Community Profile: Parkside, Savannah, GA

Parkside, Savannah, GA - Great Location

The nationally registered historic Parkside neighborhood, literally named because the community borders Daffin Park along Washington Avenue, is one of the more sought after districts in Savannah to live in. The Parkside neighborhood is bounded by Victory Dr., Waters Ave., Bee St. and 51st Street. From Parkside there is esay access to downtown Savannah, the Truman Parkway and Rt 80 out to Tybee Island. Parkside is also just a mile or so from Victory Square Shopping Center (Victory and Skidaway) which hosts Home Depot, Target, Stapels a movieplex, and numerous places to eat. Parkside is lined with majestic oak trees draped with Spanish moss and large sidewalks offering a short walk to Daffin Park.

Historic Daffin Park a Draw for Parkside Residents

Daffin Park was built as a formal Beaux Arts-style park with two circular nodes joined to the four corners by tree-lined diagonal roads. This beautiful Park has handicapped accessible facilities, baseball and soccer fields, basketball and tennis courts, playgrounds, swimming pool, picnic area, lake pavilion, a dog park and Grayson Stadium, home of the Sand Gnats minor-league baseball team. A large park that rarely seems crowded at a size of 80 acres.

Parkside Friendly Community

Parkside is a great neighborhood community to live in for instance; one year on Thanksgiving weekend “The Kids Block”, i.e. the 1200 block of 49th Street, held a street party/sit down dinner. A single table straddled the middle of the block, set for over 40 people. It’s the kind of neighborhood that take in each other’s FedEx packages, lend and borrow coffee and half–and–half. They even have their own Facebook page Parkside Neighborhood Association, Savannah, GA. In May they have their annual neighborhood Treasure Days Yard Sale. (This year on Friday May 17)

Charming Affordable Parkside Homes

The houses in Parkside are mostly one-and two-story brick-and-frame dwellings built between 1914 and 1947 and feature a variety of architectural styles that include Craftsman, Colonial Revival, Cape Cod, and English Vernacular Revival. Prices range from $140,000 to $225,000 depending on square footage and location. A sound real estate investment and great value for a family home. Search for homes in the Daffin Park/Parkside neighborhood here.

Sidewalk Arts Festival in Historic Savannah

Saturday April 26^th is the Sidewalk Arts Festival, the highlight of alumni and family weekend which enters its 32nd year in 2013. This is a wonderful activity to attend with your family and friends, the SCAD art students paint temporary chalk masterpieces on the sidewalks of historic Forsyth Park. There will be food, music and children’s activities where young artists can get their hands dusty in the children's chalk drawing area. Admission is free, and photo opportunities present themselves with every step.

After snapping photographs of your favorite sidewalk paintings, there is plenty to see and do while visiting Savannah’s historic district, including tours of the historic downtown and SCAD. SCAD — widely recognized for adaptive reuse and urban revitalization — is the centerpiece of Savannah, Georgia, with 70-plus facilities encompassing more than 2 million square feet

The city of Savannah offers several of the most renowned National Historic Landmark Districts in the United States. One of those districts is the Victorian district, which surrounds Forsyth Park and is worth a stroll through to see some of the magnificent homes there. Toward the end of the 1800s the beautiful Victorian District was born due to the overcrowding of the Historic District. Highly detailed Victorian and Queen Anne Victorian homes, constructed between 1870 and 1910, were built in a 50-block division. The homes are mainly regal brick mansions to small craftsmen style cottages. Lined with Spanish moss-draped towering Live Oaks and Mulberry Trees, touring this area is like gently strolling back in time. On the Register of Historic Places, Savannah's Victorian District is full of bed & breakfasts and restaurants. One can find some nicely priced Victorian homes for sale in this historic Victorian district.

After viewing some of the beautiful homes in the Victorian district make your way back towards the

park and enjoy lunch or a cup of coffee on Park Ave where The Sentient Bean, and Brighter Day Natural Foods host outdoor seating. In addition Savannah’s Farmers’ Market will be set up in the Forsyth Park parking lot on Park Ave.

The Sidewalk Arts Festival starts at 11:00 and goes until 5:00pm and the Farmers Market starts at 9:00 am and ends around 1:00. It’s a full day of wonderful activities free and open to the public at historic Forsyth Park on Saturday, enjoy!

