Good afternoon,
I don’t know about you, but my definition of “normal” has certainly changed over the last several weeks. My new normal is washing my hands so much I’ve had to overcome my lifelong aversion to hand lotion. My new normal is getting a haircut from my sixteen year old daughter last night (and yes, she did a great job and I think I look great!). We are all learning to adapt to the new normal but it’s never been more important to adapt. The more we adapt to the social distancing guidelines, the greater the chance of getting back to our normal “normal”. In my daily walks through the neighborhood I have seen everyone doing their part and it’s encouraging to see so many people not only taking care of themselves, but each other as well. Much like our community’s experience with hurricane Florence, we will get through this and we will be better for it in the end.
A lot is happening in the community. The building permit for the first townhome building down near the marina (Mariner’s Watch at River Bluffs) has been issued and the Marty Vahue, the builder, is planning to break ground the week after next. All of the new roadways in the Cottage Park and Mariner’s Watch have been rocked and we hope to be paving very soon. At the marina the electrical and water service installation is almost completed. The white metal cabinets you see on the docks near the boat slips are transformers for the electrical service. I know I keep promising it but the permit for the Pavillion should be in hand any day as well. Herrington Homes will be beginning construction on two new inventory homes in Cottage Park on Lots 419 and 420 and you should see work beginning on those within the next week to ten days. The inventory home being built on Lot 418 in Cottage Park has already gone under contract. We are still seeing sales activity, albeit a little different in this new “normal”. Our office staff is down to myself and one sales agent at a time. Potential purchasers visiting the community have been very respectful of social distancing guidelines and activity on our website has almost doubled over the last two weeks. Hazely, Chloe and Michael are doing a great job at Porches and thanks to all of you for your support of their efforts. We will continue to expand the grocery offerings as we can and if you have specific requests please email them to Georgette@riverbluffsliving.com as she is managing the process remotely from her home. Finally, work on improvements to the Chair Road gates should be completed today. We are replacing the gate arms with stronger, more reliable, ones and also making improvements that should prevent problems when it rains.
The Resident Advisory Committee met today via the Zoom app and we had a good meeting. A summary of that meeting, and the other three meetings held this year, can be found on the portal under “Community Resources” and then under “HOA”. Summaries of future meetings will be posted as well on both the River Bluffs portal and the CEPCO portal. One of the things to come from the meeting was a request to please make sure that not only are your dogs leashed, but also that you clean up after them and dispose of the waste in your own trash cans. While the community previously had cans, the rate at which they were filling up and the cost to the HOA in maintaining them (having them emptied) was getting to be too much. We would also ask that everyone be respectful of our amenities as well and not congregate in groups or leave behind things for someone else to have to remove. Both the River Bluffs Development and the Resident Advisory Committee approved of the letter attached below which summarizes all of the things we should all be thinking about during this crazy time. We have also included links to Governor Cooper’s Stay at Home Order and the related New Hanover County Order. Please note that the County’s Order prohibits public sport court use and the use of public or private boat ramps. Choosing to adhere to these Orders is your decision but keep in mind that they were issued to diminish the spread of a serious virus.
In closing, I don’t think any of us would say that is fun or something we want to do again anytime real soon. But that’s the irony right? The harder we make it on ourselves now (by putting into practice all the good advice we are being given by professionals), the less likely it is we will have to do this again. Regardless of what you believe in, this weekend is a very special one for a lot of people around the world and it is a time that represents new beginnings. Enjoy this beautiful weather and thank you for your continued support of River Bluffs.
John Lennon