Stonehenge Newsletter 2014-09
Transcription
Stonehenge Newsletter 2014-09
September 2014 Stonehenge Living The Stonehenge Homeowners’ Association Community Newsletter • www.stonehengeliving.com Homeowner’s Association Annual Meeting and Social Night The Stonehenge HOA will hold a very brief annual meeting for all members on Monday, October 13th in the Carolina Wings Restaurant located near Starbucks in the shopping center on Creedmoor Road. Members will be given an opportunity to ask questions, make requests, and bring ideas to board members. Complimentary wings will be provided. After the general meeting, a team trivia contest will be held. Please come out and enjoy the fellowship of your neighbors and learn more about your homeowner’s association. All Stonehenge residents are invited to attend, whether or not you are members of the homeowners’ association. The fun starts at 7 pm! Monday Mix, Mingle, and Munch at Margaux’s Stonehenge Homeowner Association Directors President: Doug Wilkerson ([email protected]) Treasurer: Pat Kosak ([email protected]) 847-3088 Secretary: David Smith ([email protected]) Newsletter Editor: Diane Lahti ([email protected]) 847-0650 Other Board Members: Roger Kosak, Darlene Miller, Jason Botts, Ric Cox, Tom Harris, Dan Culligan, and Neal Cooper It’s time for another Stonehenge social night at Margaux’s restaurant. All Stonehenge residents are invited. Margaux’s provides the food (a very generous buffet of tapas) and you provide the pleasant conversation. The fun starts at 7 pm on Monday, September 29th. Look for a greeter at the door and get your name tag to get special drink pricing. Hope to see you there! Please send an rsvp to [email protected] if you plan to come so the restaurant can prepare an appropriate amount of food. Plant Swap Seventh Annual Stonehenge Plant Swap - Saturday, October 4th, 10 a.m. on Druids Lane cul-de-sac. Newsletter Delivery Coordinator: Sheila Brewer [email protected] 846-5228 New Neighbor Welcome Packets & “Be Safe Slow Down” Sign Coordinator Darlene Miller [email protected] We welcome your suggestions and feedback. To email the directors please send to: [email protected] HOA Pool Party a Splash Smash Share some coffee and plant talk with your neighbors. Divide those bulbs! Dig up seedlings! Root some clippings! Bring some seeds! Bring anything you would like to swap. OR feel free to come empty handed, there are always leftovers. We hope to see you there! June’s HOA pool party was attended by 63 members, 15 adult guests, and many children. Everyone enjoyed a pleasant evening including use of the pool, music from a DJ, an appetizer buffet, favorite drinks, and great fellowship time with neighbors. Thank you very much Ric Cox for organizing and managing another successful event. For more information, or to volunteer please email: Brittany Walls at [email protected] or call: 919-845-0242 Fall Children’s Party New to Stonehenge? The HOA has a welcome kit for you full of information and special deals. Please contact Darlene Miller at damiller_64@ yahoo.com to get one of these welcome kits for yourself or a new neighbor. Yahoo! Group: [email protected] It’s a tradition in Stonehenge to treat neighborhood kids on the Saturday before Halloween. This year’s event is still being planned but the date is set to be October 26th. Watch neighborhood signs and social networks for more information closer to the event date. You can contact Erin Smith the coordinator at [email protected] for more information. stonehengehoa.nextdoor.com www.stonehengeliving.com Pg. 1 Join the Club! Club Corner If you’ve never gotten involved in a Stonehenge neighbor group, the fall is the perfect time to join. Most clubs have taken a vacation over the summer and will be starting regular meetings again in September. Below is an overview of club choices: Contacts Stonehenge Book Club: The Stonehenge Dinner Club This group meets four times a year in groups of eight. There is usually a theme which has been chosen ahead of time such as “Italian.” The dinner group delegates cooking responsibilities and hosting duties rotate so that each couple hosts one time per year. If you’d like to be a part of this group, contact Ric Cox at [email protected]. Toni Cox ([email protected]) 848-0583 Stonehenge Women’s Network: Toni Cox ([email protected]) 848-0583 Stonehenge Supper Club: Ric Cox ([email protected]) 848-0583 Stonehenge Bridge Club: Linda Waldron ([email protected]) 847-6949 Stonehenge 45 & Under Social Group Melissa O’Hara ([email protected]) Stonehenge Run Club: Sean Gibson ([email protected] with Bottle Mixx Beer Run in the subject heading) These are open membership clubs for Stonehenge residents. New members are welcomed. Neighborhood Calendar September 29: 7:00 pm, Margaux’s Mixer, Complimentary Appetizer Buffet October 4: 10:00 am, Annual Plant Swap on Druid’s Lane in cul-de-sac October 13: 7:00 pm, Annual Meeting of the Stonehenge HOA (very brief meeting.) Wings will be served! Trivia contest to follow. October 26: 10:00 am, Children’s Fall Party Seven Oaks Parking Lots. Watch signs and notices on Yahoo and Nextdoor Networks for details closer to the date. November 15, 9:30 am, Holiday ornament construction workshop. Carolina Wings Restaurant in Stonehenge Market. See article in newsletter to get an information update email. Consider sponsoring a “Slow Down” sign. Contact Darlene Miller at dmiller@ stonehengeliving.com Yahoo! Group: [email protected] Stonehenge Under 45 Social Club This group consists of couples roughly under 45 who may or may not have young kids at home. It is a fun and easy way to hang out and meet neighbors. Children will have an opportunity to be