THE RIVERFRONT RESIDENTS ENJOY A VACATION LIFESTYLE EVERY DAY

RESIDENTS ENJOY A VACATION LIFESTYLE…….every day 

Pristine setting, convenient location and amenities abound at The Riverfront at Harbour View

 

Thirteen years ago, The Riverfront at Harbour View was a community waiting to blossom aong the shores of the James and Nansemond Rivers in northern Suffolk, Virginia. Today, it’s difficult to encompass all that this sprawling resort community is, both geographically and to its residents.

 

In 2001, more than 100,000 people flocked to the community that was in its infancy to tour the 15 homes during the largest ever Homerama 16 day event. Today, there are more than 1,000 homes, with more under construction or breaking ground in the near future. New home buyers are once again seeing first-hand why so many people are coming out to play and ultimately stay, and just how much the community has grown since its 2001 inception.

 

 

About the developer

 

In 1973, East West Communities purchased land near Richmond to build communities that combined a vacation lifestyle with everyday living. Its first two communities. Brandermill and Woodlake, received several national awards for developing the "Best Planned Community" in the U.S. (in 1978 and 1990).

 

Since then, East West has developed 35 communities in Virginia and Florida.

With the success of the Richmond communities, East West began developing in Hampton Roads in 1988 with Smithfield’s Gatling Pointe and then in 1993, with Gatling Pointe South (Three times awarded "Community of the Year" by the Peninsula Housing & Builders Association). The Gatling Pointe Yacht Club is a popular marina and club restaurant still today, located where the James and Pagan Rivers meet near Smithfield, Virginia.

 

From there, it developed The Riverfront at Harbour View, which has received numerous accolades and awards, including the TBA Stanley Award for “Community of the Year” in 2003 and 2005.  In 2008, The Riverfront at Harbour View was awarded TBA’s Community Hall of Fame.

 

East West has also been twice recognized for  "Community of the Year" awards for Founders Pointe. Founders Pointe, a waterfront community in Isle of Wight County, opened its Residents' Club and pool amenity complex in 2007, and features quality custom homes from the $390's to over $800,000.  

 

 

What makes this community so attractive?

 

 For starters, it offers homebuyers a variety of options from single-family homes to upscale condos.  “The housing types attract a wide range of homebuyers” said Mark Edwards, East West Partners senior vice-president and broker.  The Riverfront also offers eight different builders, each with a distinctive style of homes. Among those are two builders participating in the Southern Living® Custom Builder program, one of whom was named the Southern Living® Builder of the Year in 2010.

 

“We have a great group of builders who make it possible to develop a great quality and superior lifestyle for our residents,” said Branch Lawson, president of Hampton Roads Division of East West Communities.

 

 

 

Single- family custom homes start around $500,000 and can go upwards of several million.  The condominiums, in particular the GABLES, start at in the $260's and can go upwards of the upper $300,000s, depending upon customization.

 

The convenient location is also a major plus for residents. “It’s surprising with how convenient it is, especially for those on the Peninsula,” said Lawson.

 

Located off I-664, near the Monitor Merriman Bridge Tunnel, the community is situated in the heart of Hampton Roads, and is only 12 minutes from downtown Norfolk and Newport News.  Along the other side of the community are the Nansemond and James Rivers.

 

 

Conveniences of Harbour View

 

Also bordering The Riverfront is Harbour View, which is home to corporate offices, medical facilites and retail stores. If that wasn’t enough, three hotels, a Harris Teeter, a 16 cinema complex, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, TowneBank and numerous restaurants are close at hand.

 

When Homerama was held in 2001, the theater was under construction, but “that was the only thing in at that time”, said Lawson.

 

Harbour View will also be home to Harbour View Town Center, a 126 acre project expected to feature more than two million square feet of retail, office, residential, and hotel space.

 

“The amenities are right here.  You don’t have to go far to get whatever you want,” said Lawson, “from dining and shoping to easy acess to the rest of the world”.

 

Edwards agreed. “The community is very unique to Virginia. It’s the lifestyle and different amenities that we offer”. All of which are available at an affordable price. “The amazing affordability of our amenities from our pool membership to our social club is only about $76 a month,” Edwards continued. “It’s an amazing value”.

