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the immense difference in the pace of life, we were also stunned
by the housing prices, and excited to discover that in Macon we
could afford to live in a historic neighborhood in an authentic
1920s bungalow. After a few months of searching, we found our
neoclassical bungalow completely renovated and ready for us to
move in. We signed on the dotted line and haven't looked back.
Macon is proud
of its history and historical architecture, and works hard to
preserve its many gems. Thanks to the very diligent Macon Heritage
Foundation, the town has 10 districts listed on the National Register
of Historic Places. Our neighborhood, the Vineville Historic District,
is a premier bungalow neighborhood conveniently located two miles
northwest of downtown Macon.
Originally
farmland dotted with large plantation homes, Vineville became
one of Macon's first subdivisions in the early 20th century. Between
1890 and 1930, developers started building the compact, economical
bungalows that surged in popularity all across the country.
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There
is an interesting mix of bungalow styles in the Vineville
neighborhood. The California style is commonly seen with
stucco, wood siding or brick exteriors. Tudor, Arts and
Crafts, Georgian, Queen Anne and Colonial Revival examples
are also prevalent. In addition to the bungalows, the
original plantation homes make an impression in the neighborhood.
When the roads were being constructed for the new subdivisions,
these old manor houses were turned 90 degrees on their
foundations to face the new streets. It makes for an interesting
streetscape to see a towering three-story gingerbread
Victorian sandwiched between two California bungalows. |
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The last decade has seen a lot of young couples move into
Vineville and revamp the aging houses. Now, since most
of the homes have been updated with new electrical wiring,
plumbing and central heat and air, Vineville is becoming
one of the hottest real estate markets in the city. Who
wouldn't want a modernized bungalow in a quiet, established
neighborhood?
Although
many residents tend to be young couples in their first
homes, a new trend is empty nesters, who are ready to
downsize and love the proximity to downtown. Marsha Boltz
and Jude Rabideau moved into their Tudor bungalow 10 years
ago after relocating from Florida. Marsha says, "The
houses aren't rubber stamped, they have a lot of character.
We were also drawn to the quality of construction and
the ambiance of the older homes. The central hall in bungalows
makes for a smooth, flowing traffic pattern. They're great
houses to have parties in because your guests can flow
more than one way."
Some
young couples move to bigger houses after they start families,
but others just can't seem to tear themselves away. Amy
Stallings grew up in the Vineville neighborhood. When
she and her husband Jim started searching for their first
home, it seemed natural to look at Vineville's bungalows.
Their first house was a 1,500-square-foot bungalow on
Buford Place, which was perfect for them and their infant
son, Clark. Then daughter Caty came along and it didn't
seem large enough. Just two blocks away, a classic Arts
and Crafts bungalow came on the market. |
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Amy remembers
her first impression of their second house: "It was a dog.
I couldn't imagine anyone buying it!" A real estate agent
prevailed upon them to see it again and this time the exposed
beams, built-in bookcases and quality construction won them over.
After scraping away seven layers of wallpaper and refinishing
the wood floors and wood trim, they realized what true beauty
lay beneath decades of neglect.
With a total
of 16 years of bungalow living in Vineville, the Stallings have
no plans to move. "It's so convenient to school and work,"
Amy says. "Besides, we love our old house."
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In
addition to the shady, tree-lined streets, wide sidewalks,
and personable houses, Vineville also hooks its residents
into a lifelong love affair with an active neighborhood
association that sponsors monthly social activities. "Because
bungalows are attractive to people from all walks of life,
the Vineville Neighborhood Association (VNA) serves as
a conduit between residents, who might not have anything
else in common," says Janis Haley, president of VNA.
Fun and food might be in the forefront, but VNA is also
a serious watchdog group that fiercely guards its historical
integrity and keeps a sharp eye on local government decisions
that might impact the neighborhood.
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| What
makes Vineville such a special place? I thought about
that one pleasant spring evening as I sat rocking on my
front porch, admiring the glorious cherry trees and dogwoods
in bloom. As I greeted dog walkers, waved to joggers and
chatted with couples pushing baby strollers, I came to
this conclusion: The quaint and adorable bungalows make
the neighborhood attractive, but it's the wonderful people
who love their bungalows that make it a special place
to live.
Kim
Zachman is a freelance writer and the archivist of the
Vineville Neighborhood Association. She also wrote "The
Azalea Project" in Issue No. 33.
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