 

 

 

Ardsley Park, Savannah Full of Charm

Ardsley Park which was developed in 1910 with most homes built in the 30’ and 40’s, was designed as two adjacent planned subdivisions, Ardsley Park and the Chatham Crescent neighborhood.  Ardsley Park is located south of present-day Victory Drive (originally Estill Avenue) and north of 57th Street. Bull Street is Ardsley Park's western boundary and Waters Avenue is its eastern boundary. In the North West corner of the Ardsley district is the Thomas Square historic district. At the eastern boundary is beautiful Daffin Park, which hosts a variety of neighborhood recreational activities. Grayson Stadium is also located at Daffin Park, where the local Sand Gnats baseball team plays. At north end of Chatham Crescent, is Baldwin Park with its early 20th century bungalows.

Ardsley Park was designed with tree-planting strips, or tree lawns, between the streets and sidewalks and laid out in grids with squares, while Chatham Crescent featured circles and large trees planted directly on the front lawns. The landscape architect who designed Chatham Crescent was trained at the Ecole des Beaux Arts, so the style of the area is referred to as Beaux-Arts style, which was very popular at the time. More than 5,000 trees were planted in Chatham Crescent.  At the center of Chatham Crescent is a palmetto-lined mall stretching between Maupas Avenue (Baldwin Park area) to 47th Street, crossing Victory Dr. Originally the mall, a centerpiece of Chatham Crescent, was to be the home of a magnificent tourist facility called the Hotel Georgia. Unfortunately the hotel was never fully completed and it eventually became what is now the Savannah Arts Academy.

The architectural styles in the district include the late 19th and early 20th century revival period which are sometimes described as the Eclectic Movement in American architecture. The building designs of this era were intended to be more exact versions of earlier architectural styles and traditions. Design elements of homes built during this period include front façade symmetry, front entrance fanlights and sidelights, pediment doorways, porches and dormers. Colonial Revival style became popular for homes, usually featuring a two story building, a side-gabled or hipped roof, a classically inspired door surrounded by windows, shutters and dormers. On Victory Drive particularly one can see these types of homes on a grand scale with large lot sizes. These homes reflect the growing wealth in Savannah during the post-war era.

The neighborhood is considered one of the most affluent within city limits by local residents. Ardsley Park contains a mix of professionals with well-established neighborhood associations that host several community functions every year. The Ardsley Park neighborhood association even has their own website, displaying history, events and a recipe exchange. In 1985, Ardsley Park and Chatham Crescent were named to the National Register of Historic Places under the collective name of Ardsley Park.

Making A Difference On Earth Day

Today is officially Earth Day! This day was first celebrated 43 years ago, today events are held worldwide to demonstrate support for environmental awareness and, for some action. All of this was started with two individuals who were so impassioned by the desire to make a difference in preserving our environment, that they took action themselves.

U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson, from Wisconsin, is usually credited with conceiving the idea for the first Earth Day celebration in the United States, but he wasn't the only person to come up with a similar idea at about the same time. John McConnell was coming up with a similar notion, but on a global scale.  While attending the UNESCO Conference on the Environment in 1969, McConnell proposed the idea of a global holiday called Earth Day, an annual observance to remind people worldwide of their shared responsibility as environmental stewards and their common need to preserve Earth's natural resources.  Meanwhile Senator Nelson asked Denis Hayes, a student attending the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, to organize the first Earth Day. Working with a staff of volunteers, Hayes put together an agenda of environmental events that drew 20 million Americans to join together in celebration of the Earth on April 22, 1970. Mc Connell approached the UN with the
concept of Earth Day as global holiday to be celebrated on the first day of spring because it symbolized renewal. McConnell's proposal was eventually accepted by the United Nations 1971. Since then Earth Day has been officially celebrated globally on April 22.

From global to national, regional and personal it is an opportunity to renew our commitment as responsible stewards of the earth. Individually we can adopt a greener lifestyle, and share our ideas and concerns about the environment. One person can make a difference, as demonstrated by the actions of Gaylord Nelson, John McConnell. Each of us has the power through our daily
decisions and lifestyle choices to make our homes and communities more environmentally friendly. If each of us choose to recycle those plastic food containers, imagine how that could multiply into a significant difference. Here are a few things that each of us can do to help make a difference.

•  Eat Locally Grown Food
•  Change a incandescent light bulb to LED or CFL (save money too!)
•  Shop with reusable shopping bags
•  Bike or walk to a nearby destination
•  Make sure your car is running efficiently
•  Get a free Home Energy Audit
•  Add insulation to your attic
•  Buy energy efficient products
•  Turn down the heat at night and while away from home

 

Finally, this may seem really basic however planting a single tree will make a significant difference, that one tree will absorb approximately one ton of carbon dioxide during its lifetime. Now that's making a difference!