 

“Residents don’t go on vacation, they stay home”, said Lawson.  And one can see why, with The Riverfront offerings.

 

 

What’s new at The Riverfront?

 

East West has just opened its final phase of development along Village Square Place and River Park Drive. Approximately 60 homesites remain, consisting of new interior lots, 9 lakefront lots, and a handful of golf course and spectacular riverfront lots.

 

For more information about the available new homes, builders, and the local area, 

visit www.the-riverfront.

 

Celebrating our 40th year creating Virginia's Best Places to Live and Play. Discover the best in lifestyle communities at Founders Pointe, Eagle Harbor, Liberty Ridge, and The Riverfront at Harbour View. East West Realty Sales Centers are open 7 days a week on-site.
 

Exceeding Expectations: The Riverfront at Harbour View

Exceeding Expectations: The Riverfront Puts Harbour View on the Map                                 

 

The Riverfront at Harbour View, a waterfront development in Hampton Roads, VA, developed by East West Communities, helped put Harbour View on the map back in 2000. The following article is an article that appeared in SUFFOLK LIVING, a magazine produced by The Suffolk News Herald, (Res Spears, Editor).

 

The Riverfront at Harbour View, which spreads across two miles in North Suffolk, seems as much resort as neighborhood. The community offers its residents a plethora of amenities, including two pools, an 18 hole golf course, a Residents' Clubhouse, several waterfront parks, two tennis and volleyball courts, a lakefront amphitheater, and waterside walking paths. 

 

Branch Lawson, the President of East West Communities, Hampton Roads, the developer of The Riverfront, said the community has exceeded the expectations the group had when construction began in the year 2000. “I think we’ve exceeded our goals,” he said.  “It’s been a very successful and fulfilling effort. It’s been just the type of community and lifestyle creation we could have only hoped for when we started.” 

When the group purchased the land in 1999, East West wanted to build a community with a variety of home types and services. “We first and foremost try to amenitize the community with as many good diverse amenities as we can that will be attractive to the buying public.” Lawson said. 

“Because of the land’s prime location in Hampton Roads” he said, “East West wanted to ensure the development would exceed people’s expectations.” 

 

“We recognized it as a property that was truly in the heart of Hampton Roads, both geographically and from a transportation prospective,” Lawson said. “We went into it with big hopes and dreams.” 

 

Prior to developing The Riverfront, East West developed Gatling Pointe near Smithfield, but the company had been mostly Richmond-based up until that point.

 

East West Senior Vice-President Mark Edwards said he thinks creating Gatling Pointe, which includes over 500 homes, gave the company extra confidence going into The Riverfront at Harbour View. 

 

“Because of the quality of community we did at Gatling Pointe, it really helped us land The Riverfront property” he said. Although the group purchased the land for The Riverfront in 1999, East West had shown interest in North Suffolk even before that.

 

Lawson said they wanted to develop the entire area that became Harbour View and had contacted the company selling land for development. Prior to the ‘80s, the property was mostly farmland, but Chicago Bridge and Iron purchased it in the mid-‘70s, hoping to develop an oil refinery during the oil embargo. But a slow permitting process, coupled with local opposition, stalled the process, and the oil crisis ended before the company could break ground. The land remained vacant for years, and in the ‘80s the company began shopping it for development.

 

“We had been in touch with them to buy the land”, Lawson said. “We loved the location and loved the water accessibility”. 

 

But Goodman Segar Hogan finally bought the property and earned the right to develop it.  More than 10 years later, though, East West got another shot at a portion of the property when it was asked to finish the golf course communities.

 

One of the first advertisements for The Riverfront in 2000.

 

Construction started on The Riverfront in 2000, and although this was East West’s second Hampton Roads community, it was to be different than all the company’s other developments.

 

 

 

“It’s the only golf community we have developed (in Hampton Roads),” Edwards said. "The Golf course provides natural separation between the neighborhoods within the community and it offers scenic views." The first homes were completed in April 2000.  A year later, the new community welcomed more than 100,000 people to its first “Home-a-rama”. “That helped tremendously with awareness and putting the community on the map” Edwards said. “Before that, people didn’t know what The Riverfront was about and thought Suffolk was too far. Homerama put it on the map, and a lot of people came there for the first time.” 

