You’ve done donuts in at least one of the school parking lots.
207.You’ve given a campus cop the finger.
208.Girls: The William and Mary men’s cross-country team has been the cause of many of your near-accidents.
209.You can tell a friend that you’re at the place with trees by the flag and they have a general idea where you are.
210.You drive by what used to be an empty lot, and now there’s a new building there. But you don’t remember the construction of it.
212.You heard the story about the guys jumping off of the big bridge in Busch gardens.
213.You remember when the same guys lit off fireworks in the Walsingham Academy girls’ locker room later, and got expelled.
214.Those guys are your heroes.
215.You laugh every time you see the donut tire-marks in the St. Bede’s parking lot.
216.You remember when New Town was a big, pretty field.
217.You hear the words “move-in day” and cringe.
218.You hear “parent’s weekend” and do the same.
219.You know the book-mobile schedule.
220.You laughed when you heard about the greenleafe giving food poisoning to My Chemical Romance and Muse, as well as a huge wedding, and then getting depressed when you realize that no band would ever come back.
221.You miss the old movie theater, if only for the DDR machine.
222.You’ve seen the graffiti near the old movie theater and it never fails to make you laugh.
223.You know to what school the “dancing pigs” refers to.
224.You know someone who’s gone there, and you laugh at their uniforms.
225.You know that Queen Anne dairy snack, even while looking like a deserted trucker stop, has the best ice cream, burgers, fries, and onion rings in all of the east coast.
225.You’re sure that if kingsmill were to succeed from the united states, it could easily support itself.
226.You remember how awesome the Ice Storm was.
227.You hear that your bus has a double run and you cry because not only will you not get home for another hour and a half, but you’ll also have to sit at least three to a seat.
228.You flash your lights at other drivers to warn them of hidden cop cars.
229.You have been pulled over on Jamestown Road for speeding.
230.You’ve been pulled over right where the speed limit turns from 45 to 25 on Monticello.
231.You remember getting two weeks off for Hurricane Isabel.
232.You remember going to school on Saturday to make up for all of the lost days of school.
233.You remember having to go to school for 30 minutes extra every day for two months because of Isabel.
234.You refer to the Wawa in CW as the Wee-Wawa. It’s smaller than the average Wawa, but dammit, it’s trying!
235.Verizon has just about created a mobile-phone monopoly.
236.Your family is watching Jeopardy and someone gets asked a question on CW or Jamestown and everyone in the room answers it out loud.
237.The new Arby’s being built, was the old Arby’s, and since then its been a string of failed sandwich shops and eateries.
238.You remember they tore down the Taco Bell to build another Taco Bell on Richmond Road
239.You remember the green 7-11
240.When driving 199 or 60, you pass at least three people you know.
241.You remember the day Fabio got hit by a goose, and probably laughed.
242.If you’re a college kid, you come home for break and see all of your old friends within the first three days, but not because you planned it that way.
243.When you see a picture or TV ad for Williamsburg, and the Fife & Drum are in it, you look for people you know.

 

FEEL FREE TO ADD YOUR OWN IN COMMENTS !

 

John Womeldorf is Mr. Williamsburg, sharing his thoughts, real estate expertise, and “all things Williamsburg” in an effort to spread the word that Williamsburg and Hampton Roads, Virginia is the greatest place on earth to live!

Mr Williamsburg.com " Williamsburg VA. Real EstateContact me at John@MrWilliamsburg.com

Research the area at www.WilliamsburgsRealEstate.com

Or ask any questions about homes, neighborhoods, schools, amenities, recreation , shopping or anything else about the area.

Click here to Search all homes, town homes, condos and building lots for sale in Williamsburg, James City, New Kent, York, Gloucester, Charles City Virginia

Click here to search all homes, town homes, condos and building lots for sale in Va Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth,Franklin, Sussex,

Hampton Roads Crossing Neighborhood Spotlight Suffolk, VA

Finally a builder is listening. I have always been astounded at the price ranges that have been showcased in previous Parade of New Homes, Homeramas, etc. In this past year we had the PHBA Peninsula Home Builder Association Parade of Homes in our Taylor Farms community in York County. Surprisingly it was the builders who participated who decided that the prices should be in the $800k to $1.4 million dollar price range ( whew) Granted the homes were breathtaking and loaded with many unique features. The  major downside was that hardly any of the attendees needed or could afford homes that size and price.

