102 Allendale Place: A Calm, Contemporary Retreat in Queens Lake
Every Home has a Story
John Womeldorf understands that every home has a unique story. As an experienced realtor with a deep love for Williamsburg, John goes beyond the surface details of the properties he sells. In his “Every Home Has a Story” series, he introduces potential buyers to the heart and history of each home—things they can’t experience through online photos or a quick showing. By interviewing sellers and capturing what makes each home truly special, John helps buyers move from imagining themselves in a new space to feeling the excitement of finding their dream home.
102 Allendale, Williamsburg VA is now listed for sale at 675,000. More info here
Starting a new Chapter
Joe and Pat Healey have enjoyed 25 wonderful years in Queens Lake. They are both retired educators; Joe is professor emeritus at Christopher Newport University, and Pat taught science at the middle school level. Over this past summer, the couple decided it was time to sell their spacious and airy contemporary home and downsize to a three-bedroom apartment in a local retirement community.
Joe and Pat agree that their most favorite and most beloved memories of the years spent in this home are quite simple ones.
“This home has been our retreat,” Joe says. “It’s so great to just walk in that door at the end of the day and relax here.”
Over the years, they have made improvements and adjustments in order to age in place there, but Pat says that she woke up one day and decided she just didn’t want to cook again.
“I’ve been cooking for over 60 years,” she says with a laugh. “The holiday dinners, the parties, everything. Joe learned how to cook during the pandemic, but I was still feeling like I was ready for a change.”
When she broached the topic of downsizing with her husband she was delighted and surprised that he was on board. “So, we immediately started looking for our Plan B!”Pat exclaims.
Even so, they admit that it will be hard to leave the home and community they love.
First Impressions
This unique contemporary home seems to blend right in with its surroundings. Sitting on a .72-acre lot, the calm, gray wooden exterior is beautifully juxtaposed with the colors of nature surrounding it. From the front, a gentle walkway leads to the home, incorporating graduated stairs and a handrail for safety.
The front door is flanked with sidelights. Pass through the door and it’s sure to be love at first sight. At least it was for the Healeys.
“From the minute I walked inside this home, I just knew this was the one,” Joe says. “But the family room sealed it.”
Indeed, the main living space is dramatic, with sweeping floor-to-ceiling windows and soaring ceilings.
It’s almost like being outside while indoors. No matter the season, nature’s colors are resplendent on full display whether indoors or outdoors as the family room overlooks a generous deck/outdoor living space and the splendor that lies beyond.
“I spend a lot of time on the deck,” Joe says. “In fact, I’m out here all the time.”
The lot is completely private. This home literally backs up to a 545-acre county park offering multi-use trails and a variety of activities from hiking and birding to sporting activities.
Landscaping is intentionally natural so there’s very little maintenance.
“The backyard is 100% greenspace,” Joe says. “On the other side of our property sits New Quarter Park. It’s a county park, and it stretches all along the York River.”
This means, of course, that there will never be another neighbor (or another neighbor’s yard) off the back of this property.
The Draw of Queens Lake
Queens Lake is a picturesque and friendly community boasting a York County address (and schools!) yet within close proximity to Williamsburg. It is located just off the iconic Colonial Parkway, between Jamestown and Yorktown. The community is bordered by Queen Creek to the North and West and the Colonial Parkway to the South.
The Queens Lake Community Association, Inc. (QLCA) provides a fully appointed complex of facilities and hosts community events throughout the year, making the neighborhood a wonderful place to live.
Amenities include Queens Lake itself. Perfect for boating and fishing, the fresh water stretches more than a mile. For those interested in the York River (and Chesapeake Bay, there is a Marina which provides immediate access to those waterways. There are also two swimming pools (one is adult only), three tennis courts, a playground and a clubhouse. The clubhouse overlooks Queens Creek and is frequently the gathering place for this friendly, social community.
Contemporary…. but cozy
Built in 1983, this home has good, solid bones. The 2,872 square foot home features four bedrooms, and four bathrooms (three full, one half). When the Healeys moved into this spectacular home, even though they were already sold on the layout and floorplan, there were some renovations made.
“The first thing we did was eliminate a wall in the main living space that separated it from a front parlor-type room,” Joe says. “Mostly we wanted to open things up, especially that view of the woods.”
To the right of the entrance sits a transitional space that flows effortlessly into the main living space. Though it’s often said that the kitchen is the heart of a home, the family room in the Healey home appears to have marched right out of a magazine. With floor-to-ceiling windows and windowsills deep enough to display objects of art to the color palette and warm hardwood floors, this space is simply sumptuous.
