Maddex Farm in Shepherdstown (Martinsburg, Charles Town: real estate, houses, rental)

[SkiddySkidders]

We're considering a move to the Maddex Farm community in Shepherdstown. Does anyone have any thoughts or comments on the community?

[mtneeratheart]

I went to Shepherd University for a semester several years ago so I know exactly where that development is. If you are looking for a new home in Shepherdstown I think that would be an excellent choice. There is a shopping center adjacent to the development that has a Food Lion grocery store, McDonalds, video rental, car wash, CVS pharmacy, and several restaurants, I think one has pizza and the others are chinese take out places. If you have relatives visiting, there is a newly built Days Inn also in that shopping center.

It is an easy walk to downtown Shepherdstown where from Maddex Farm where you will find awesome restaurants, funky boutiques, several art galleries, etc. The MARC train station (Duffields station) is no more than a five minute drive from this development so commuting to DC wouldn't be a problem at all.

The only thing I would recommend in this neighborhood is looking for a home towards the back end of the development. The only reason i suggest this is because some of the homes at the entrance to the neighborhood are right up against that strip mall so I'm not sure how fun that would be having your backyard face a grocery store. It seemed like a great neighborhood when I was there so definitely look into it.

If you have any other questions about Shepherstown just ask, I absolutely love that town and would highly recommend it to anyone wanting a DC area connection while being in a semi rural location.

[stevenmimi]

Hey Skiddy,

We are also considering a move to Maddex Farms, from Jersey. Did you make the move yet? If so, what are your thoughts?

Regards,

[Georgia]

A good choice. Many moons ago Jefferson County was god awful, in 2005 Jefferson enacted zoning, along with the locals taking Shep' Town to a whole new level.

Today, the Shepherdstown area is one of the best locations you will find in the panhandle. Berkeley/Martinsburg, its neighbor to the left though has a long way to go, spends more time going down hill than up.

Good Luck

[SkiddySkidders]

Stevenmimi,

My fiance & I have not made the move yet. However, we are about 95% certain that we will. We have yet to put our house on the market; updating some things. So that's our road block at the moment. We love the area though & can't wait to become apart residents of Sheperdstown! Best of luck to you.

[7th Direction]

I live in the Maddex Farm community. Settled in November.

The community is fairly close knit. The neighborhood has a resident organized "block party" about once a month when it's warm out. The neighbors are friendly and everybody is willing to watch out for each other (only down side is it seems everybody is in everybody else's business). Most of the homeowners in the neighborhood are professionals, with a mix of blue collar families as well. A lot of the homeowners there are transplants from other places in the Mid-Atlantic region (I'm originally from Central MD and couldn't afford a house near my family, so I bought in WV). A lot work in DC (myself included) and take the MARC train to and from work. There is talk of organizing a car pool to Duffields Station. Also, the community does have an HOA (could be viewed as a good or bad thing).

The neighborhood is about 75 percent complete. As of now, there are two houses in the process of being built, another two lots have been sold (they haven't dug the foundations yet), and several more lots are open for sale. It appears that the construction crews are preparing to pave the last segment of the Maddex Farm Drive loop, connecting the western part of the neighborhood to the eastern. I think once these lots become available, they will go quickly - most are backed up against the forest, a handful are backed up against one of Shepherd University's ball fields.

The house is classified as an Energy Star efficient structure, which is good. The homes are heated by heat pump (no gas), and the water utilities are managed by the town of Shepherdstown (city water and sewer). The homes have an option for a propane fireplace (no 'real' firelplaces are offered). Our electric bill (Allegheny Power) for February (a very cold, windy month) was for $120. Our water bill was just shy of $50.

The ammenities are "good". I like being in walking distance from the Food Lion (about a 10 minute walk), however the grocery store is old, in serious need of refurbishing and does not have a great selection of products (I wish they would convert it into a Bloom!) (I do most of my grocery shopping at either Weis or Martin's in Ranson). The Chinese Restaurant is pretty standard - they offer a lunch buffet for a reasonable price. The Pizza/Sub shop, King's is pretty good. There is a movie rental place, a bank, a jeweler, a laundromat and a dry cleaners. The Drug Store is actually Rite-Aid, not CVS. The Days Inn has recently been converted to Comfort Inn. jfronz is correct, there is also a McDonald's and a car wash there.