 

(Article update: Ten years later, The Riverfront once again hosted Homearama in 2011, which featured nine homes on Shelter Cove Court. Over 80,000 attended the Tidewater Builders Association event.) 

 

 

Edwards said The Riverfront has room for approximately 1200 homes, and more than 1000 have been built since 2000. Homes in the community range in size from one-bedroom condos to sprawling mansions and are priced from the mid-$100,000s to in the millions. 

 

“I think it brings in a total cross section of the population and all different age groups.” Lawson said. “I think the diversity of age ranges and family mixes makes for a very exciting community, and I think it makes it a more desirable community”.

 

Lawson echoed Edwards’ accolades for both The Riverfront and for Harbour View. “I would give the entire Harbour View area an “A” for how it has developed,” he said. “We’ve been very proud to be associated with working in this community and we think the whole area has exceeded expectations.”

  

Celebrating our 40th year creating Virginia's Best Places to Live and Play. Discover the best in lifestyle communities at Founders Pointe, Eagle Harbor, Liberty Ridge, and The Riverfront at Harbour View. East West Realty Sales Centers are open 7 days a week on-site.

Tour New Models in FOUNDERS POINTE- a new waterfront community in VA

 

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Discover three brand new model homes in this scenic waterfront community.

Founders Pointe boasts one of the most unique gathering spots around. The Residents’ Club features a craftsman-style clubhouse, swimming pool with 112-foot waterslide, children’s playground, sand volleyball court and a full-time Activities Director plans events throughout the entire year. The ongoing slate of social activities is one of the truly unique benefits of living in this extraordinary community, helping it to twice be selected “Community of the Year” by the Peninsula Housing & Builders Association.

207 Arlington Place

$399,900 - Birdsong Builders

5 bedrooms, 3 full baths, 3,070 sq. ft.

Birdsong Builders newly furnished showcase model is 3070 sq. ft. which includes a finished 3rd floor that is perfect for either a media room or children's retreat. The home features 5 bedrooms, 3 full baths, a covered front entry, brick and Hardi-plank exterior, and side loading garage. First floor is open and spacious with a connecting family room, kitchen and casual dining area. Family room features a cozy gas fireplace. Kitchen with custom designed Cherry stained cabinets and granite countertops. Beautiful hardwood flooring in the foyer, dining room, kitchen and casual dining area. Formal dining room with custom trim and crown molding. First floor bedroom with adjacent full bath. Second floor features master suite with large walk-in closet and tile shower. Three additional bedrooms and tiled laundry room also on second level. Spacious bonus room could be a 5th bedroom or media/game room. Professional landscaping including sod and irrigation in front, rear, and side yards.

505 Founders Pointe Trail

$599,900 - Newhall Construction

5 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 3,300 sq. ft.

The WINDWARD model by Newhall Construction is a surprisingly large and very private homesite. Main floor master suite, expansive Kitchen with large center island & granite counter tops, study, Media Room or Family Entertainment Room, separate guest suite, front & back porch. First floor study, dining room, and deluxe trim package. Privately wooded and approximately one acre homesite. Gracious living can be found in this dynamic new home design which takes advantage of the scenic backyard view.

107 Parkers Ridge

$599,900 - E.R. Lenz Contracting

4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 3,100 sq. ft.

New brick Craftsman-style home features a first floor master suite. Quality appointments throughout by E. R. Lenz Contracting, Inc. Private wooded backyard on a quiet cul-de-sac location. Front porch and rear patio/deck on a raised solid foundation. Mostly brick exterior with Hardi-plank in the front gable. Custom appointments include granite countertops, custom cabinetry and trim, hardwood & tile flooring, and many other built-in features.

Overlooking the Batten Bay, with creeks and tributaries flowing to the James River, there’s never a shortage of breathtaking vistas and outdoor activities. Residents enjoy resort-style amenities including a community clubhouse with a lakefront swimming pool, a children’s playground, leisure trails for walking and biking, an Observation Pier that overlooks the Hampton roads and Batten Bay, and more. Even socializing with your neighbors is made effortless at Founders Pointe, with a year-round calendar of social events planned by a community Activities Director.

