On a recent balmy January day in Norfolk's Colonial Place neighborhood, Shana lounged on her front porch watching the world go by ...
On a recent balmy January day in Norfolk’s Colonial Place neighborhood, Shana lounged on her front porch watching the world go by.
Neighbors were out in full force enjoying their jaunts with children and dogs.
Shana was eager to socialize.
“Bowwww-wowww,” vocalized the basset hound, as she greeted her friends in a tail wagging frenzy.
Her “mommy,” homeowner Rande Mason , laughed at her antics and waved hello to the amused walkers.
“Shana loves it,” said Mason, who moved into Colonial Place 4½ years ago. “It’s a porch-sitting neighborhood, and very, very friendly. Everybody’s out walking at night, with strollers, and it’s nice to be near the water, watching nature. Having the porch is so great to sit out with when it’s raining, and I love growing my plants when it’s nicer out.”
Colonial Place has been around since the early 1900s, and is currently on the National Register of Historic Places as well as the Virginia Landmarks Register . Many homes, like Mason’s, have been renovated while retaining the charm that punctuates the neighborhood.
A large portion of the approximately 1,000 Colonial Place homes were built before the 1940s, with the addition of several apartment buildings and condominiums in later years. Built in 1918, Mason’s Pennsylvania Avenue home was in good shape, but needed updating .
“A lot of houses were built by the same builder so they’re variations on a theme, but people have renovated them in their own way,” added Mason.
Her three bedroom, two-full-bath home was architecturally interesting, with a full walk-up attic and basement. Mason refinished hardwood flooring and painted the whole house before moving in, then continued to convert closets, move walls, refurbish baths, landscape and convert the fireplace to gas. Mason also replaced the windows, siding and roof.
As a real estate agent for Nancy Chandler Associates , Mason knows her home was a smart choice.
“I fell in love with the area. When I moved here, the average home price in the neighborhood was about $150,000 . Personally and financially, it was the best decision I ever made,” she said.
The median home price in Colonial Place has risen to about $300,000, estimated Mason. Over the years — as is chronicled in a 2006 book, “Colonial Place and Riverview, One Hundred Years of History,” by Colonial Place residents Artemis Stoll and Susan VanHecke — changes have produced a thriving, sought-after and active community .
By the 1980s, according to the book, the Colonial Place Greenway, bicycle and jogging path, and Haven Creek boat ramp projects were well underway . Since then, residents enjoy other amenities, like the Colonial Place/Riverview dog park.
Residents also delight in the Knitting Mill Community Creek Garden, a cooperative effort to grow and harvest produce, and the neighborhood Oyster Float project to aid in re-establishing oyster growth in the Chesapeake Bay.
The neighborhood always has something going on, said Mason.
“Over time I’ve learned that the civic league is probably one of the most active leagues in the city. Everyone really enjoys the art walk in the fall,” she added.
The first annual Front Porch Art Walk took place in 1999 , an event that invites artists to display their art for sale on porches throughout Colonial Place and Riverview, a neighboring community that shares civic league activities with Colonial Place. Along with the October art walk, other groups and events have promoted neighborhood spirit over the years, like Christmas caroling, amateur groups, clubs, socials and block parties.
Colonial Place/Riverview Civic League president, Steve Earnhart , said the neighborhoods have dynamic qualities.
“Colonial Place is economically and racially diverse,” he explained, adding that the league has more than 100 members. “It’s one of the few neighborhoods that have been like that through the decades .”
Michael Shaw , branch manager for Norfolk Public Library’s Larchmont location, said that Colonial Place fit the bill five years ago when he moved to town.
“I wanted to stay in Ghent, but it was out of my price range,” said Shaw, who’s been on various civic league committees. “All the homes looked well kept-up in Colonial Place, and I really think it’s ideal. It’s a good mixture of people, families, retired, singles. It’s very special to me.”
“Everybody who lives here loves it. ... Norman Rockwell couldn’t have painted a prettier picture,” said Mason.