part of the group at various times also. The group meets bi-monthly to enjoy appetizers, desserts and cocktails. For more info or to join, please contact Melissa O’Hara (Melissa.j.ohara@ gmail.com) or Margaret O’Leary ([email protected]). Stonehenge Women’s Network This group is the longest running group in Stonehenge. Meetings are held on one Tuesday night each month. Women of all ages are welcomed. The meetings often involve a special program such as craft making or a speaker. There is always a lot of laughing, sharing of ideas, and fellowship. Get on our email list and get notifications about each month’s planned activity and location. Contact [email protected]. Book Club Members of the book club meet on the second Thursday night of each month to discuss the book assignment for the month. A wide range of books are discussed with a diversity of opinions and ages represented. If you like to read, this is a great way to get to know like-minded neighbors. The location of the meeting rotates among members’ homes. To find out about the book title and location, contact the group chair Toni Cox at [email protected] Stonehenge Bridge Club On the first and third Tuesday afternoon of each month, members of the bridge club meet to play cards at rotating host homes. It is not necessary to be a bridge expert, but basic knowledge of the rules for bidding is needed. The group is always looking for substitutes and new members. If you are interested in finding out more about the bridge club, please contact Linda Waldron at [email protected]. Children’s Run Club A fun, welcoming and supportive group for runners aged 8-14 of all experience levels is now in its third year. There is no cost, no obligation and all kids are welcome to participate as much as they’d like. Activities include structured weekly training program, tailored workouts based on experience level, hosted practices, and two races in late October. Practices are held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings through October 30th. For more information contact: Andrew and Steph Jeffries at (919) 866-1079 (home.) stonehengehoa.nextdoor.com www.stonehengeliving.com Pg. 2 Insights From Real Estate Agents About Stonehenge Property Values You’ve probably noticed homes with “for sale” signs in Stonehenge that go under contract as soon as they go on the market. What is special about our neighborhood or the homes that sell? To gain insight on these questions, I spoke with real estate agents who represent buyers and sellers, and live in our neighborhood, Connie Batten and Jose Serrano. Over the past six months, thirty-two homes have sold in Stonehenge with an average selling price of $328,384 ($139 per sq. foot) and an average time to sell of 51 days. A predominant demographic group buying in Stonehenge is young families who are attracted by our area’s location, including the proximity to Seven Oaks Swim Club, 540, the airport, shopping, restaurants, and RTP. The large lot sizes and excellent reputation of area schools are also attractions. Also, says Connie Batten, “this is not a cookie cutter neighborhood”. One reason that younger families are more likely to buy in this area is the predominance of two story homes. Empty nesters are more likely to prefer ranches and smaller lots when making purchase decisions but many choose to stay because of the vibrancy, convenience, and friendliness of our neighborhood. The younger market segment prefers upgraded homes, particularly upgraded kitchens. According to Jose Serrano, the reason for this preference is related to shortages of cash and time for younger buyers. These buyers usually prefer to finance the cost of desired home features rather than invest on a pay as you go basis, or as their limited leisure time permits. Kitchen remodeling tends to be the most highly valued improvement because the kitchen is a public area that is viewed by guests. Buyers generally expect granite countertops, updated appliances, and quality flooring. Connie Batten says that younger buyers prefer hardwood floors on the first floor. She suggests painting dark trim in the house with white or off white paint and changing out brass fixtures which date the house to the time when “brass was king.” When there are additions or major remodeling to the home, Jose Serrano warns that it is important to hire a designer or architect. Poorly designed and constructed additions can become negative rather than positive factors to favorable sales terms. The appearance of the yard is also important. Most people recognize the need to keep grass mowed but trimming of overgrown trees and bushes is frequently neglected. Trimming lower branches increases the light inside the house and creates an attractive canopy effect. Newer buyers often prefer lower foundational landscaping plants such as dwarf gardenias and nandinas rather than the hedge-like bushes that were in favor in the 1980’s. Many of the homes in Stonehenge are outside of the city limits and have lower property taxes. These lots may remain outside of the city for the foreseeable future because the costs to the Yahoo! Group: [email protected] city to connect sewer lines into city services. Stonehenge will be very expensive due to the large lot sizes. In addition, many of the roads in this area may require upgrading. With our city dealing with a tight budget, the extra money required to pay for the costs associated with annexing the county sections of Stonehenge may be prohibitive until municipal finances improve. When annexation does occur, homeowners must be granted a period of time to pay for annexation costs. Both Connie and Jose agree that home values in Stonehenge continue