Well someones listinening the  Tidewater Builders Association has announced that the 2009 Homearama showcase of homes will be held at Hampton Roads Crossing, a mixed-use community located in northern Suffolk.

Members of the Tidewater Builders Association said they would change course this year, moving the annual Homearama event from its scheduled location in Virginia Beach’s exclusive North Shore community to a somewhat less-exclusive mixed-use development in North Suffolk.

Search For Homes For Sale in Hampton Roads Crossing

Homes in the North Shore community range in price from $700,000 to more than $1 million. Homes in Hampton Roads Crossing, the Suffolk community that now will host the event, are expected to sell for around $400,000. Those currently selling in the area are fetching even less princely sums, from just under $200,000 to a little more than $300,000.

Considering the state of the housing market in Hampton Roads and the nation, changing the venue for the area’s showcase real estate event was a good public relations move and a smart business decision.

The vast majority of Hampton Roads home buyers could only dream of setting up house in one of the million-dollar mansions under construction in Virginia Beach, and those dreams are even further out of reach with the collapse of the nation’s mortgage-lending sector. Showing potential home buyers the quality they can expect at attainable price points will be more likely to endear the home builders to their potential customers.

The city of Suffolk will come out as a big winner in the deal, as potential home buyers and browsers, alike, have a chance to see all that the city has to offer. It’s a testament to good planning in the North Suffolk area that the city was ready with a community to host the event. Here’s to hoping that it’s a success.

Homearama 2009 will demonstrate traditional neighborhood design in a pedestrian-friendly, walkable community, a new urbanist trend that is sweeping the country and is showcased in many of the current home and living publications.

These traditional two-story homes will feature front porches and rear-loading garages reminiscent of the bungalow and craftsman architecture of yesteryear while, in keeping with the tradition of previous shows homes, providing the custom craftsmanship that has become the hallmark of Homearama. The builders association is also working with Southern Living to sponsor one or more of the showcase homes.

The homes are expected to average 2,500 square feet and sell for approximately $400,000, putting them in reach of many of the attendees to the annual show. The schedule for Homearama 2009 is currently proposed to run from September 19 through October 4.

“It’s a Homearama tradition to showcase trends in home designs,” added Kotarides. “Our guests have been asking us to show off what can be done in a more moderately priced home. We’re confident they’ll be pleased to see the level of detailing and creativity we can offer in a home more suited to the typical Hampton Roads family.”

The community is being developed by The Terry Peterson Companies, who approached TBA after being originally awarded Homearama for their Virginia Beach North Shore community with an idea that showcasing affordable homes in an exciting mixed-use setting might be a better fit.  ( YEA !)

Hampton Roads Crossing is designed in a mixed-use campus environment where residential, retail and commercial business districts will develop over time. The office campus is currently anchored by Old Dominion University’s VMASC (Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center) and Tri-Cities buildings. The residential campus features The Residences At Hampton Roads Crossing where the home show will take place. Luxury apartments will break ground in early 2009 and the anchor tenant for the retail district is on contract and should begin construction in 2010.

The site is located in the northern Suffolk growth corridor with easy access to Interstate 664 and the Western Freeway, making it easily accessible to all of Hampton Roads and placing it only minutes from the Peninsula and downtown Norfolk and Portsmouth.
Currently, the commercial campus is comprised of three state-of-the-art buildings situated along the Western Freeway. The MAST Center is home to the Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center (VMASC) and the Tri-Cities Center, both operated by Old Dominion University. These buildings, along with office space located in the Mast One building, add a high-tech sophistication to the Hampton Roads Crossing community. Additional office buildings and a hotel site are planned for the future.

The Hampton Roads Crossing retail campus will front College Drive. Once developed, this exciting shopping district will feature key anchor tenants and boutique shops, as well as several out-parcels. Live/work residences may also be added to the mix. And with all three campuses located within easy walking distance of one another, you’ll discover that The Residences at Hampton Roads Crossing will become an incredibly convenient place to live.

John Womeldorf is Mr. Williamsburg, sharing his thoughts, real estate expertise, and “all things Williamsburg” in an effort to spread the word that Williamsburg and Hampton Roads, Virginia is the greatest place on earth to live!

Mr Williamsburg.com " Williamsburg VA. Real EstateContact me at John@MrWilliamsburg.com

Research the area at www.WilliamsburgsRealEstate.com

Or ask any questions about homes, neighborhoods, schools, amenities, recreation , shopping or anything else about the area.

