NORFOLK — Imagine having a terrace where you can sit and watch river traffic flow by.
Or maybe you dream about having a private spot from where you can lounge at night and look at the bright lights of a city skyline.
Why stop at two: How about having three separate terraces with three spectacular views to choose from on any given day or night?
Such is the life of Phil and Suzanne Franklin in their top-floor penthouse condominium at the Pilot House on W. Bute St. in Norfolk’s Freemason District.
“We use the terraces all the time,” said Suzanne. “We have a date night every Friday on the front terrace … We also entertain frequently on that terrace, having drinks there then walking to Voila or Omar’s Carriage House for dinner.”
Both restaurants are close by, just a short stroll of a block or two along the quaint cobblestone streets.
Suzanne said they also use the front terrace, which can be accessed from the master bedroom, for reading and gardening.
“We love to see the city lights from there at night, especially when the office buildings are lit for the holidays,” she added.
In addition to views of Downtown Norfolk, just across the Elizabeth River are Downtown Portsmouth, Hospital Point, and the Portsmouth Marine Terminal.
The river itself provides endless hours of entertainment, including one event the Franklins look fondly back on when a large cruise ship was preparing for departure at the Half Moone Cruise terminal.
“All the passengers were gathered on the various decks to watch the departure when an aircraft carrier cruised by, leaving the Norfolk Naval Shipyard,” Suzanne said. The crew was standing on the carrier deck at attention of course, and the passengers on the cruise ship started cheering and whistling at the carrier, which looked like it was no more than a few feet away. Most passengers on the cruise ship had probably never seen an aircraft carrier before, whereas we who live in Hampton Roads take those sightings for granted.”
Inside, the three-bedroom, two-and-a-half bathroom condo offers 2,800 square feet of living space, a relatively open floor plan, and – when the weather isn’t fit for sitting on a terrace – some pretty good views from the inside.
For more information about the penthouse condominium, visit Howard Hanna Real Estate Services online.
