East Beach, Norfolk, VA

East Beach brings traditinal neighborhood design to the Chesapeake Bay waterfront in Norfolk, Virginia. The first 17 homes in this new 100-acre planned community were built for the annual Homearama in October of 2004.

The community has strict architectural guidelines which dictate front porches and traditional styles. Within the guidlelines, architects still have plenty of leeway to form a stylish neighborhood.

A big clubhouse sits on the Bay, with sandy beaches beyond. The calm waters are ideal for families with small children. Lights on the nearby Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel are an attractive sight at night.

Many homes are three stories tall, and all have porches or decks on the upper floors. "Carriage houses" with apartments over the garage are common. What a great idea -- the apartments are separate from the main house and can be rented or used by the family teenager or grandmother. Garages and driveways are in the rear, not out front.

Yards are tiny and the homes are large, which is what you expect on such valuable land. Shopping and restaurants already exist nearby, and more will probably be built as the entire Ocean View area continues to redevelop.