The Fire Department is across the street from the shopping center.

Down the street, there is a Subway and a Dollar General, with a few other locally owned stores (Christian bookstore, Organic market) at the intersection of BUS 480 and Rte. 45. There is also a Domino's Pizza, a Sheetz, a 7-11, and a bar (JD's) in very close proximity to the neighborhood.

Downtown Shepherdstown is nice, but it's been too cold to really enjoy it (for me). I've been to some of the stores, and they have nice gifts and clothes, mostly. There is a local theatre, a museum and "Little House". Not to mention Shepherd University. Tony's Pizza is a fun place to hang out, with slots and a full bar in the basement. They are open to 3am!!! I haven't made it to the Mecklenburg Inn bar or the Blue Moon Cafe yet, but I hear they are a must do. I've eaten at 3 Onions - expensive, so I only ordered from the appetizer menu. There is also a small music shop (instruments) and a boutique pet food store on the west side of the Old Town (at the intersection of W Washington and S Duke Streets). From Spring to Autumn, there is a local Farmer's Market open on weekends (they close King Street (behind the library) to make room for the booths).

There are also a lot of outdoor activities. There's Morgan Grove Park, the Appalachian Trail, several national battlefield parks (Shepherdstown, Antietam, Harpers Ferry, Monocacy) the C&O canal, etc. The area is rich with history and is worth exploring!

You have to be careful when driving through Shepherdstown, there is a speed trap on the west side of town where the speed limit drops from 45mph to 25mph. At night, there is always a police officer running radar just beyond the 25mph sign. (across from the Sheetz).

One downer is the weird alcohol rules... Beer and Wine are sold in grocery and convenience stores, however no beer over 6% ABV is sold (most craft beers are above that ABV). Liquor is only sold at ATC stores (7-11 being one of them) and you can't buy liquor on Sundays, Christmas or Election Day. However it doesn't really make much of a difference in Shepherdstown because it is so close to both the Virginia and Maryland borders (we just go there to get good beer or liquor on Sundays).

All in all, it seems to be a really nice place to live...

[GottaHerdOn]

Originally Posted by 7th Direction

I live in the Maddex Farm community. Settled in November.

The community is fairly close knit. The neighborhood has a resident organized "block party" about once a month when it's warm out. The neighbors are friendly and everybody is willing to watch out for each other (only down side is it seems everybody is in everybody else's business). Most of the homeowners in the neighborhood are professionals, with a mix of blue collar families as well. A lot of the homeowners there are transplants from other places in the Mid-Atlantic region (I'm originally from Central MD and couldn't afford a house near my family, so I bought in WV). A lot work in DC (myself included) and take the MARC train to and from work. There is talk of organizing a car pool to Duffields Station. Also, the community does have an HOA (could be viewed as a good or bad thing).

The neighborhood is about 75 percent complete. As of now, there are two houses in the process of being built, another two lots have been sold (they haven't dug the foundations yet), and several more lots are open for sale. It appears that the construction crews are preparing to pave the last segment of the Maddex Farm Drive loop, connecting the western part of the neighborhood to the eastern. I think once these lots become available, they will go quickly - most are backed up against the forest, a handful are backed up against one of Shepherd University's ball fields.

The house is classified as an Energy Star efficient structure, which is good. The homes are heated by heat pump (no gas), and the water utilities are managed by the town of Shepherdstown (city water and sewer). The homes have an option for a propane fireplace (no 'real' firelplaces are offered). Our electric bill (Allegheny Power) for February (a very cold, windy month) was for $120. Our water bill was just shy of $50.

