Urban Eden
BY FREEMAN ROGERSTwo years ago Tracy and David Schmidt decided they needed a lifestyle overhaul. She’s a communications consultant and he’s an audio engineer, and several years of living in Washington D.C. had left them feeling burned out. They wanted to move somewhere peaceful, where they could work from home and spend more time with their two young children. They found their Eden in Norwood Park, a compact, wooded neighborhood less than a mile north of downtown Asheville.
“This is exactly what we wanted. We’re close to a city, but we’re part of a community, too,” says Tracy, who is now president of an active neighborhood association that is working to make Norwood Park a historic district. “We already know most of our neighbors.”
One of several Asheville suburbs founded in the early 1900s, Norwood Park was designed to be a close-knit community. Its triangulated, circuitous streets make for a slow-paced, walkable environment that today contrasts sharply with the nearby bustle of Merrimon Avenue.
Most of the original homes still stand. They range in style from Colonial to Georgian to Carpenter Gothic, and many boast spacious front porches that get plenty of use. In good weather, residents come outside to read, walk dogs, chat, or work in one of the neighborhood’s ubiquitous gardens.
Within easy walking distance are a variety of Merrimon Avenue shops and restaurants, Weaver Park, the Asheville Botanical Gardens, and, with a little uphill climb, The Grove Park Inn. Tracy says, “This is one of those places where it’s really easy to get involved. And we have sidewalks! A lot of neighborhoods don’t have sidewalks anymore.”
A Tour of Norwood Park
REAL ESTATE: A 1920s two-bedroom fixer-upper bungalow might go for as little as $150,000, but such steals are increasingly rare; you’re more likely to find historic two bedrooms in the $200,000-$275,000 range. A 1925 1,900-square-foot three-bedroom traditional home with second-story views of the Grove Park Inn Golf Course can exceed $450,000.
FOOD AND DRINK: Berrynanarama Smoothies ($4), chocolate covered bananas (99 cents), and Vegan Soy Dream Shakes ($3.75) are among the frosty treats sold at The Hop. The ’50s-style Merrimon Avenue ice cream shop is decorated inside and out with blue and pink neon, and, in the morning, cappuccinos and lattes are served. (828-252-8362) The old-school booths at Boston Pizza Italian-American café are a great place to chill out in a friendly, laid-back atmosphere. Pasta dinners start at $7.25, and you can order pizza pretty much any way you like it. Also on the lengthy menu are subs, gyros, cannoli, and a none-too-shabby selection of wine and beer. (828-252-9474)
SHOPPING: Most days, you can find Christopher Van Dyke at his work bench in Van Dyke Goldsmith on Merrimon Avenue, where he makes fine jewelry the way his father taught him. The pieces on display in his cozy storefront include a one-of-a-kind white and yellow gold bracelet set with diamonds and yellow sapphires ($12,500), hand-cast amethyst rings ($90 in silver; $400 in gold) and silver pendant earrings ($30). (828-281-4044) The impressive selection at The Wine Guy includes blueberry and blackberry wine from Dennis Vineyards in Albemarle, N.C. ($9.99) and Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection from Caymus Vineyards in Rutherford, Ca. ($139.99). If you’re having trouble deciding, one of the store’s wine-tastings will help you narrow it down. (828-254-6500) Jus’ walking into Jus’ Running makes you want to drop everything and start training for a marathon. The small but well-stocked running store is packed with sportswear, shoes, training manuals, and water bottles, and is run by a knowledgeable staff with very muscular legs. (828-252-7867)
NEIGHBORS: Architects, musicians, engineers, a history professor, and a forest ranger are among the eclectic lot who call Norwood Park home. Retirees who have been in the neighborhood for generations live alongside some of the young children who play in Weaver Park on weekends. “A man who grew up here in the ‘30s told me that there was a feeling that everyone was part of the gang, ” Tracy Schmidt says. “I think that sense of being who you are and fitting in is still here.”