Click here to Search all homes, town homes, condos and building lots for sale in Williamsburg, James City, New Kent, York, Gloucester, Charles City Virginia

Click here to search all homes, town homes, condos and building lots for sale in Va Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth,Franklin, Sussex,

Williamsburg/ James City County Youth Sports Programs

Colonial Capital Basketball Club (boys and
girls ages 9-16)
This year round AAU/YBOA basketball program offers
a fall/winter league and a summer league. For information:
565-0758 or www.eteamz.com/ccbcbball.

HR LAX (boys and girls ages 7-18)
Hampton Roads Lacrosse practices are held locally
with games held throughout the area. For information,
email Brian Erwin at blerwin@msn.com or visit
www.hrlax.com.
Neighborhood Basketball League (NBL)
(boys and girls ages 10-18)
A Williamsburg/JCC Community Action Agency (CAA)
program that provides a structured sports activity with
mentorship in developing self-esteem, self-discipline,
leadership and sportsmanship as well as offering
encouragement to excel academically. Season runs
March-June. For information, call CAA at 229-3316.
StageLights (girls and boys ages 6-13)

StageLights, Williamsburg’s theatre for children, introduces
youth to the techniques of acting, voice, dance and stagecraft
while increasing their appreciation of the Theatre.
For more information: 229-ACTS or stagelightstheatre.org

Team Flash Track and Field
(boys and girls ages 6-18)
Local track and field team offering running, throwing
and jumping events. Practices are held from mid-
March through mid-June. For information, contact
Ellen Womeldorf at 240-3713,
e-mail teamflashtrack@cox.net or visit www.teamflashtrack.com

Affiliated Organizations
Virginia Legacy Soccer Club
The club offers a year round youth development
program (ages 2-10), a premier travel team program
(ages 10-18) and the Premier Development Team
which plays in the professional league structure of
the United Soccer Leagues. For information, contact
admin@valegacysoccer.com or 253-1947 or visit
www.valegacysoccer.com

Williamsburg Aquatic Club (ages 6-18)
WAC is a year round program which gives swimmers
an opportunity to compete statewide and regionally.
For information, contact 229-8662.
Williamsburg Area Bicyclists
WAB has weekly bicycle trips offering four ride levels
(A, B, C and Casual). All ages and skill levels are
welcome to join or participate in any WAB activities.
For information, contact 229-4907, visit
www.wabonline.org or write:
Williamsburg Area Bicyclists
P.O. Box 2222
Williamsburg, VA 23187-2222

Williamsburg Lacrosse Club
(boys ages 12-19)
The club offers an opportunity for boys to compete
at the junior varsity and varsity levels (grades 7-12)
against state and nationally recognized teams while
adhering to Virginia High School League guidelines for
eligibility and participation. For information, contact
Mark Hofmeister at 564-8486 or Monty Hill, 565-2755
or visit www.williamsburgwarriorslax.com

Williamsburg Youth Baseball League, Inc.
(ages 5-17)
Local provider of T-ball, baseball and the Buddy
Ball Division. Buddy Ball is designed for children and
young adults, ages 5-20, with special needs who are
not able to participate in the established Cal Ripken/
Babe Ruth Leagues. Program operates in the spring,
summer and fall. Call 220-1530 for information.
Williamsburg Youth Football and
Cheerleading League (boys and girls ages 6-14)
Provides youth football and cheerleading. For information,
e-mail williamsburghornets@yahoo.com or visit
www.WilliamsburgHornets.com  or www.leaguelineup.com/wyfcl

John Womeldorf is Mr. Williamsburg, sharing his thoughts, real estate expertise, and “all things Williamsburg” in an effort to spread the word that Williamsburg and Hampton Roads, Virginia is the greatest place on earth to live!

Mr Williamsburg.com " Williamsburg VA. Real EstateContact me at John@MrWilliamsburg.com

Research the area at www.WilliamsburgsRealEstate.com

Or ask any questions about homes, neighborhoods, schools, amenities, recreation , shopping or anything else about the area.

Click here to Search all homes, town homes, condos and building lots for sale in Williamsburg, James City, New Kent, York, Gloucester, Charles City Virginia

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James City County Park Locations

Chickahominy Riverfront Park (CRP)
1350 John Tyler Highway, Williamsburg, VA 23185
258-5020, open daily sunrise to sunset

Come enjoy this 140-acre park located on the
Chickahominy River. Facilities include two outdoor
swimming pools, boat ramp, fishing pier, camp sites,
a playground, picnic shelters, a small store and
access to the Virginia Capital Trail. Bring your
boat or rent one at the park to enjoy fishing or
exploring the Chickahominy River and Gordon Creek.
The large fields and picnic shelters are available for
special events.

