Lake Taylor - Norfolk, VA

Lake Taylor and the community surrounding it dates back to the late 1870s when the area was part of Princess Anne County. Once farmland, city officials ordered the construction of two small reservoirs in 1872 to help supply water to Norfolk. According to historians, Lake Taylor was named for the old William Taylor farm it replaced. The area’s first non-profit medical care facility, the Norfolk Alms House, opened near the lake in 1890. Residential development in Lake Taylor began shortly after the turn of the 20th century, with a number of homes from the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s still in existence. When the JANAF Shopping Yard opened in 1959, the number of new constructions exploded. Ranch-style houses from the 1960s and split-levels built in the 1970s make up a big portion of the available real estate, but the number of modern homes and condominiums continues to grow.

Lake Taylor residents have more than two dozen restaurants right outside their front doors. From international to all-American dishes, the choices at JANAF can satisfy any craving. A mixture of fast-food chains, casual dining options and grills scatter the shopping yard, along with pizza and sub shops, and Asian eateries. Locals love to order from Martin’s Soul Food after a busy day. Martin’s serves generous portions of home-style meats such as Salisbury steak and pork chops, Southern-style vegetables including yams and fried okra, seafood and sandwiches. Stop by Thursday through Sunday to try Martin’s pig's feet dish.

In the Broad Creek Shopping Center across the street, Sake Sushi Restaurant is a popular lunch spot, offering sushi boxes with soup, salad and rice, but it also has a full dinner menu with more than 40 different sushi and sashimi rolls, along with an extensive selection of premium Japanese beers and wines. The military roll is a neighborhood favorite, featuring spicy tuna, eel, shrimp and cucumber with lobster salad on top. The center also houses a Chinese restaurant, Sal’s Pizzeria, Ruby Tuesday and a handful of fast-food chains.

The liveliest nightlife in Hampton Roads usually happens near the water, whether it’s the Norfolk Waterside or oceanfront Virginia Beach. Dance clubs, sports pubs and lounges dot the sidewalks of both locations, along with upscale restaurants and wine rooms such as Byrd & Baldwin Brothers Steakhouse in downtown Norfolk. Many of the locals keep it close to home when they’re in the mood to relax and unwind. Applebee’s, Logan's Roadhouse, and many other restaurants in the vicinity have full bars and stay open late.

With plenty of shops and restaurants within walking distance, Lake Taylor isn’t a completely car-dependent community, but most households own at least one automobile and most of Norfolk has ample free parking. The neighborhood sits between several major roadways, including Interstate 64, Virginia Beach Boulevard and Military Highway. This convenience makes it easier for cars to get around, but it rules out bicycling as a safe and reliable form of transportation. Hampton Roads Transit operates 2 bus lines in the area, connecting Lake Taylor residents with the rest of the region. Other options include Uber and several taxi fleets such as Yellow Cab and Checker Cab.

Norfolk holds a treasure chest of parks and recreation areas, with four active parks in the Lake Taylor community. Visitors enjoy basketball, play equipment and plenty of open space at Princess Anne Park, Ashby Street, River Oaks and the North Foxhall Playground. About 15 minutes away by car, Barraud Park houses a boxing center, tennis courts and a lighted softball field as well as a playground, amphitheater, three picnic shelters and an off-leash dog park for your four-legged friends.

As with any military town, Lake Taylor residents often pay more for certain goods and services, especially entertainment and convenience products such as movies, chips, pizza and beer. Locals pay about $4 for a domestic pint of beer, while craft beers and local beers cost $5 to $8 in most bars. The neighborhood’s overall cost of living is 6.5 percent higher than the national average, but living in Lake Taylor is slightly more affordable than other parts of Norfolk, Hampton Roads and Virginia. Rental rates and home values vary tremendously throughout the neighborhood, with an average monthly rental price of $843 for a one-bedroom apartment. Transportation costs are reasonable, with gas stations charging about 2.5 percent less than the national average price. Bus riders enjoy low fares, paying just $1.75 for a single trip or $4 for a daily GoPass.

Residents from all over Hampton Roads come to the Lake Taylor area to browse the tremendous selection of specialty shops and boutiques in the JANAF Shopping Yard. Military Circle Mall and Broad Creek Shopping Center are near JANAF and offer shoppers a selection of more than 150 unique stores. A Walmart Supercenter, Food Lion and Farm Fresh serve the area from the shopping yard, while warehouse clubs such as BJ’s and Costco lie south of Lake Taylor in Military Circle. An international grocer, specializing in Caribbean, Latin American and African foods, and a European food store are in the vicinity, but the nearest farmer's market is the Five Points Community Market about 15 minutes west toward downtown Norfolk.

Major retailers such as Target, Home Depot and TJ Maxx fill the storefronts along with specialty chains such as Party City, PetSmart and GameStop. JANAF houses a variety of service providers, including auto repair shops and medical facilities, and several local boutiques. Elite Child focuses on high-end clothing for children, including tuxedos, pageant dresses and formal-wear accessories for boys and girls. Residents like shopping at Furniture Mart for deals on all their home furnishing needs, while the neighborhood kids always name Bounce House as their favorite destination. Filled with inflatable jump areas for hours of active entertainment, Bounce House offers open jump time and takes reservations for private parties.