It is the stereotypical dream home -- that comfortable little pale blue house adorned with a white picket fence, vibrantly colored flowers stretching across the front porch, the smell of fresh cookies baking in the oven and the family dog running around the yard. Around Grounds, however, this picture-perfect description would be missing one thing: University students checking their mail across the street, studying on the front porch and hosting weekend parties.
Although it may not be obvious at first glance, University students are not the only inhabitants of the Grounds area. Families live interspersed around Grounds in locations many go by several times a day without even realizing whose homes they are passing.
Living around Grounds has created an interesting situation and varied perspective for many different families. Yet, the general consensus seems to be that the experience is positive in the families' lifestyles.
The Jones family, for example, lives on Lewis Mountain Road, located directly across from Memorial Gym. The neighborhood they live in is an island, surrounded on all sides by University property.
The Joneses are not strangers to college towns. The family moved to the area in 1993 from a residence located a mile away from the University of Michigan.
Even a short mile makes a huge difference in the environment of a college town, though, mother Julia Jones said.
"Living near the University, we are surrounded by a much more diverse group of people than where we lived before," Julia said.
The Joneses' move was prompted by a job offer to Bob Jones as a physics professor at the University.
Because his job requires long hours, the family decided they wanted to live close to Bob's work.
In addition to being in an ideal location for commuting to work, Julia also has found benefits to living where they do.
"I can walk to do errands, get food, go to the cleaners and even the vet," she said. "I don't have to get in the car every time I have to run a little errand."
The three Jones children also have benefited from their living situation. According to Julia, her young children are more environmentally conscious and they know that being in the car "makes the earth sick."
When they are able to walk places they feel good about the contribution they make to the environment and they think that is really "cool," Julia said.
Stacy Boyle, a University Circle resident since 1992, also enjoys the ease of walking to perform errands.
"I am very delighted to be here because there are so many places you can walk," Boyle said. "I walk to church, the banks and to get groceries if there aren't too many. It's an ideal spot."
Boyle has lived in Charlottesville for 60 years, but it wasn't until 12 years ago that she moved to her current location to more easily facilitate her husband's medical condition.
Boyle also thought University Circle was a memorable location for her and her late husband, Roger.
"Mr. Boyle had been in the drama department and it was a wonderful place to bring him because he looked out over Lambeth field and there was the drama building," she said.
Stacy Boyle currently is involved in many aspects of University life, including a drama series for the University's women's club, the Curry School of Education and the Raven Society.
The Ruffner family also lives near the heart of University life in their house on Alderman Road just past St. Thomas Aquinas church.
Before moving to their current residence six years ago, the Ruffners lived north of the University on Route 29.
According to Kay Ruffner, it was her husband who got interested in the house they currently reside in. Scott Ruffner drove by the house every day going to work in the computer science department and realized how close it was.
The close proximity of the home to the wooded area around Observatory Hill also was attractive.
When the couple decided to move, they knew it would be a change from the more extended link they previously had with the University.
"We knew Alderman shut down for football games and we were moving to an area that was half owner-occupied, half student-occupied," Kay said.
The couple's situation is unique in the fact that they own the house next door to their current home as well and rent it to University students.
For the most part, Ruffner loves her location. She describes it as "vibrant and alive
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