With quality custom homes from the $399,900 to over $1 million, this community provides you with not only the home of your dreams, but the opportunity to live the lifestyle you have always dreamed of living. Founders Pointe is centrally located to all of Hampton Roads, near the historic town of Smithfield, just 3 miles south of the James River Bridge in the Carrollton area of Isle of Wight County - a quick 10 minute drive to the Peninsula or 25 minutes to downtown Norfolk.

For more information, call Mark Edwards or Donita Frantz with EAST WEST REALTY (757) 238-9009. The Information Center is open daily. New homes and waterfront homesites are now available.

Site of the Peninsula Housing & Builders Association
PARADE OF HOMES ~ Spring of 2013

Twice chosen Community of the Year

For Information about East West Partners’ communities, visit www.eastwestcommunities.com. Discover the best in lifestyle communities at Founders Pointe, Eagle Harbor, Liberty Ridge, and The Riverfront at Harbour View. East West Realty Sales Centers are open 7 days a week on-site. Equal Housing Opportunity

Ever want to own a Parade of Homes model home? Here's your chance!

Founders Pointe has been selected by the Peninsula Housing & Builders Association to host the 2013 Parade of Homes model home extravaganza next April 13th - 28th. Founders Pointe is an award winning, waterfront community in the Carrollton area of Isle of Wight County, near Smithfield, Virginia. Now's a great time to visit Founders Pointe and select your new home plan to be built in this unique opportunity.

Nicely removed from the city, Founders Pointe is convenient to all of Hampton Roads, just 3 miles from the James River Bridge, 12 minutes to I-664 and the Harbour View area, and 25 minutes to downtown Norfolk. This waterfront community was host to the first ever Spring Homearama model home show in 2010, and has been twice awarded "Community of the Year" by the Sales & Marketing Council of the PHBA.

The Lot Draw for the Builders will be held June 28th at Founders Pointe, and Builders will select which homesite to build their showcase home for next April's home show (April 13th-28th). East West Communities will release two new cul-de-sacs for the Parade of Homes for the builders to create another dream streetscape. Settler's Ridge and Batten Cove are waterfront cul-de-sacs that overlook Batten Bay and the James River, a spectacular setting for next April's event. Lots start in the low $100's and homebuyers are able to be involved in the plan selection process.

Potential homebuyers can be involved in building their dream home as one of the Parade of Homes models by contacting their REALTOR® or one of the Founders Pointe new home representatives. It's a great opportunity to take advantage of a wonderful value and live in one of the best new neighborhoods in Virginia. Founders Pointe features resort style amenities, a clubhouse and lakefront pool, miles of leisure trails, and an 844' Observation Pier. The Parade of Homes participating builders will unveil their selected house plan and selected lot later this summer.

Tens of thousands of people typically attend annual model home shows like the PHBA's Parade of Homes and TBA's Homearama model home show event. It's a chance for Builders to showcase the latest in new home designs, new home trends, interior home furnishings, new home technology, and creative landscaping & backyard creations. Big Home Shows (an affiliate of the Tidewater Builders Association) will work in conjunction with the PHBA on the April 2013 Parade event.

East West Communities hosted a PHBA Parade of Homes event in Gatling Pointe South in 1993, which won a Gold Award from the National Association of Homebuilders as the Best Home Show of the Year. (55,000 people visitors toured the fifteen Southern Living homes built that year) Besides the Spring 2010 Homearama at Founders Pointe, East West also hosted two Homearama model home shows in The Riverfront at Harbour View in 2001 and 2011. (Both shows brought over 190,000 spectators to The Riverfront).

The renderings above are Frank Betz Associates, Inc designs.

For Information about East West Partners’ communities, visit www.eastwestcommunities.com. Discover the best in lifestyle communities at Founders Pointe, Eagle Harbor, Liberty Ridge, and The Riverfront at Harbour View. East West Realty Sales Centers are open 7 days a week on-site. Equal Housing Opportunity