Some neighborhoods aren’t tucked away in some far-off corner, yet they still manage to maintain a sense of privacy and quietness.
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Take Country Meadows, two blocks or so west of Honore Avenue on 17th Street in Sarasota. It’s an attractive, well-kept, friendly community, with a location convenient for taking advantage of the many active-lifestyle opportunities Sarasota has to offer. But relatively few people are aware of its existence.
Platted in 1986, Country Meadows is bordered to the west by a large nature preserve, which separates it from Chimney Creek, and to the north by The Meadows. A meandering loop, Country Meadows Boulevard, connects the two entrances from 17th Street. It has seven short, dead-end streets branching off to either side.
Of the 125 homes in the neighborhood, 50 back onto a large, attractive lake. There are plenty of birds and other wildlife, and residents are allowed to fish in the lake.
The landscaping is mature throughout, with tall palms and oak trees lining the streets. Here and there, Norfolk pines reach into the sky. Bougainvillea bushes and other shrubs add to the lush landscaping. Underground utilities add to Country Meadows’ visual appeal.
The Florida ranch-style residences — two-, three- and four-bedroom homes — are all block-and-stucco with partial brick and stone façades. Most houses have two-car garages. About half have lanais and covered private swimming pools.
The residents are predominantly retirees, although some families and renters, too. In fact, many of the homeowners have lived in Country Meadows since its inception. As a result, there is a strong sense of community with an active homeowner’s association. Membership is required, and annual fees are $400.
“I love the neighborhood. It has a warm, welcoming feeling,” says Tory Uccello, a Realtor with Evergreen Realty Corp., who has a listing at 4739 Country Meadows Blvd. “For me, it’s a pleasure to show the property.”
Block parties are held at Christmas, the Fourth of July and Memorial Day. Residents hold an annual sale to raise money to further improve the community.
Says Keller Williams agent Brandi Furlan, who has a four-bedroom listing at 4971 Country Meadows Blvd., “The community is well-maintained. People are proud of it!”
When asked what makes Country Meadows so attractive, she doesn’t hesitate. “It is a great location — right in the middle of things,” she says.
A shopping center with a grocery, banks and other stores is on the northeast corner of 17th Street and Lockwood Ridge Road, just a mile away. Ed Smith Stadium is nearby. Restaurants, other shopping opportunities and nighttime activities are available in downtown Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch, both a short drive away. The new Mall at University Town Center is within easy driving distance, too, as is access to Interstate 75 via University Parkway or Fruitville Road.
For the athletically oriented, the 17th Street Park across the street from the community offers four softball fields, two soccer fields and archery facilities. It also has a Paw Park, popular with dog owners, which was the first dog run in the county when it opened in 1999 (since then, three more Paw Parks have been created).
For golfers, Bobby Jones Golf Course is just down the road. The only golf course within Sarasota’s city limits, it was dedicated in 1927 by its famous namesake. In addition to practice ranges, putting greens, two 18-hole championship courses and a nine-hole executive course, it offers three tennis courts and a full-service clubhouse.
Although The Meadows Country Club in back of Country Meadows is a private, member-owned facility, one of its 18-hole championship golf courses and The Groves, a shorter course designed by famed links architect Arthur Hills, are open to the public. In addition, Bobby Jones and The Meadows Country Club have walking hours for those wishing to get out and get their exercise surrounded by scenic fairways.
Because of its many benefits, homes in Country Meadows, if priced right, tend to move quickly. Six houses have sold in the past 12 months, ranging in price from $187,000 to $250,000. Two sales are pending and three properties are on the market, one by owner, priced from $198,900 to $249,000.
