Away From - Yet Close Enough To - The 'Hustle And Bustle'
By Beverly N. Williams
|
On the banks of the Pagan River, Gatling Pointe covers over 500 acres.
|
A license plate on a car parked in front of the Gatling Pointe Yacht Club sums up in just about one word the feeling people get from living in the idyllic Isle of Wight subdivision.
"UFOURIA"
Sheer ecstasy and delight to be living in a community that residents believe is an ideal place to raise a family or to just settle down during retirement years. They say they have relatively few problems and crime is virtually unheard of. "It's like the 1950's," one resident remarked. "And we do sort of think we're in a bubble." But folks in Gatling Pointe like it that way, said residents who attended a recent neighborhood forum sponsored by the Daily Press. "We were looking for a place that would be safe," said Sam Welch, whose family moved to Gatling Pointe 18 months ago when the military transferred her husband from Norway to Hampton Roads. "What we saw here were lots of bikes out and kids out playing in the street," she said, "and it seemed like a real pleasant, friend place to be."
The community, which began developing in 1989, also wasn't in the "hustle and bustle" of the city, Welch said. Located on the banks of the Pagan River, Gatling Pointe spans 500 acres between Route 704 and Moone Creek. The closest cities are Newport New and Norfolk, which are each about 15 minutes to a half-hour away. The subdivision currently boasts 500 single-family homes, most of which sit on about a half-acre of land, and most residents' last names are painted on their mailboxes. The development's recreational area includes a clubhouse, swimming pool, volleyball and tennis courts and a 68-slip marina. There's also a playground and a Central Park pavillion.
Many of the residents moved to Gatling Pointe to get away from congested areas like Northern Virginia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C., or they relocated because of their jobs or the military. Several hail from as far away as Illinois, California and Idaho, and many are single-income families. But regardless of where they came from, the residents said, the neighborhood is very close-knit and everyone looks out for one another. And, they said, they’re not as wealthy as many people tend to believe. People live in Gatling Pointe because "they’ve saved long and hard to have this kind of lifestyle," Welch said.
For fun, the residents get together for activities ranging from book, gardening and investment clubs to football parties at the yacht club, and they help each other with things like babysitting. There's even a group to help new residents get acquainted with the neighborhood. "We’ve only been here for five months," said Margo Reed, "and I know more people here than I did in Fairfax. There, everyone was tied up in their own livers and no one was ever home."
In Gatling Pointe, residents have settled in for the long haul. Resident Helen Webber said the residents don't like to move unless they are moving into a larger home in the development. To date, over 60 residents have done this. "People stay loyal," said Webber, who has lived in Gatling Pointe for five years. "Many wouldn't consider looking elsewhere to live."
The Gatling Pointe marina becomes a busy place for boaters and is located where the James and Pagan Rivers meet. 20' to 50' slips are found at the 68 slip marina.
The Junior Sailing Program has become a popular summer time activity for Gatling Pointe kids. The GPYC has received natonal awards for their sailing program.
The clubhouse at Gatling Pointe Yacht Club serves as something of a community center. It's the perfect spot to entertain friends and family, just relax and enjoy a great meal by the river..
