Peace at hand? Calm coming to Dunlora via Parkway

Address: 944 King William Drive   
Neighborhood: Dunlora      
Asking: $449,950    
Assessment: $494,800         
Year Built: 1995      
Size: 3,698 fin. sq. ft., 800 unfin.
Land: 0.38 acres
Agent: Steve Taylor, Cornerstone Real Estate 434-249-4972         
Curb Appeal: 8 out of 10

Homeowners in the Dunlora subdivision have been patiently waiting for the dust to settle on the Meadowcreek Parkway. After years of construction work disrupting their daily commute, residents would like to return to a time when Albemarle County briefly opened its section of the road in 2010. Folks living off Rio Road are hoping this will reopen before the City builds its portion of the Parkway.

On the bright side, as a result of the new roadway, the entrance to the Dunlora subdivision was redesigned with a “curvilinear connector,” eliminating a problematic intersection that was often the site of fender-benders.

King William Drive is a short distance beyond the formal brick columns at the entrance of the residential community of 378 houses. The structures in this older established section of the development vary architecturally, in contrast to some of the “planned” neighborhoods nearby. Mature plantings line the road, providing privacy and a homey feel.

This French Provincial-style house has a steep hipped roof and stucco exterior with a wing sheltering a two-garage from view. The exterior is handsome and timeless, and the front entrance is grand, with natural light streaming in from a Palladian window above a winding stairway to the second floor.

The house is unfurnished, which reveals its lack of architectural detail, although one decorative element– an over-sized pendant bowl light– hangs over the foyer. There are no built-in cabinets or bookcases. An unadorned formal living room opens to an adjoining dining room (distinguished by a chandelier).

The kitchen on this level– with black appliances, maple cabinets, and laminate counters– is original. The owner is offering to negotiate a kitchen renovation, which may entice a would-be buyer. Access to the garage, a large half bath, and several storage closets are just off the kitchen. An expansive family room with a gas fireplace fills the rest of the area. Ochre walls glow with reflected light from a grouping of windows. A glass-paneled door leads to a large deck overlooking a gently sloped yard.

Upstairs, the master suite has a second Palladian window in an eave that can be used as a reading nook; there's also a walk-in closet and an en suite bathroom with a large soaking tub and separate fiberglass shower. This area is also in line for an upgrade. Replacing the floor tile, white vanity, and cultured marble top seems essential in this competitive market. Three other moderately sized bedrooms complete the second floor, as well as a full bath with fiberglass tub and double sink vanity.

The walkout garden level is a maze of finished rooms— some with doors and closets, others with open doorways. A full bath makes this a convenient area to host guests. The largest area has French doors to the backyard. To help prospective buyers appreciate how each room could be used, photographs displaying the fully decorated and furnished interior of the house are posted on the agent’s website.

The Dunlora community has bonuses: walking paths leading to the Rivanna Trail, tennis courts, a swimming pool, a clubhouse, and garden plots. Soon, the direct drive to Charlottesville via a completed Meadowcreek Parkway should restore calm and convenience to an area that has been rocked for years by ceaseless development.
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