 
Brickyard Landing (BYL)
990 Brickyard Road (off Forge Road)
259-5360
Brickyard Landing is a public boat ramp that provides
citizens access to the Chickahominy River from the
upper end of the James City County.

Community Centers/Outdoor Facilities
James City/Williamsburg Community Center
5301 Longhill Road
• two softball fields with lights (rental)
• two natural grass fields with lights (rental)
• 2.2-mile walking trail encircling the Center
• Skate Park
James River Community Center
8901 Pocahontas Trail
• softball field, no lights (rental)
• natural grass field (rental)
• award winning nature trail

Diascund Reservoir (DR)
9551 Diascund Reservoir Park Road
Off Route 60 West pass Toano in Lanexa
259-5360, open daily sunrise to sunset

This reservoir, provided and operated jointly by
Newport News, James City County and the Division
of Game and Inland Fisheries, is open to the public for
boating access and fishing. Electric trolling motors are
the only motors permitted on the reservoir.

Freedom Park (FRD)
5535 Centerville Road
259-5360, open daily 7am to sunset

This forested retreat of over 600 acres features
1.8 miles of hiking trails and almost 10 miles of
mountain bike trails winding through historical sites,
forests and along creeks. Visit the first Free Black
Settlement where three historically accurate recreated
cabins are located in a meadow and are furnished
with items authentic to the period (1803-1850).
The park is also the site of an 18th-century graveyard,
the Revolutionary War Battle of Spencer’s Ordinary
(1781), a 17th century domicile and the Williamsburg
Botanical “Ellipse Garden.”

Greensprings Interpretive Trail (GST)
3751 John Tyler Highway
259-5360, open daily 8am to sunset
Wander along this 3.5-mile nature trail that loops
through a landscape of beaver ponds, wetlands
and forests. The trail includes interpretative signs
about the environment, historical events of the early
colonists and American Indians and area wildlife.
The trail is on wetlands adjacent to Mainland Farm,
the oldest continuously cultivated farm in America.
The trailhead also provides convenient parking and
paved trail access to the Virginia Capital Trail.
Over 200 species of birds have been documented
on this site and it’s part of the Virginia Birding Trail.

James City County Stadium (STADM)
4725 Stadium Road, off Opportunity Way across
from the Williamsburg Outlet Mall in the Warhill
Sports Complex 259-5360

This 3,000-seat stadium is designed for a variety of
sports and community activities. The surface is
rubber infilled synthetic turf with permanent lines for
football, soccer and field hockey. There are two locker
rooms and two restroom/concession facilities located
at each end of the stadium.

Jamestown Beach Park (JBP)
2217 Jamestown Road
259-5360, Beachfront open year round, 9am to sunset
The Park features a small beach front on the James
River. There is a fee for beach parking ($5/day);
$50 annual passes available. Picnic tables and grills
are available.

Little Creek Reservoir Park (LCR)
180 Lakeview Road in Toano (off Forge Road)
566-1702, open March-November, M-F, 7am-sunset;
opens 6am to sunset on weekends and holidays;
December-February, opens 7am-5pm on
weekends only.
LCR is a fisherman’s paradise! This scenic park
overlooks a 996-acre reservoir offering year round
fishing, boating and picnicking. The park also has
a concession facility, playground, soft mulch nature
trail and two shelters with grills plus rental canoes,
kayaks and Jon boats and a launch-your-own
boat ramp. Electric trolling motors are the only
motors permitted on the reservoir.

Mid County Park (MCP): Home of Kidsburg
3793 Ironbound Road
229-1232, open daily 7am-10pm

This 19-acre park has something for the whole family!
Children can play at Kidsburg, a community-built
playground that has become an area attraction.
Adults can enjoy lighted recreation areas including
softball and baseball fields, basketball and tennis
courts, as well as sand volleyball courts. Walk the
paved 2/3 mile ADA accessible multi-use path that
encircles the park. Are you planning a small family
outing, family reunion, or perhaps a group meeting?
Then you may want to consider Mid County Park.
There is a large picnic shelter and a small picnic
shelter and play areas for games or other functions.