 

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." -  Margaret Mead

Earth Day Savannah 2013

OMG!!! Earth Day Savannah on April 20 has everything you ever wanted to know about how to save the Earth. Workshops, a family bike ride, vendors and live music: The Moon and You, the Train Wrecks and Sincerely, Iris. Its Free and open to the public from 11 - 4 at Forysth Park. http://www.earthdaysavannah.org/index.html

The Farmers Market will also be there, as it usually is from 9:00am - 1:00pm.  However, to make room for RecycleRama and other fun events, the market will move a little deeper into the park. Among the many events and workshops, The Farmer’s Market and Mixed Greens will be hosting a “make your own veggie costume” workshop, followed by a parade at 12:30.

RecycleRama held from 8:00 to 11:00 am kicks of the day by accepting unusual recyclables. Drop off by car is on Park St. between Drayton and Whitaker. FYI - Bull St between Park and Anderson will be closed, so there is no parking in that area. Items that can be dropped off are:

• Tires
• Paint
• Batteries
• Electronics
• Motor Oil
• Waste cooking oil
• Expired medications
• Clothing/Shoes
• Misc. itmes for Goodwill

 The weather is supposed to be great, so come on down to the park and enjoy celebrating Earth Day 2013 with Savannah.  

Five open houses in Savannah

National Open House Weekend Sunday 4/21- Five open houses in Savannah, Time: 3-5 pm

Search our current inventory of homes for sale in Savannah
http://www.realestateinsavannah.net/

616 Maupas, Baldwin Park,
Price:$300,000
MLS Number: 106839
Bedrooms:3
Bathrooms:2.5
Living Area: 1954 Sq. ft.

Full Details:
http://www.realestateinsavannah.net/616-Maupas-Avenue-a273910.html

527 E. 51st St. Ardsley Park,
Price:$275,000
MLS Number: 108183
Bedrooms:3
Bathrooms:2
Living Area:1787 Sq. ft.

Full Details:
http://www.realestateinsavannah.net/527-51st-Street-a276825.html

913 E. 40th St. Baldwin Park
Price: $225,000
MLS Number:103884
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2
Living Area: 1816 Sq. ft.

Full Details:
http://www.realestateinsavannah.net/913-East-40th-Street-a267096.html

109 Shale Court, Stonebridge at Berwick
Price: $215,000
MLS Number:107512
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2
Living Area: 2360 Sq. ft.

Full Details:
http://www.realestateinsavannah.net/109-Shale-Court-a275476.html

726 Canyon Dr, Stonebridge at Berwick
Price: $190,000
MLS Number:105960
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 2
Living Area: 1641 Sq. ft.

Full Details:
http://www.realestateinsavannah.net/726-Canyon-Drive-a271675.html

Buying an Energy Efficient Home

When you are buying a new or previously owned home, you should consider not only the price of the home, but also the operating costs of owning the home. Energy consumption comprises a large portion of home operating costs. Heating and cooling usually comprises 45% of these costs.

Consider looking for a home that was built to Energy Star standards. ENERGY STAR qualified homes are independently verified to be at least 30% more energy-efficient than homes that were built according to the 1993 national Model Energy Code. (ENERGY STAR is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) voluntary program that helps businesses and individuals save money and protect our climate through superior energy efficiency.) Here are some of the differences you will find in an ENERGY STAR qualified home:

·         building envelope upgrades

·         high performance windows

·         controlled air infiltration

·         upgraded heating and air conditioning systems

·         tight duct systems

·         upgraded water-heating equipment

 If the Home is not Energy Star qualified there are still things that you can do to investigate the energy efficiency of a home. Determining the energy efficiency of a home can be difficult, but it is possible. Here are some tips for consideration:

1.      Ask the seller for copies of the monthly utility bills, low utility costs could represent an energy efficient home. However they could also reflect an infrequent use of the heating cooling system.

2.      You could also gather information on the furnace and air conditioner for any house that you may purchase. For air conditioning you will want to know the seasonal energy efficiency rating (SEER) and for gas furnaces you are interested in the Annual Fuel Utilization Ratio (AFUE). The rating for a SEER ranges from 10-17, the higher number using the least amount of energy. The AFUE ratings are more straight forward ranging from 75% to 97%, again the higher number being the most efficient.

3.       Ask your agent or the seller the age of the HVAC. If the equipment is 10-15 years old with a SEER of 8 or less, the time may be approaching to replace the system. Inspect the insulation in the attic. Insulation coverage should be continuous and thick enough to cover all the studs.