The ammenities are "good". I like being in walking distance from the Food Lion (about a 10 minute walk), however the grocery store is old, in serious need of refurbishing and does not have a great selection of products (I wish they would convert it into a Bloom!) (I do most of my grocery shopping at either Weis or Martin's in Ranson). The Chinese Restaurant is pretty standard - they offer a lunch buffet for a reasonable price. The Pizza/Sub shop, King's is pretty good. There is a movie rental place, a bank, a jeweler, a laundromat and a dry cleaners. The Drug Store is actually Rite-Aid, not CVS. The Days Inn has recently been converted to Comfort Inn. jfronz is correct, there is also a McDonald's and a car wash there.

The Fire Department is across the street from the shopping center.

Down the street, there is a Subway and a Dollar General, with a few other locally owned stores (Christian bookstore, Organic market) at the intersection of BUS 480 and Rte. 45. There is also a Domino's Pizza, a Sheetz, a 7-11, and a bar (JD's) in very close proximity to the neighborhood.

Downtown Shepherdstown is nice, but it's been too cold to really enjoy it (for me). I've been to some of the stores, and they have nice gifts and clothes, mostly. There is a local theatre, a museum and "Little House". Not to mention Shepherd University. Tony's Pizza is a fun place to hang out, with slots and a full bar in the basement. They are open to 3am!!! I haven't made it to the Mecklenburg Inn bar or the Blue Moon Cafe yet, but I hear they are a must do. I've eaten at 3 Onions - expensive, so I only ordered from the appetizer menu. There is also a small music shop (instruments) and a boutique pet food store on the west side of the Old Town (at the intersection of W Washington and S Duke Streets). From Spring to Autumn, there is a local Farmer's Market open on weekends (they close King Street (behind the library) to make room for the booths).

There are also a lot of outdoor activities. There's Morgan Grove Park, the Appalachian Trail, several national battlefield parks (Shepherdstown, Antietam, Harpers Ferry, Monocacy) the C&O canal, etc. The area is rich with history and is worth exploring!

You have to be careful when driving through Shepherdstown, there is a speed trap on the west side of town where the speed limit drops from 45mph to 25mph. At night, there is always a police officer running radar just beyond the 25mph sign. (across from the Sheetz).

One downer is the weird alcohol rules... Beer and Wine are sold in grocery and convenience stores, however no beer over 6% ABV is sold (most craft beers are above that ABV). Liquor is only sold at ATC stores (7-11 being one of them) and you can't buy liquor on Sundays, Christmas or Election Day. However it doesn't really make much of a difference in Shepherdstown because it is so close to both the Virginia and Maryland borders (we just go there to get good beer or liquor on Sundays).

All in all, it seems to be a really nice place to live...

Sounds kind of like Wisteria Lane (Desperate Housewives)....ha ha

[7th Direction]

Originally Posted by 7th Direction

I live in the Maddex Farm community. Settled in November.

The community is fairly close knit. The neighborhood has a resident organized "block party" about once a month when it's warm out. The neighbors are friendly and everybody is willing to watch out for each other (only down side is it seems everybody is in everybody else's business). Most of the homeowners in the neighborhood are professionals, with a mix of blue collar families as well. A lot of the homeowners there are transplants from other places in the Mid-Atlantic region (I'm originally from Central MD and couldn't afford a house near my family, so I bought in WV). A lot work in DC (myself included) and take the MARC train to and from work. There is talk of organizing a car pool to Duffields Station. Also, the community does have an HOA (could be viewed as a good or bad thing).

The neighborhood is about 75 percent complete. As of now, there are two houses in the process of being built, another two lots have been sold (they haven't dug the foundations yet), and several more lots are open for sale. It appears that the construction crews are preparing to pave the last segment of the Maddex Farm Drive loop, connecting the western part of the neighborhood to the eastern. I think once these lots become available, they will go quickly - most are backed up against the forest, a handful are backed up against one of Shepherd University's ball fields.

The house is classified as an Energy Star efficient structure, which is good. The homes are heated by heat pump (no gas), and the water utilities are managed by the town of Shepherdstown (city water and sewer). The homes have an option for a propane fireplace (no 'real' firelplaces are offered). Our electric bill (Allegheny Power) for February (a very cold, windy month) was for $120. Our water bill was just shy of $50.