The family room flows to an oversized galley kitchen. Boasting cherry cabinetry and sleek, granite countertops the space is simultaneously open and efficient. Everything is state-of-the-art, including the gas cooktop/oven. At the far end of the kitchen, there’s an ample eat-in area resplendent with more of those fabulous windows affording views to the deck and backyard. Opposite the kitchen there’s a good-sized room that could be used as a home office or bedroom.
“This room off the kitchen could really be anything,” Pat says. “We thought we might use it as a bedroom someday to have a bedroom on the main living level since the bedrooms are all upstairs. We also added a full bath on the main level for that same reason.”
Within the past year or so, all bathrooms have been redone with modern fixtures. All have been “senior-ized” with grab bars. The primary bathroom even features a shower with a built-in shower seat, enhancements that will resonate with residents of any age.
The windows and hardwood floors on the first floor are original, and the walls are painted in muted neutral shades of gray or off-white.
Upstairs, there are four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a loft. The primary bedroom features a generous walk-in closet.
Although Pat doesn’t describe herself as an artist (“I dabble,” she says), there is a sunny and spacious art studio on the second level. For his part, Joe (an avid banjo player) enjoys the man cave he has created on the basement.
“When you go downstairs, there is a full custom office down there, and my collection of banjos is downstairs.”
There’s a 1.5 car garage on the ground level with storage space galore. The property is also equipped with a whole house generator.
Bonus structure (She Shed? Office? You Decide!)
Prospective home buyers will find another showstopper – the “she-shed” the couple had installed several years ago, off their back deck. With its own wrap-around deck outdoors and a loft within, this space is also equipped with electricity, air conditioning and tons of counterspace.
“This is my space to create,” Pat says. “I go out there to paint, create and have a good time.
The structure could easily serve as another home office.
Floorplan
What’s not to love?
Joe and Pat can’t say enough good stuff about this community. They married later in life, opting to raise their teenagers before tying the knot. Before they married, Pat was actually living in another house in Queens Lake.
“I was familiar with this house though,” she says. “My kids played with the kids who lived here, and I got to know their mother through church. We all loved this house, maybe because it was so different from anything we’d ever seen before.”
After the last child graduated high school, Pat heard that the home was coming up for sale and she was so excited to have Joe see the property.
“Of course, Joe fell in love with it too.”
The couple says they hope the next owners will love the home as much as they have.
All this lovely home needs is a new family to move in, add their own creative flourishes, and enjoy all that this spectacular property and community has to offer.
At $250 per year, the HOA dues are surprisingly affordable, especially considering all the amenities they cover. There is one unusual facet, in that new home buyers in QL are deeded members meaning that they must be owners of the Association. “When a deeded property is sold, the new owners must pay a one-time $100 fee (not included in the $250 dues) to Queens Lake Community Association,” Joe says.
Photos of the Queens Lake Neighborhood and New Quarter Park
Queens Lake enjoys a “tucked away” vibe but the neighborhood is truly convenient to everything, from roadways to shopping to entertainment.
“We are going to miss this community,” Pat says. “And we have loved this house. But it is time to move on. Our kids are sad to see the house go, but happy we are moving on to our next adventure.”
Distance to various points of interest
Here are the approximate distances from 102 Allendale Rd., Williamsburg, VA to some popular locations:
- Harris Teeter grocery store: 2.5 miles
- Trader Joe’s: 3.0 miles
- Walmart: 4.2 miles
- Riverside Doctors’ Hospital: 3.5 miles
- Colonial Williamsburg: 2.0 miles
- Colonial Parkway 1.2 Miles
- Williamsburg Regional Library: 2.5 miles
- Great restaurants 2-4 miles Casa Pearl, Shorties, 2nd St, Amber Ox, Fat Canary, Food for Thought, Le Yaca, Blue Talon
- Yorktown Beach: 12 miles
map location of home-102 Allendale, Williamsburg VA
Schools:
Magruder Elementary, Queens Lake Middle, Bruton High
If you’d like to learn more about the Queens Lake neighborhood, where this home is located, you can find detailed information on my neighborhood page here. Discover everything that makes this area one of Williamsburg’s most charming communities, including its amenities, natural beauty, and community spirit.
Curious about this home or others in the Williamsburg area? I’d love to show you around! Feel free to reach out to me directly:
Contact John Womeldorf
Phone: 757-254-8136
Email: john@mrwilliamsburg.com
Website: mrwilliamsburg.com
And lastly, if you’re a seller considering listing your home and feel we’d be a good fit, I’d be happy to meet with you to discuss our unique sales process. Together, we’ll explore how my approach can highlight the qualities of your home, reaching the right buyers and ensuring a smooth, rewarding sale that aligns with your needs.