Less than a half-mile east of Interstate 75 on the north side of Proctor Road, Country Creek lives up to its name. One of the feeders to Phillippi Creek runs through it, and it has a sense of rustic openness and serenity.
The entrance to County Creek on Proctor Road east of Interstate 75 in Sarasota. Staff photo / Harold Bubil; 8-22-2016.
From the entrance on Proctor Road, Baycedar Lane veers to the left and parallels the Interstate. To the right, Redbay Way leads to a large loop, Satinleaf Lane, where many of the houses back onto a lake or nature preserve. Small cul-de-sacs branch off with attractive, wooded islands in the middle of the rounded ends.
The community occupies 120 acres, but is platted for only 70 homes, with most of the properties an acre or more in size. Its scenic lakes, mature foliage and winding roads give an easy-going, park-like atmosphere.
“You feel like you’re in the country,” says Phyllis Garfinkel, a Realtor with Michael Saunders & Co. who has sold several homes there. “There are a lot of properties with oaks and palm trees, and a lot of birds and wildlife.”
Glenn Brown is a Realtor with Re/Max Alliance Group and has worked in the neighborhood for years.
This house at 4575 Satinleaf Lane in Country Creek is listed at $465,000 through Phyllis Garfinkel of Michael Saunders & Co. Built in 1992 on 1.1 acres, it has three bedrooms and three baths in 2,962 square feet. Staff photo / Harold Bubil; 8-22-2016.
“The big appeal is large lots and a central location,” he says. “While you’re minutes from everything, it has a nice country feel. It’s intimate, yet spacious.”
Country Creek was developed by Bill and Linda Robertson, a couple from Chicago, in the early 1980s. They had a concept of larger custom homes on larger lots and built a handful of houses. But they also invited other builders to join them, including Bostrum Brothers, Frank Cameron Lambert, Lee Wetherington Homes and Peregrine Homes.
As a result, the neighborhood has a variety of one- and two-story houses with different floor plans, architectural designs and finishes – stucco, wood, red brick and stonework facades; and shingle and tile roofs. Some of the residences have extra-tall garages, big enough to accommodate a large RV or boat with trailer.
This house at 4411 Satinleaf Lane in Country Creek is listed at $485,000 through Glenn Brown of RE/MAX Alliance Group. Built in 1985 on 1 acre, it has four bedrooms and three baths in 2,341 square feet. Staff photo / Harold Bubil; 8-22-2016.
Brown’s listing at 4411 Satinleaf Lane, for example, a three-bedroom, two-and-half-bath house built in 1985, has an extended, two-car garage and room for a boat. The large, ranch-style home has a big, open sitting porch out front – a unique feature. Inside there is a wood-burning fireplace. A couple of years ago, the kitchen was upgraded with new wood cabinets, granite counter tops and stainless-steel appliances.
“My clients are the original owners. They built their home, raised their kids and are now downsizing,” Brown explains. “Many of the homes in the subdivision have been renovated and upgraded.”
Garfinkel’s property at 4575 Satinleaf Lane was built by Peregrine in 1992. The ranch home has a stucco finish on concrete block and a cement-tile roof. In addition to the three bedrooms and living spaces, it has a bonus room and a home office, altogether 2,962 square feet under air.
Residents are a mix of retirees, professionals and young families. People walk their dogs and ride bikes.
“It’s a ‘borrow-a cup-of-sugar’ and ‘wave-to-your-neighbor’ subdivision,” says Garfinkel. “Everyone has pride of ownership.”
A streetscape in Country Creek, where the roads end in cul-de-sacs. Staff photo / Harold Bubil; 8-21-2016.
Country Creek is also kid-friendly. There are signs up along the roads warning people to drive slowly because children are present.
Lakeview Elementary is close by. In fact, there is a walking path in the back of the subdivision that leads toward the Lake Sarasota neighborhood and the school.
“My accountant used to live there, and his kids walked to school that way,” says Garfinkel.
The other district schools are Sarasota Middle and Sarasota High. Twin Lakes Park, with its playground, and youth baseball soccer and football fields, is less than 10 minutes away.
In Country Creek, most of the large home sites are beautifully landscaped. Staff photo / Harold Bubil; 8-22-2016.
For active-minded residents, a number of nearby golf courses offer memberships and daily-fee arrangements. The working professionals appreciate being close to the Interstate, which makes it convenient going to and from work.
Lowe’s, The Home Depot and Walmart on Cattlemen Road are nearby, as are restaurants, Doctors Hospital, and UTC via the highway. “You can go down Bee Ridge Road, or jump over to Clark Road to get to the beaches,” says Brown.
The mandatory HOA fee is $750 a year, which covers maintenance of the roads and upkeep of the entrance, the three lakes and common areas.
In the past 12 months, there have been six sales, ranging in price from $385,000 to $585,000. Currently, three homes are on the market, from $465,000 to $510,000.