4.      Check the water heater to see if it has an ENERGY STAR label.  According to the Buildings Energy Data Book, heating water accounts for 17% of on-site residential energy consumption. The five water heating technologies that are eligible to use the ENERGY STAR label offer energy savings from 7% to 55%, depending on the technology used. 

For more information go to www.energystar.gov.

 

Home Spring Cleaning

Home Spring Cleaning is a tradition that lets out the stale winter air and brings in the fresh spring

smell. Cleaning and organizing our home lifts our spirits, and opens us up for fresh new ideas and activities. However the thought of such a task can feel overwhelming. There are some things you can do to get the job done, and help it take place smoothly and quickly.

Action Plan

The first thing you need to do is create an action plan. Set aside a full day for this, get others involved, assign tasks to specific family members. To help make the day more palatable to resistant family members, break the chores down into 15 minute cleanups. About.com has a list of 15 minute cleanups on their site to print out and delegate to family. Play some upbeat music to get everyone going, and create a celebration reward when the job is done. Maybe taking the family out for a treat, or to dinner.

Tip: Get everyone to agree to turn their phones off until their chores are completed. Also you can take turns playing family members favorite music

 

Make a List

Ok so you have a day picked out, and family members has agreed to participate, what exactly should you include in your cleaning? Normal spring cleaning includes tasks such as storing winter clothing, washing windows, vacuuming; outdoor chores include things like cleaning grills, and patios. If you are unsure of what all to include on your cleanup day you can download some checklists a the ScJohnson consumer website.

However it’s important to remember items such as:

·         Clean dryer vents

·         Change return air vent filters

·         Schedule inspection of cooling systems

·         Drain sediment from hot water heaters

·         Refrigerator: Check the Drip Pan and Vacuum the Refrigerator Coils

Tip: As always, read the labels of any product you use so you fully understand all directions and precautions. Consider, too, whether you’ll need special equipment, like safety goggles or rubber gloves, to protect your eyes and skin.

Garage Cleanup

Garages can really collect an array of stuff, so it’s best to separate the garage cleaning from the

family spring cleanup day. Again get family members to pitch and create rewards for the completing of this task. Start by creating a plan of attack, otherwise it can easily feel overwhelming. To help make the day a bit easier have a cooler with favorite drinks available and remember to have on hand those popular snacks.  Purchase some containers ahead of time for sorting purposes. As you asses your task, you may want to think about having a garage sale or simply create a giveaway pile for your local charity.

It’s good to do some reminiscing and joking so that the day goes by more quickly and becomes filled with welcome memories. However try not to get too distracted while sorting through the pile of items you may not have seen for a long time.

Maintaining a home is a big job, keeping the clutter down and belongings organized can really help.

Tip: Setup and organize the supplies before you get started. Trying to run around and find the sharpie for marking containers will cut into your time.

The Don Callahan Real Estate Group

Keller Williams Realty

o: 912-232-8580 | f: 866-832-5321

www.DonCallahan.com

 

Making A Difference

Here is a wonderful Making a Difference story about a teacher and a young boy who is troubled and struggling in school. We here at the Don Callahan Group believe it is important  to make a difference in our community. This year we will be participating in several activities to help our community, however our favorite takes place in September. On September 7th we will be participating in the Surfers for Autism. We will post more later, but in the meantime enjoy the short video and perhaps give some thought to helping your community.

http://www.makeadifferencemovie.com/

Savannah's Community Events

Plenty of things happening in Savannah this weekend if you are looking for something to do here are a few suggestions:

Savannah Music Festival wraps up this Friday & Saturday.

• Come out to Historic Grayson Stadium and see the Sand Gnats, there is a game at 7:05pm

• First Friday Oyster Roast at the Westin, Arts and music riverside, and fireworks.
  

Saturday/Sunday:

• Take an early morning walk through one of the oldest and most varied neighborhoods to learn how historic preservation has revitalized downtown Savannah. Coffee and treats in the Davenport House garden to follow.
  

• Enjoy arts & crafts, entertainment and fun for the entire family on historic River Street.
  

• Enjoy this; a USA Powerlifting event where athletes compete in the squat, bench press and deadlift.
  

• The Savannah Theatre is celebrating its 10th Anniversary in Savannah with a dazzling new variety show with two hours of high-energy song, dance and comedy.
  

