Eagle Pointe at Cahoon Plantation (Norfolk, Chesapeake: condominiums, how much, house)

[goldenage1]

Does anyone have experience living at or visiting Eagle Pointe. It is a 55+ communities with great amenities which I would consider when I am older. I especially like the condominiums with elevators.

How much traffic does the area have? Do commuters use 17 coming into Chesapeake?

[Coconut1]

Originally Posted by goldenage1

How much traffic does the area have? Do commuters use 17 coming into Chesapeake?

Out of curiosity, what happens if you can't drive any more? Do you have somebody to rely on, or does the community? If not, what do you do? Give up your independence?

[goldenage1]

Originally Posted by Coconut1

Out of curiosity, what happens if you can't drive any more? Do you have somebody to rely on, or does the community? If not, what do you do? Give up your independence?

No, I do not have anyone else to rely on in the community. But then, I don't have anyone where I currently live in Sneads Ferry, NC. However a large city like Chesapeake has a lot more resources than a tiny burb.

There are many grocery stores that deliver now. One can always find a taxi to take one to appointments, and often the senior services department of the local government can help.

The VA also has a home health care benefit for widows, which I would investigate. In the worst case, there is an assisted living facilty across the way in Chesapeake, or I could move back to New England where my relatives are now.

[Coconut1]

Originally Posted by goldenage1

No, I do not have anyone else to rely on in the community. But then, I don't have anyone where I currently live in Sneads Ferry, NC. However a large city like Chesapeake has a lot more resources than a tiny burb.

There are many grocery stores that deliver now. One can always find a taxi to take one to appointments, and often the senior services department of the local government can help.

The VA also has a home health care benefit for widows, which I would investigate. In the worst case, there is an assisted living facilty across the way in Chesapeake, or I could move back to New England where my relatives are now.

Thanks for the answer

I'm curious as to why you wouldn't chose a large metro area with good public transit?

[goldenage1]

Originally Posted by Coconut1

I'm curious as to why you wouldn't chose a large metro area with good public transit?

I like the South, and I don't want to spend more than $350,000 for a house about 2200 square feet. I don't want to downsize, and I want to be in a fairly safe location. What large metro with good public transit do you recommend?

BTW, I note that Chesapeake has a bus system. Is anything wrong with it?

[goldenage1]

Is there anyone who has actual information about Eagle Pointe?

[Coconut1]

Originally Posted by goldenage1

I like the South, and I don't want to spend more than $350,000 for a house about 2200 square feet. I don't want to downsize, and I want to be in a fairly safe location. What large metro with good public transit do you recommend?

BTW, I note that Chesapeake has a bus system. Is anything wrong with it?

I would think Atlanta would be pretty good. Perhaps even Charlotte.

There's nothing wrong with HRT, it just isn't reliable, and takes a very long time to get from point A to B in most cases. If you're retired and you have time to kill, you might be okay.

I'm not saying you're wrong for wanting what you want, I'm just curious about it. I know people who have retired in even more remote places and are on many acres. I just don't understand it. I could never give up independence or be forced to rely on others. Although I have good genes, there's always that "what if" that comes with age.

[goldenage1]

Originally Posted by Coconut1

There's nothing wrong with HRT, it just isn't reliable, and takes a very long time to get from point A to B in most cases. If you're retired and you have time to kill, you might be okay.

I'm not saying you're wrong for wanting what you want, I'm just curious about it. I know people who have retired in even more remote places and are on many acres.

I consider buses a last resort as I age. I don't like standing out in the weather or the jolting ride on a bus.

I was considering Eagle Pointe and some other 55+ communities in Virginia because they are relatively close to a grocery store. Three to four miles to the grocery store means it is feasible to take a cab or hire someone to drive me to the store. It is also only a few miles to specialist doctors and the library. Again these are reasonable cab distances. I could also take the #14 HRT bus if I were willing to walk about 1/2 mile out of the community to the bus stop.

My other criterion for a retirement community is having an indoor swimming pool, as Eagle Pointe does.

Our current location in Sneads Ferry is because my husband loves to fish. We are on a half acre, and are less than 2.5 miles to the grocery store. It would be feasible for me to stay here if I were widowed. There are many stay-at-home moms who would probably love to earn a few bucks driving me to the store. I don't consider that burdensome.

At any rate, if I were widowed, I would only move if I could find my requirements in an affordable and safe community.

[Coconut1]

Gotcha. Best of luck with the move wherever you end up!

[UHgrad]

Originally Posted by goldenage1

Does anyone have experience living at or visiting Eagle Pointe. It is a 55+ communities with great amenities which I would consider when I am older. I especially like the condominiums with elevators.

How much traffic does the area have? Do commuters use 17 coming into Chesapeake?

I grew up a few miles from there, it has changed a lot since I was a kid but it was and still is a nice safe area surrounded by upper middle class suburbs. I don't have specific info on the community other than what you can get on google.

In terms of traffic, there is a fair amount of traffic through there as Chesapeake is mostly a bedroom community for Norfolk, VB, and Portsmouth and people tend to commute out of there for work. A lot of people who live in Great Bridge or Grassfield pass through that Cedar Rd/17 intersection and there are some that commute up from NC as well. There is a large bridge being constructed less than a mile from there that will alleviate some congestion but will also have a toll on it if you want to get out to the rest of the region (VB, Norfolk, etc...). You would have to drive up through great bridge to avoid the toll but it'll take an extra ten minutes or so to get most places. The same exit off of 64 (291) that services this area also serves the bypass to OBX which means the exit gets congested in the summer. It really just depends how and where you are gonna be commuting. If you are content to stay in Chesapeake then traffic will be fine, if you want to venture out during rush hour then traffic can be bad particularly during tourist season.

In terms of shopping you have a big strip mall with a super walmart, specialty stores, and restaurants on one side and another shopping center with a Farm Fresh (grocery store) and more specialty stores and restaurants on the other side. Unless you are looking for non-chain options specifically, you would have everything you need on a daily basis within a 1-mile radius.

This community is on a very nice golf course if you or your husband are interested in golf. Also, If your husband likes to fish you are close to the Elizabeth river. You are also right across the street from the community college which means better access to buses than most places in the region. But with your own vehicle, services like uber, and self-driving cars not that far off I don't think vehicle transportation is really gonna be an issue anytime soon.