Powhatan Creek Park (PCP)
1831 Jamestown Road
259-5360, open sunrise to sunset
This one-acre facility is part of the Chesapeake
Gateways Network and provides access to the James
River at Jamestown Island, including scenic views
of Historic Jamestowne. Powhatan Creek is listed
on the Natural Resources Inventory as the most
biodiverse creek on the Peninsula. Scenic views of
tidal marshes and an abundance of wildlife highlight
trips on this beautiful waterway. Park consists of a
small non-motorized boat/canoe/kayak launch with
parking for 20 vehicles and five observation/fishing piers.

Skate Park and Multiuse Trail (SP)
Located adjacent to JCWCC – Free
259-5360, open daily 9am to sunset; park will
close in the event of inclement weather.
This bowl-style skate park is 10,000 square feet of
concrete jumps and ramps. It also features two
movable ramps, a rail, a hand rail and multiple
grinding edges. There are separate times for bikes
and boards – and they are not permitted to use the
facility at the same time. Designated bike times are
Tuesdays and Saturdays, noon-3pm; Sundays and
Thursdays, 3-6pm. Helmets and protective gear are
highly recommended. The site also features a one
mile, 10 foot-wide paved multiuse trail which
connects to nearby sidewalks and James Blair
Middle School for a 2.2-mile walking loop.
Upper County Park (UCP)
180 Leisure Road in Toano
566-1451, Park open daily 8am to sunset. Pool
is open 11am-8pm, Memorial Day to Labor Day
(Memorial Day – mid-June, weekends only).

This 91-acre park is located in the upper end of JCC.
Amenities include a 25m swimming pool and a
toddler pool, playgrounds, sand volleyball and basketball
courts, multi-use trails and a 3.5-mile mountain
bike trail, horseshoe pits and picnic shelters. There is
a nominal charge to swim or rent the shelter.
During its operating season, the pool may be rented
after hours.

Virginia Capital Trail (VCT)
Trail starts in the parking lots of Chickahominy
Riverfront Park and Greensprings Trail and
connects to Jamestown Settlement
JCC is a partner of the VCT, a regional 55-mile
multiuse trail connecting all of Virginia’s capitals –
Jamestown, Williamsburg and Richmond. The first
7.5 miles of trail, all in JCC, are completed. The trail
is a cooperative effort of the Virginia Department
of Transportation, Game and Inland Fisheries and
Conservation and Recreation, as well as the VCT
Foundation and Williamsburg Land Conservancy.

Waller Mill Dog Park
Route 645, Airport Road (Waller Mill Park)
259-3778
The 1.5-acre park is a joint venture with Williamsburg
offering two areas – one for small dogs, 20 lbs. or
less, and an area for larger dogs over 20 lbs. Annual
memberships are available. Call for operating hours.

Warhill Sports Complex (WSC)
5700 Warhill Trail
259-5360, open daily 7am to 10pm

This complex is host to most local sporting events for
County league play. The baseball complex includes
three lighted youth baseball fields, one lighted majors
baseball field, four tee-ball fields, a concession building
with rest rooms and a playground. The soccer
complex includes four premier turf soccer fields and
a concession building with restrooms. The Park also
includes three outdoor basketball courts, a 5,200-foot
paved multiuse trail, a 3.5-mile hiking trail, two ponds
for shoreline fishing, the stadium and the indoor athletic
facility – Williamsburg Indoor Sports Complex.

John Womeldorf is Mr. Williamsburg, sharing his thoughts, real estate expertise, and “all things Williamsburg” in an effort to spread the word that Williamsburg and Hampton Roads, Virginia is the greatest place on earth to live!

Mr Williamsburg.com " Williamsburg VA. Real EstateContact me at John@MrWilliamsburg.com

Research the area at www.WilliamsburgsRealEstate.com

Or ask any questions about homes, neighborhoods, schools, amenities, recreation , shopping or anything else about the area.

Click here to Search all homes, town homes, condos and building lots for sale in Williamsburg, James City, New Kent, York, Gloucester, Charles City Virginia

Click here to search all homes, town homes, condos and building lots for sale in Va Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth,Franklin, Sussex,

Williamsburg Virginia Land Conservancy

The Williamsburg Land Conservancy’s Board of Directors recently voted to accept the donation of a conservation easement from the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation on 82 acres of land situated on Route 132. This parcel is located directly across from a 230-acre tract that the
conservancy already protects, thanks to an easement placed on the property by the foundation in 2006.