For Details go to: http://www.visitsavannah.com/Events.html

Timing The Market - Fact or Fiction

Buyer Tip

There is never a wrong time to buy the right home.  Trying to time the market at the right moment to purchase a home rarely works to your advantage. Real estate is a solid investment because of long term factors; equity buildup, value appreciation, and tax benefits. Finding a home that meets your criteria is a smart purchase in any market climate. Make a list of your criteria and make contact with a real estate agent even if you feel ‘now’ is not the right time. Stay in touch with your agent and keep an eye on the real estate listings in your area of interest, thus assuring that you will find the right investment at the right moment.

Selling Tip

Are you trying to figure out if ‘now’ is the right time to sell your home? Well the first step to that answer is; one recognize that the real estate market is different in every region; two never rely solely on one person’s advice or opinion. Here are a few decision points to consider:

• Research your market, what are homes selling for? (Home prices nationally climbed 8.3% in  December from the same period a year earlier)
• Acting sooner than later could be an advantage, buyer search activity generally peaks in March and April.
• Currently according to the Wall Street Journal prices are rising – good news for sellers.
• Interest rates on mortgages are still very low.

Supply of homes for sale is likely to increase over the next few months, creating more competition, say real-estate agents. Again, make sure to see what is occurring in your regional real estate market.

Finally The Wall Street Journal is upbeat for selling your home now: “Still, in many markets, sellers have more of an edge than they have had in years. One big reason: The number of existing homes on the market dropped to 1.74 million in January, down 25% from a year earlier and the lowest level since December 1999, according to the National Association of Realtors.”

Healthy Soil; Healthy Lawn

With winter ending we open our windows, bringing in the welcome smell of fresh flowers and freshly cut grass. The wonderful aroma of spring also reminds us it’s time to turn our attention to some outside home maintenance. While walking my dog enjoying this beautiful weather I have seen people raking their leaves in preparation to mow their lawns. What are the best lawn maintenance practices I wondered?

So here is what my research turned up; land area collectively occupied by U.S. lawns equals a land mass greater than that of Pennsylvania, Delaware and Rhode Island combined. Wow that is a lot of lawn to mow and rake! What about all those leaves and grass clippings, do we really need to rake them and have them hauled away and place into landfills? Actually studies show that mulching fallen tree leaves into your lawn is good for the grass and good for the environment. Some homeowners and municipalities compost leaves and yard waste which can later be used as an amendment to flower beds or spread out over lawns.  Composting is a great use for this organic matter. Mulching the leaves into the lawn also helps with those pesky weeds.

The best method for weed control is mowing the leaves with a mulching mower and letting them fall to the soil, right where they are. The repeated mowing needed to mulch the leaves actually thickens the grass by encouraging it to grow laterally. Healthy grass will push weeds out of the lawn. Grass clippings are also good to mulch into the lawn. Grass clippings contain an estimated 4% nitrogen that can be returned to the grass plant if they are allowed to remain on the lawn.

The health of a lawn is very dependent on the health of the soil. The best defense against weeds is a healthy lawn, and a health lawn needs healthy soil. A soil lacking in specific nutrients can promote weed growth, and death of the grass. A soil test provides information on the soil’s actual nutrient status. How does one know what the nature of your soil is? Contact your local County Cooperative Extension office. They will tell you how to take a soil sample, and they will examine the soil and let you know what is needed to promote the growth of healthy grass, or shrubs, or flowers. In our Savannah area you can contact the Chatham County Cooperative Extension office (http://www.caes.uga.edu/extension/chatham/)

at 124 Bull Street or the Bamboo Farm and Coastal Gardens located in Southwest Chatham County on Highway 17. There is an $8.00 fee for each routine sample, but the cost is well worth it.

Weekly New Listings

527 E 51st Street - $275,000

Charming Ardsley bungalow with welcoming front porch. Living Room with fireplace, separate dining room with great natural light. Kitchen with breakfast bar, stainless steel appliances, solid surface counters. Hardwood floors throughout. 3BR/1BA down. Bonus room (4th BR) & full bath up. Rear deck & fenced yard with mature plantings.

 

 

437 Columbus Drive - $340,000

Handsome Midtown home with over 3,000 sq ft of living space. Large living room with fireplace, separate dining room, fully equipped kitchen, breakfast room with built-ins overlooking large family room. Sliders from family room open to INDOOR POOL & patio area. 2 bedrooms on main floor, 2 large bedrooms upstairs with Jack & Jill bath. 1 car garage.

 

 

 

509 E 61st Street - $130,000

SHORT SALE! Great Midtown location. Needs a little TLC. Front porch, living room with fireplace & great natural light. Separate dining room. Large family room with fireplace. Wood floors throughout. Rear covered patio and huge fenced yard. 1 car carport. Sold "AS-IS."