The ammenities are "good". I like being in walking distance from the Food Lion (about a 10 minute walk), however the grocery store is old, in serious need of refurbishing and does not have a great selection of products (I wish they would convert it into a Bloom!) (I do most of my grocery shopping at either Weis or Martin's in Ranson). The Chinese Restaurant is pretty standard - they offer a lunch buffet for a reasonable price. The Pizza/Sub shop, King's is pretty good. There is a movie rental place, a bank, a jeweler, a laundromat and a dry cleaners. The Drug Store is actually Rite-Aid, not CVS. The Days Inn has recently been converted to Comfort Inn. jfronz is correct, there is also a McDonald's and a car wash there.

The Fire Department is across the street from the shopping center.

Down the street, there is a Subway and a Dollar General, with a few other locally owned stores (Christian bookstore, Organic market) at the intersection of BUS 480 and Rte. 45. There is also a Domino's Pizza, a Sheetz, a 7-11, and a bar (JD's) in very close proximity to the neighborhood.

Downtown Shepherdstown is nice, but it's been too cold to really enjoy it (for me). I've been to some of the stores, and they have nice gifts and clothes, mostly. There is a local theatre, a museum and "Little House". Not to mention Shepherd University. Tony's Pizza is a fun place to hang out, with slots and a full bar in the basement. They are open to 3am!!! I haven't made it to the Mecklenburg Inn bar or the Blue Moon Cafe yet, but I hear they are a must do. I've eaten at 3 Onions - expensive, so I only ordered from the appetizer menu. There is also a small music shop (instruments) and a boutique pet food store on the west side of the Old Town (at the intersection of W Washington and S Duke Streets). From Spring to Autumn, there is a local Farmer's Market open on weekends (they close King Street (behind the library) to make room for the booths).

There are also a lot of outdoor activities. There's Morgan Grove Park, the Appalachian Trail, several national battlefield parks (Shepherdstown, Antietam, Harpers Ferry, Monocacy) the C&O canal, etc. The area is rich with history and is worth exploring!

You have to be careful when driving through Shepherdstown, there is a speed trap on the west side of town where the speed limit drops from 45mph to 25mph. At night, there is always a police officer running radar just beyond the 25mph sign. (across from the Sheetz).

One downer is the weird alcohol rules... Beer and Wine are sold in grocery and convenience stores, however no beer over 6% ABV is sold (most craft beers are above that ABV). Liquor is only sold at ATC stores (7-11 being one of them) and you can't buy liquor on Sundays, Christmas or Election Day. However it doesn't really make much of a difference in Shepherdstown because it is so close to both the Virginia and Maryland borders (we just go there to get good beer or liquor on Sundays).

All in all, it seems to be a really nice place to live...

Additional things to do: You have the Racetrack at Charles Town, which has slot machines and horse racing... you also have Summit Point which is a motorsports park, several wineries in the area, Berkeley Springs, which has lots of spas and restaurants.

Shepherdstown is smack dab in the middle of Hagerstown, Frederick, Martinsburg and Charles Town, so you have the option of getting anything you would need or want. However it is still a 15-45 minute drive to get to any of them (which a little bit of a culture shock, because I'm used to the Baltimore-Washington Metroplex, which has everything on every street corner).

[ClarkJamesD]

Originally Posted by SkiddySkidders

We're considering a move to the Maddex Farm community in Shepherdstown. Does anyone have any thoughts or comments on the community?

If you're still interested in Maddex Farm Subdivision, shoot me an email. I have a house in the neighborhood that I'm looking to rent or sell in a month's time. For your information, I'm a private owner and not a real estate agent.

ClarkJamesD@hotmail.com

[stormes44]

Jefferson County has had a zoning ordinance since 1988:

http://www.jeffersoncountywv.org/zon...inance4805.pdf

There were amendments made in 2005 that have since been
rescinded. Also, impact fees began early that year as well.

There is a newly revised zoning ordinance in progress.

Berkeley County Commissioners have just approved their
zoning ordinance proposal and will leave it up to voters
to decide on May 13.

Zoning to go before voters | Journal News