to appreciate. Thanks to Jose Serrano and Connie Batten for contributing information for this article. These realtors live in Stonehenge and have supported our HOA through purchase of advertisements in our newsletter and directory. Home Equity Loans Get the Lowest Rates Around* rates are as low as 2.50 %** APR Stop by the Stonehenge Branch to learn more! 7560 Creedmoor Rd. Raleigh, NC 27613 (919) 941-5700 www.rtpfcu.org EQUAL HOUSING LENDER Federally Insured by NCUA. *Based on Datatrac analysis of 55 lenders representing 392 branch locations in the Raleigh Metro area. **Restrictions apply. Rate and terms may vary based on credit history and profile. Free Estimates Bunky Johnson Fully Insured stonehengehoa.nextdoor.com Mowing Leaf Removal Edging Mulching Trimming Pruning Cleanup Debris Removal Complete Turf & Shrub Programs Full Service - High Quality Landscape Management Customized for Your Needs 20 Years Experience Call Bunky Johnson 676-9022 www.stonehengeliving.com Pg. 3 Rezoning Plan for Undeveloped Tract on Creedmoor Road Holiday Outdoor Lights Assembly Workshop There are five virgin land tracts along Creedmoor Road that are in the sights of developers. Four are immediately to the west of Brennan Station shopping center and the fifth, which is the largest (5.73 acres), is north of Corberrie and Oxbow but has no access at present to Creedmoor Road. Last year’s workshop for instruction and construction of large, outdoor hanging lighted ornaments was highly successful so we are doing it again! Wray Gillette and other experienced makers will be on hand to provide instructions and answer questions about installation in trees. Let’s spread the lights even more this year. Since 2005 this plot has been owned by Creedmoor Preserve LLC. This summer, a filing was made with the City to rezone the large tract plus one of the adjacent small tracts (6.73 acres total) to mixed use. There is no publicly available evidence that a site plan or subdivision plan has been filed with the City yet. The developer is probably waiting on the rezoning petition to go through before taking the next steps. In June, the owner of the property, the developer, and a general contractor met with several residents of adjoining property on Oxbow Court. At that meeting, the developer shared plans to construct as many as 38 homes on the larger tract and construct a road between Corberrie and Brandon Station Drive. Stonehenge residents in the area are concerned about multiple negative impacts from the current development plans. These include: 1. negative effects on property values, 2. traffic and safety issues (Corberrie and Brandon Station are poorly maintained county roads), 3. stress on sewer and water systems from runoff, exacerbated by lower elevation of Stonehenge properties which are south and west of the proposed development. The workshop will be held on Saturday morning, November 15th starting at 9:30 a.m. at Carolina Wings Restaurant in Stonehenge Market. Depending on the number of rsvps, the event may be divided into two time slots. Be on the lookout for more information to be distributed over the Yahoo and Nextdoor Neighbor communication networks. If you are not on one of our email communication networks and would like email notification of the workshop, send a message to diane.lahti@ earthlink.net. Instructions for making the displays will be posted on our neighborhood website, www.stonehengeliving.com. The HOA will purchase chicken wire. Each member household will receive material at no cost to make one ornament. Additional wire can be purchased at a cost of $2 per ornament. You will need to supply your own lights (300 lights per ball) and power cord to complete the project. It is recommended that you wear protective gloves when working with the chicken wire. Chuck Till, Stonehenge resident, believes that past experience says that something is going to happen to these tracts. “The City won’t let them just sit there undeveloped for eternity.” Developed tracts result in more property tax revenues for the city. Efforts to oppose undesirable development in this area are being spearheaded by Wray and Sheri Gillette. A petition opposing the proposed plans was circulated at the annual HOA pool party and was signed by about 45 residents. The HOA is also actively monitoring this situation, led by board member Roger Kosak. It is expected that the HOA will take a formal position and recruit members to attend the rezoning hearing to represent neighborhood interests. These efforts may be necessary because the affected Stonehenge area is not within the city limits. According to Chuck Till, “If 50 people show up on voting night (Northwest/Umstead CAC meeting) and then Jay(Gudeman, chairperson) reports overwhelming and multitudinous opposition to the city, this often carries weight at the Planning Commission. If you want to contest the matter all the way through, it will eventually go to a hearing at City Council. Numbers are important there, too. Petitions and letters are not nearly as persuasive as physical attendance at meetings.” Stonehenge residents have successfully organized in the past in opposition of undesirable development plans. Periodic updates will be shared so stay tuned to social networks. Yahoo! Group: [email protected] stonehengehoa.nextdoor.com www.stonehengeliving.com Pg. 4
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Stonehenge Newsletter 2013-09
the Homeowners’ Association is donating chicken wire to construct the balls. The exact date and time for this event have not been finalized as of the date of this newsletter. Be on the lookout for ...
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