Scott and Missy Fitzgerald felt at home in the Northridge neighborhood in Evans long before they purchased a house there.
"We saw online that they were selling houses so we decided to drive out here one day," Mrs. Fitzgerald said. "While we were looking, we came in contact with a family here who talked to us about the neighborhood and even invited us inside their home to see what it looked like. The warm welcome left quite an impression on us and we knew that this was where we wanted to be."
They had a 3,000-square-foot home built in the neighborhood, and moved in December 2005.
Families tend to gather at the neighborhood playground, which is across the street from the Fitzgeralds. It's the favorite place outside of the home for the couple's children, Sidney, 5, and Harrison, 2, they said.
"It's a lot of fun for the kids to play with our neighbors' children," Mr. Fitzgerald said. "It's a popular gathering spot for the neighborhood, a socializing area for the children. The kids absolutely love it."
Neighborhood camaraderie is also cultivated through activities such as old-fashioned dinners on the grounds, tailgate parties and monthly Friday gatherings on the porch.
"We have a lot of gatherings. When one family celebrates something, we all celebrate with them," said Mrs. Fitzgerald, a member of the neighborhood association's social committee. "Even when we don't have an official event going on, we still visit one another. Everyone gets along, and I think that's what makes this neighborhood a nice place to live."
SUBDIVISION OF THE WEEK
The Neighborhood: Northridge
Where: Off North Belair Road in Evans
Year developed: 2003; currently in Phase II
Number of homes: 86 lots, 50 homes in place
Average sale price: Upper $200,000s to upper $400,000s (some custom pre-sales are much higher)
Average home size: 2,500 to 3,000 square feet
Schools zoned for: River Ridge Elementary, Riverside Middle, Greenbrier High schools
Nearby shopping areas: Evans Crossing, Evans Towne Center, Mullins Crossing, Wal-Mart shopping center
Nearby attractions: Columbia County Library and Performing Arts Center are within walking distance; Columbia County Park; post office; medical facilities; government complex; many restaurants and churches
Amenities: Sidewalks; street-lights; natural common areas; old-fashioned central park; mini playground; boat/RV storage; yard maintenance by a yard service
Neighborhood association: Active, with comprehensive community charter and bylaws; association dues are $120 monthly (includes yard maintenance)
Neighborhood events and activities: Spring Fling family gatherings; old-fashioned dinner in park, tailgate parties; Christmas tree lighting; monthly Friday Gathering on the Porch; Easter egg hunts; and pickup ball games
Only in Northridge: A small neighborhood band performs at community gatherings
Other information: Each home must adhere to a style commonly found in the 1820s through 1920s; styles include Greek Revival, Colonial Revival, Vernacular; Craftsman cottage, Queen Anne, Federal; and Italianate
Source: Harriet Roney, Blanchard and Calhoun Realtor
AT HOME WITH
The family: Scott and Missy Fitzgerald; children, Sidney, 5 and Harrison, 2; family dog, Sadie, a 10-month-old English goldendoodle
The home: 3,000-square-foot, two-story house, with three bedrooms and three baths
It's a fact: The Fitzgeralds enjoy the house's architecture and its open floor plan. "I always say that it's a new house with an old feel to it," Mr. Fitzgerald said.
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