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
(president@stonehengeliving.com)
Treasurer: Pat Kosak
(treasurer@stonehengeliving.com) 847-3088
Secretary: David Smith
(dsmith@stonehengeliving.com)
Newsletter Editor: Diane Lahti
(dlahti@stonehengeliving.com) 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 diane.lahti@earthlink.net 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
wbrewer3rd@aol.com 846-5228
New Neighbor Welcome Packets &
“Be Safe Slow Down” Sign Coordinator
Darlene Miller
dmiller@stonehengeliving.com
We welcome your suggestions and feedback.
To email the directors please send to:
directors@stonehengeliving.com
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 brittanywalls@mac.com 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: stonehengehoa@yahoogroups.com
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
elsmith0529@att.net 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
ricatoni@mindspring.com.
Toni Cox (tonicox_54@yahoo.com) 848-0583
Stonehenge Women’s Network:
Toni Cox (tonicox_54@yahoo.com) 848-0583
Stonehenge Supper Club:
Ric Cox (ricatoni@mindspring.com) 848-0583
Stonehenge Bridge Club:
Linda Waldron (lwaldron@nc.rr.com) 847-6949
Stonehenge 45 & Under Social Group
Melissa O’Hara (melissa.j.ohara@gmail.com)
Stonehenge Run Club:
Sean Gibson (cseangibson@gmail.com 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: stonehengehoa@yahoogroups.com
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 (olemaggie@gmail.com).
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 tonicox_54@yahoo.com.
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
tonicox_54@yahoo.com
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 lwaldron@nc.rr.com.
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: stonehengehoa@yahoogroups.com
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.
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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: stonehengehoa@yahoogroups.com
stonehengehoa.nextdoor.com
www.stonehengeliving.com
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