The permanent protection of these two parcels was a critical step to ensure that a major entryway into our region will forever remain the same. Take a ride along Route 132 between Route 60 Bypass Road and Route 143. What you will see is a landscape of some of Mother Nature’s finest work.
Tributaries to Queen’s Creek weave through the properties that are home to beautiful flora and fauna and wildlife. Wetlands, a mature deciduous forest, and historic sites all reside on this land. There are other landscapes within our  community that will remain intact to enrich our lives thanks to the generosity of landowners who made the decision to preserve the conservation values of their land.
There’s Greenswamp Farm, 167 acres along Centerville Road. Those amber waves of grain will never become mortar and brick. Then there’s the Williamsburg Winery, with 270 acres of land that will forever stay in agriculture vs a residential subdivision.

 Forge Road is host to protected parcels of land, and most recently the
190-acre easement placed on the River’s Bend at Uncle’s Neck property showcased how preservation and progress can work together, with the development of 35 residential lots and over 50% of the property being maintained for wildlife management .

We all benefit from a landowner’s decision to conserve land. So in this special season of giving and glad tidings, we should all say thank you to those who have had the vision and commitment to give this community a gift that will keep on giving into perpetuity.
Caren Schumacher, Executive Director
Williamsburg Land Conservancy

You can learn more about the Williamburg Land Conservancy Here

 

John Womeldorf is Mr. Williamsburg, sharing his thoughts, real estate expertise, and “all things Williamsburg” in an effort to spread the word that Williamsburg and Hampton Roads, Virginia is the greatest place on earth to live!

Mr Williamsburg.com " Williamsburg VA. Real EstateContact me at John@MrWilliamsburg.com

Research the area at www.WilliamsburgsRealEstate.com

Or ask any questions about homes, neighborhoods, schools, amenities, recreation , shopping or anything else about the area.

Click here to Search all homes, town homes, condos and building lots for sale in Williamsburg, James City, New Kent, York, Gloucester, Charles City Virginia

Click here to search all homes, town homes, condos and building lots for sale in Va Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth,Franklin, Sussex,

 

Williamsburg VA- Thomas Nelson Community College Opening New Campus

  The new Historic Triangle Campus at Opportunity Way begins a new era in the life of Thomas Nelson Community College and the communities we serve.

 

 In a region steeped in our nation’s history, Thomas Nelson Community College is proud to make its own history. The campus’s 120,000 square foot building is on nearly 74 acres of land at the Warhill site, strategically located next to Williamsburg-James City County’s newest high school.

 

 

The new campus will play a major role in providing quality education, serving the workforce development needs of businesses and industry, and helping individual citizens achieve their goals.

For more information, please call 757-253-4300 or visit us online at www.tncc.edu

 

John Womeldorf is Mr. Williamsburg, sharing his thoughts, real estate expertise, and “all things Williamsburg” in an effort to spread the word that Williamsburg and Hampton Roads, Virginia is the greatest place on earth to live!

Mr Williamsburg.com " Williamsburg VA. Real EstateContact me at John@MrWilliamsburg.com

Research the area at www.WilliamsburgsRealEstate.com

Or ask any questions about homes, neighborhoods, schools, amenities, recreation , shopping or anything else about the area.

Click here to Search all homes, town homes, condos and building lots for sale in Williamsburg, James City, New Kent, York, Gloucester, Charles City Virginia

Click here to search all homes, town homes, condos and building lots for sale in Va Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth,Franklin, Sussex,

Williamsburg VA Real Estate High Street Update

Williamsburg virginia real estate high street Town Homes

Williamsburg virginia real estate high street Town Homes

WILLIAMSBURG VA From an article in the VA Gazette by Steve Vaughn, Dec, 17 2008

  —High Street has a new real estate agent for the residential properties and a new emphasis as well.

 Dan Aston of Roseland Property Co., the developer of High Street, said market demand has spurred construction of the condos sooner than planned, starting in spring.

 

“The demographics that we’re appealing to tell us that’s what we want, so we’ll be starting them sooner than we originally planned,” he said.

Sixteen townhomes are built and another 16 are planned. William E. Wood had been handling sales of the townhomes.

“The contract was up and we chose to go with Prudential McCardle instead,” Aston said. Roseland itself manages rental of the the King’s Manor apartments, which are already open.

