Chapel Hill

Right along Interstate 40, Cross County in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, is a quiet community between two of the state's major cities. This wooded neighborhood surrounding a small lake is a serene spot for residents who want to keep close to urban activity. <br><br>Homes in Cross County range from the $300,000s up to nearly $3 million, including single and multi-family homes and town houses. "Things are heating up," says Armand Lencheck, a Realtor with Howards Perry & Walston Realtor. "We're making our way back to the super-hot market of 0f 2022." Many of these properties are nestled between the trees or seated right along the road, so commuting is a breeze. <br><br>The neighborhood is also attractive for its proximity to North Carolina's most prestigious universities, so it's a popular choice for students and staff. Cross County is 5 miles northeast of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and 6 miles southwest of Duke University. This closeness means you can enjoy the amenities of the campuses within driving distance, such as museums, restaurants, athletic fields, and health offices such as Duke Medical Center. The area is right across the boulevard from a few private practices and pharmacies, and it’s even home to Kiefer Analytical medical supply store, so it's also a draw for medical professionals. To top it all off, you can reach Research Triangle Park just 15 minutes east down Interstate 40 and take advantage of its bustling employment center. <br><br>Students in Cross County attend Montessori Community School in the southwest corner of the community. Just south in the Durham Public Schools district, younger students attend Creekside Elementary to participate in its many before and after-school programs. Little ones can spend the day at Primrose School of Chapel Hill East across the way. <br><br>Just east across the interstate, residents can visit Five Oaks Recreational Association to relax by the pool, play on the basketball and tennis courts, or join the community for a movie night. Centrally located in Cross County is Clark Lake, a serene reservoir where community members can walk their dogs or go fishing for carp. For younger residents looking to get active with their peers, Cross County is also home to Bouncing Bulldogs, a non-profit organization whose gym hosts the Bouncing Bulldogs JumpRope Team. <br><br>Drive northwest up Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard, and you can find various stores to pick up your essentials, like Walmart, Home Depot and Big Lots. On this same road, you can stop for dinner at popular chain restaurants like Cook Out, McDonald's or Wendy's. But residents prefer to take to local establishments like Kipos Greek Taverna serving pastries at their bakery or Kanki Japanese House of Steaks & Sushi, serving authentic hibachi dishes. For more shopping options, New Hope Commons shopping mall is just 5 minutes up the road on Route 501 and hosts over 20 stores, including well-known retailers and independent businesses. <br><br>A short drive to the city and state campuses, Cross County is a conveniently located community right by the interstate.

To visitors, the giant tree on the edge of Meadowmont may just look like a nice decorative touch. But to locals, the 90-year-old shagbark hickory, nicknamed “Momma,” is the definitive symbol of this master-planned community designed to emulate an old town square. The tree is representative of the unique way the development was planned, working within the limits of surrounding nature. “We have a dedicated arborist to take special care of it, and it’s something that we’re proud of,” says Scott Mettler, manager of the Meadowmont Community Association. Adding more appeal to Meadowmont is its walkability to retail and recreation hotspots, and accessibility to three major freeways. Slightly curved, hilly streets dotted with roundabouts are lined with sidewalks and lush foliage. People walk and bike to amenities within the neighborhood but use their cars to navigate the surrounding area. Neat yards, often reaching a quarter acre, feature shrubbery and raised garden beds. Cape Cods, neoclassical, new traditional and colonial homes with brick and vinyl facades are just some of the expansive options in Meadowmont. Prices start around $800,000 and can reach $1.6 million for expansive estates with double-decker porches. Luxury three-bedroom townhouses with personal elevators and garages are also available, listed at $1 million. Condo complexes near the neighborhood’s entrance are priced around $810,000. Monthly homeowners association fees hover around $850 to cover assigned parking, ground maintenance, sewer, trash and water costs. Students in Meadowmont, zoned for Chapel Hill-Carboro Schools, are within walking distance of Rashkis Elementary School, which sits within the neighborhood’s boundaries and has an A rating from Niche. The same grade is given to Culbreth Middle and East Chapel Hill High schools. Students at East Chapel Hill High School can take courses through the Social Justice Academy, which also provides opportunities to travel abroad over spring break. Past stops include Austria, France, and Italy. Over their four years at the high school, students are also encouraged to complete 25 hours of service learning. After graduating, students can stay close to home by attending The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, less than 2.5 miles away. The proximity to the campus is why Meadowmont is home to “a lot of people who are associated with the university, whether they’re in the medical field or professors,” Mettler says. Pocket parks and a network of trails sit just outside the doors of residents here, making it easy for them to get fresh air. Meadowmont Park is where locals head to shoot on the basketball courts, while a small playground is perched on the roundabout along Parkridge Avenue. The Little Creek Trail system winds through the neighborhood’s eastern end. Locals can hike along grassy hills, through leafy woodlands and around the wetlands of the trail’s namesake waterway. The YMCA at Meadowmont is another focal point for the community, especially during the summer, when locals hop in the six-lane lap pool. There’s also a fenced-in playground and beach volleyball court. Grassy areas near the parks and roundabouts have small fountains and benches, where Mettler says, “I see a lot of people getting together to have lunch or relax on the benches. Meadowmont is a peaceful place to live and is a very tight community where people know their neighbors and socialize with them, and I really love that about it.” Music and food bring locals together in the heart of Meadowmont for First Fridays. Local bands perform while people relax on picnic blankets or lawn chairs with food from one of the restaurants nearby. The performances are held on the first Fridays of each month from spring through fall. “We also have brunches for residents to get together, and we’ll typically do something around Christmas that involves holiday music,” Mettler says. Modeled after a traditional Main Street with shops, restaurants, banks and offices, Meadowmont Village is a walkable commercial hub for residents. It also earns daily stops from visitors going to exercise classes at Pure Barre or getting a massage at Hand and Stone. The main drag is also flanked by Brixx Pizza and Kahlovera Mexican Bar & Grill, a go-to spot for margaritas. “There’s also a French restaurant called Blue Bird, which was recently voted the best French restaurant in the area,” Mettler says. “It’s newer but is a really nice place to eat.” Groceries can be picked up at Harris Teeter. Medical offices are situated on the village's southern end, but UNC Hospitals is also close by, just 3.5 miles east. Meadowmont is ideally situated between several freeways connecting them to the rest of the Triangle area. Highway 54 along the neighborhood’s southern end links locals to UNC Chapel Hill’s campus to the east and downtown Durham, which sits 10 miles north. People take Interstate 40 for 14.5 miles to get to Raleigh-Durham International Airport. The freeway is also convenient for those commuting to downtown Raleigh, roughly 25 miles away.