Recently I helped some buyers find a home in St Augustine and they are actually closing next week. The reason I am mentioning this is because most buyers that I speak to have new construction communities in mind. When in fact 9 times out of 10 those new communities don’t check all their boxes. Usually, I end up showing them some more established communities that I think will work better and they are always pleasantly surprised. So today I am going to take you to one of these hidden gem neighborhoods and a few things may surprise you.
Best Neighborhoods in St Augustine Florida
Today we are going to take a look at a unique neighborhood in St. Augustine and that is Prairie Creek.
When we think of St. Augustine some of the first images in our minds are the historic downtown, beautiful beaches, and classic Florida neighborhoods. As we get nearer to the water, the homes tend to be closely built with smaller lots – because who needs a big backyard when you have the whole ocean to play in! But there is one neighborhood that is distinctly different from most others in the area, and that is Prairie Creek.
Located less than a mile west of US-1, just off of Wildwood Drive, this gated community is one of the most sought-after communities for buyers looking for a little bit more room to relax. This might surprise you but almost every lot here is an acre or more, and there is an abundance of mature Live Oaks, Cypress and Cedar trees creating a lush and shaded landscape. The natural elevation of this area creates winding streets with gentle hills. Not to mention there is plenty of wildlife thriving throughout the nature preserve that bounds the entire subdivision. This aspect makes it a much different type of neighborhood than the more coastal and new construction communities which tend to be more common in Florida.
History of Prairie Creek
Since St Augustine is historic there is some history to this neighborhood.
Just about ten feet behind a home on Red Cloud Trail was a stone monument. This monument marked the historical site of the 1823 Treaty of Moultrie Creek. It was here that the most notable negotiations with the Native American chiefs and the United States military, took place. It was such a significant event that men and women traveled in small boats from St Augustine all along Moultrie Creek to the site of these talks. The monument since has been moved to nearby Treaty Park.
In the 1970s, the large tracts of land collectively known as “Moultrie Creek” were purchased by the developer Terry Pacetti and the neighborhood as we know it today was created. The subdivision was renamed in the 1980s and established as the “Prairie Creek Property Owners Association”.
Gated Communities St Augustine FL
The construction of these homes in the 70s and 80s is evident in the architectural styles you can find here. There are many post-modern homes. The large lots with spacious front and back yards were typical for the home trends at that time. You will also find traditional Ranch homes, some stunning Colonials, Classical Revivalist, and even Victorian style homes. Whatever the architectural design may be, these large lots mean that most properties have pools, extensive outdoor living spaces, gardens, and almost total privacy from their neighbors! Prairie Creek is also one of the few gated communities that has a guard 24 hours a day 7 days a week – talk about security!
The community itself offers residents plenty of amenities for an active lifestyle. There are multiple tennis courts, plenty of walking paths, and with only 8 miles to historic downtown St. Augustine or 10 miles to Anastasia Island, you are never far from the events and entertainment in town. Prairie Creek is also convenient to shopping, restaurants, and the commuter connection of US-1 to I-95.
One of the biggest surprises about this neighborhood is the value of the properties. The average sale price in the last year has been about $600,000. Although the listing values have ranged from $300k to $800,000 in the last 2 years. There is a lower rate of resale here because only a few homes are sold in this community every year. What is so amazing about these home values is the acreage you get in comparison to other St. Augustine neighborhoods. Homes of similar square footage and lot size average for $3 million or more on Anastasia Island!
Is Prairie Creek for you?
Are you considering a home and lifestyle that is peaceful, secure, private, and you don’t mind taking a short drive to get to the beach? Then Prairie Creek might be an ideal neighborhood for you!
If you think this neighborhood is beautiful and you’d like to learn more about Prairie Creek or others like it in the area, you’ll find my contact info here.