Roseland will also manage the more than 200,000 feet of commercial space in High Street, although Aston said the company uses a nationally known commercial leasing agent based in Michigan to help attract clients.

The first of those commercial clients will open soon. Five Guys Burgers & Fries ( my favorite) is opening Jan. 5. There’s also a firm date for the opening of High Street’s anchor attraction, the Movie Tavern theater. It will open March 20.

High Street’s only other announced commercial tenant, Kilwin’s ice cream parlor, should open prior to the theater, according to Aston.

Other possibilities include coffeehouses, more restaurants and possibly a supermarket

Click here to search all New, Resale, Condos and Town Homes in the High Street community/ PUD in the city of Williamsburg Virginia

John Womeldorf is Mr. Williamsburg, sharing his thoughts, real estate expertise, and “all things Williamsburg” in an effort to spread the word that Williamsburg and Hampton Roads, Virginia is the greatest place on earth to live!

Contact me at John@MrWilliamsburg.com

Research the area at www.WilliamsburgsRealEstate.com

Or ask any questions about homes, neighborhoods, schools, amenities, recreation , shopping or anything else about the area.

Search Homes for Sale

Click here to Search all homes, town homes, condos and building lots for sale in Williamsburg, James City, New Kent, York, Gloucester, Charles City Virginia

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Wiliamsburg VA Real Estate “Fords Colony News”

From an article in the VA Gazette 

JAMES CITY – In a stunning affront, homeowners in Ford’s Colony are looking outside the gates to find a new management company. That threatens developer Realtec’s hold over the sprawling planned community.

The potential shakeup is the latest wedge in a series of disputes that date back to an attempt to build 220 workforce homes across News Road. Realtec hoped to roll the project into the Ford’s Colony master plan, which homeowners vehemently opposed. Things went downhill when management pushed a big continuing care facility as well.

The homeowner association president downplayed any animosity. Deborah Gatzek-Kratter said, “This isn’t anything adverse about RCS,” referring to Realtec Community Services. “It’s just a normal process. It doesn’t reflect anything about anybody. There’s no problem [with Realtec]. This is about getting the best value, the best service, for the money.”

It is nonetheless the first time the Homeowner Association has challenged an arrangement forged 23 years ago by opening the management contract to outside bidders. Last week six bids came in, including one from Realtec.

What’s at stake is a contract worth $4.5 million that covers more than 25 employees in 24-hour security, 30 in maintenance, five in management and two in recreation, plus summer temp help. Community Services maintains 45 miles of private roads and 250 acres of common area.

Realtec the company oversaw the compound until 2000, when it ceded control to the Homeowner Association after a series of phases.

Insiders said this week that with Realtec’s “veto power” over association decisions set to expire in 2010, now’s the time to recast the contract or retain a new company altogether.

Realtec general manager Drew Mulhare said, “We believe that keeping the interests of the developer and the HOA aligned is in the best interest of both entities and, of course, the folks who own property here.” He said Community Services drew a 90% approval rating in a recent survey.

Skeptics feel Realtec is still in charge.

Ousting Community Services is more complicated than hiring a new company. It owns the project maintenance facility, which houses management offices, storage, a mechanic’s shop and a fuel depot. The HOA pays into a shared-use agreement, but the cost is half of what homeowners can expect to pay in mortgage or lease costs for separate facilities, Mulhare said.

Indeed, Community Services would be under no obligation to let the homeowner association use the facility.

“Maintenance companies, large landscape companies and construction companies have spoken to us in the past regarding co-op agreements, mergers or leases,” Mulhare said. They are attracted to being close to the 3,000 lots, 2,400 homes and 600 to-be-built units at Ford’s Colony.

Then there are the 60 or so Community Services employees. Realtec could be subcontracted by the new company, Mulhare noted, which moves the negotiations mostly to a matter of the $436,000 upper management portion of the contract.

“It would separate me and my development connection from the management agent,” Mulhare said. “However, there is no evidence that my dual relationships have been a determent to the [Home­owner Association].”

Village at Ford’s Colony, the controversial continuing care facility on News Road, will come online in a matter of years, Mulhare said, providing more business for whoever runs the compound.

Gatzek-Kratter carefully noted that the decision was not based on the controversy over the continuing care facility. More than 900 Ford’s Colony residents initially opposed the plan, and the HOA later tried to block it through legal means. Eventually both residents and the HOA supported the retirement home, or at least agreed to not fight it anymore.