East Ocean View

What do reclaimed beaches, surf bungalows, a marina, seafood shacks and award-winning condo developments have in common? You can find them all in East Ocean View.

This is a quiet community in Norfolk, Virginia, but it hasn't always been that way. This area of the Chesapeake Bay shore was once a vacation and entertainment destination — it even had a theme park. New highways in the second half of the 20th century led to its eventual rebirth as the residential enclave it is today.

Ecological restoration, low-rise development and a slightly secluded location cultivate a low-key, beachy vibe — but there's more to it than just the beach. Even with coastal property values rising almost everywhere, East Ocean View stands out for an award-winning development and prime bay access.

You'll find restaurants, a community center, a park, and a handful of small businesses along this two-mile stretch of sand and sleepy shoreside road. There's also a marina on Little Creek at the entrance to the bay.

This is also a convenient place for commuters. Major military facilities are only a few miles away, providing jobs for the area. There are private-sector employers in downtown Norfolk and throughout the Hampton Roads region.

The long-term trend in East Ocean View is an increase in property value, similar to many other coastal areas. There's also interesting development happening here.

East Beach on the east side is an example. It's an award-winning New Urbanist planned community and shore reclamation project that started as a public-private partnership in the 1990s.

Other move-in ready properties line the waterfronts of Little Creek and the Chesapeake Bay. Creekside homes tend to have boat houses or docks, while the bay side often has direct beach access. Some condos, townhomes and cottages round out the selection.

If you're interested in boating or fishing, there are endless opportunities for birdwatching, exercise and exploration on the Chesapeake Bay and along the Hampton Roads river system. With the marina right in town and many private home docks, East Ocean View is a prime spot from which to launch your adventures.

Apart from moonlight boaters and frequenters of isolated nocturnal haunts, this is a quiet neighborhood at night. For daytime pastimes and necessities, there are forest preserves, shopping areas and grocery stores all within easy driving distance.

Maybe you'll spend the evening strolling down a sandy beach after watching the sunset — or perhaps you'd prefer an open-air concert performed by a full jazz ensemble? For such a small strip of the Chesapeake Bay coastline, there's a lot going on in East Ocean View.

The East Beach community has events in a pavilion located near the tennis courts. You can sometimes catch smaller shows near the Bay View Club, which also has several amenities available to members of the HOA. About three and a half miles down the road, there's a larger bandshell at Ocean View Beach Park.

You'll find a croquet pitch, a bocce green, two tennis courts and multiple green spaces throughout the East Beach development. There's also a garden area with a pergola, playground equipment and a pavilion stage for live events.

At the neighborhood community center on Little Creek, you can work out, fish, launch your kayak, play sports or let the kids loose on a playground. Near the west end of the neighborhood, you can walk your dog, have a barbecue or take a jog along the winding, tree-shaded paths of Bay Oaks Park.

This neighborhood is within the enrollment zones for the Little Creek Elementary, Azalea Gardens Middle and Lake Taylor High schools. None of those schools are in East Ocean View, but all are within easy driving distance. The elementary and middle schools are roughly two miles away, and it's only about six miles to the high school.

If you'd like a private education for your children, there are also religious and Montessori schools right in Norfolk.

A laid-back beach feeling, good seafood and an in-town marina keep East Ocean View feeling like a vacation spot — even though plenty of people live here all year. It follows the city's motto: Old salt, new vibe.

This is also a convenient location for military personnel. It's five miles from Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story and nine miles from the Norfolk Naval Station.

Are you interested in investment properties? Many owners have the right to rent short-term, but it's a relatively contentious local issue. Check with authorities for the latest information.

Living in East Ocean View might make it feel like you're getting away from it all. The reality is that shopping, schools, workplaces and even the international airport are all nearby. There's even a public bus that runs through the neighborhood from downtown Norfolk to the joint expeditionary base.

All homes in this neighborhood are within a few hundred yards of the sand and surf. The further a home is from the beach, the closer it is to Little Creek's kayak launches and fishing piers. Check the locations of beach and creek access when you're looking for that perfect spot.

Written By

Sarah Albiston

Photography Contributed By

Brian Ford

Video By

Kevin Carter