jonathanslandingrealty.com

_{October 17, 2008, Palm Beach Post}

Jonathan's Landing feels like more than a neighborhood.

It feels like a destination - a destination for boaters, golfers, tennis players and anyone who likes water, beautiful views, mature landscaping and an easy way of living the good life.

"We said this just fits the bill to the T for all the things we were looking for," says Mark Van Hoesen, who retired recently and moved to Jupiter from Connecticut with his wife, Pam.

The couple chose Jonathan's Landing - named after explorer Jonathan Dickinson who ran a ship ashore nearby - almost a year ago after searching South Florida from coast to coast for a waterfront golfing and boating community.

"I love the views," says Pam, "we can walk right out the door and we're right at the boats."

Built beginning in 1978, Jonathan's Landing sits on the west side of the Intracoastal Waterway south of Indiantown Road. It features 27 subdivisions - called villages - on its 606 acres, all built to take full advantage of miles of fresh- and saltwater lakes and waterways within the community.

That translates to 126 acres of freshwater lagoons and navigable saltwater channels, meaning many of the villages are islands to themselves, as is the site of the community's private golf club.

Its one on-site golf course, designed by Tom Fazio, meanders through the community and features a one-of-a-kind ferry hole, where golfers hit two shots, then board an automatic ferry with their golf carts to finish the hole.

That shows just how much water there is in the community. It's actually easier to get around on foot, bike or by golf cart than by car because you can take advantage of the extensive promenade system - walking trails and other paths that connect the community over the water. Several gazebos and parks provide room to enjoy the views, breezes and abundant wildlife, primarily a wide variety of birds.

Alcoa Properties built and designed most of Jonathan's Landing, with the idea that many of its own executives would buy winter homes there. The promenade system developed so they wouldn't need a car once they arrived.

At least that's the story, says resident and real estate agent Carmen Haferkamp, who has been selling in the community since 1985. Over the years, "Jonathan's" has evolved, of course.

The first villages - townhomes in Cape Pointe and single-family homes in Baytowne - have smaller units and modest price tags, starting around $289,000 in Cape Pointe. Several Baytowne homes, however, have been torn down and rebuilt in recent years.

One of the last villages, Casseekey Island, is an island on the Intracoastal with primarily waterfront, custom mansions on the market for up to $4.4 million.

In between are a wide variety of villages - including the 11-home community called The Harbour, the 20 attached courtyard homes of Port Dickinson and the 50-unit Southporte high-rise condo.

Today, many buyers are still working and are younger than the original owners, Realtors say. In addition to the variety of homes and prices, homeowners like the relaxed atmosphere at Jonathan's Landing and its matching tranquil surroundings, as well as the fabulous amenities, of course.

"People love the friendliness," says Haferkamp, who is with Exclusive Real Estate Group. "And when you drive in here, it's like going back to Florida the way we all knew it to be. You come in here and it's peace."

Peace isn't always cheap, but residents don't have to have big bucks to live here. Older condos can be found for less than $300,000 and membership in the club isn't required.

Residents can't avoid the association dues, of course. Those start at $575 a quarter for the master association, which everyone pays, and covers the three 24-hour manned security gates, lighting, maintenance of the grounds and all the water, plus other costs.

In addition, each village has its own association, which collects dues for a variety of expenses within its village depending on the type of homes. Those fees range from $700 to $1,200 per quarter.

Residents also may apply to join the golf club - and a majority do join - or the marina club.

The golf club features three courses, one within Jonathan's Landing and two about 9 miles west of the community at Old Trail. Both sites feature clubhouses with dining and a pro shop.

Many golfers particularly enjoy the Old Trail courses, one designed by Arthur Hills and one by Tom Fazio, because they're in the relative wilderness and full of birds and other wildlife, including wild pigs.

"It's like going into a park," says resident and avid golfer Heather Danneker. "The courses are really challenging and yet the park-like feeling of being there is wonderful. You feel as if you're somewhere else."

The 28,000-square-foot main clubhouse anchors the community's active social schedule, with dining rooms, lounges, card rooms and space for clubs and other activities.

A new fitness center, tennis pro shop and locker rooms are being built and should be finished by the summer.

Four equity memberships (golf, sports, tennis and social) range in cost from $56,000 to $4,500 with annual dues from about $9,700 to $1,700, along with other fees.

Alcoa also built the marina within the community but sold it to a private owner in the mid-1990s. It now is a public marina but residents and marina customers can join as members in a variety of ways.

One popular membership is the boat fleet, which gives members access to 30 vessels anytime they want for an annual fee, plus the cost of fuel. The cost ranges from $3,500 to $6,900 a year, depending on how often you want a boat.

Mark Van Hoesen loves this program, particularly from his Southporte condo, which is just steps from the marina. He had owned a boat all his life until last year. Now he enjoys the water without the headaches of boat ownership.

"It's so easy," he says. "We just go over, hop on, just go out for an evening putt-putt or take the boat out to dinner. We're probably out two or three times a week."

The marina also offers 31 wet slips that are privately owned, dry storage for up to 400 boats, as well as dining, a pool and social events.

The club plans to renovate soon, meaning its dry storage will accommodate boats up to 40 feet in a building able to withstand winds of 140 mph. A members' lounge overlooking the Intracoastal, a ships store and courtesy docks also are in the plans.

Of course, all the amenities in the world won't matter much without fabulous people, residents say. And Jonathan's Landing delivers, residents and agents and employees all agree.

"People love it," says Bonnie Clark, an eight-year resident and real estate agent with Illustrated Properties, which manages Jonathan's Landing Realty.

MICHAEL and HEATHER DANNEKER
THEIR HOME: 3 bedrooms, 312 bathrooms with about 2,700 square feet in Lantern Bay village on a small lake
WHEN THEY MOVED IN: 2006
WHAT THEY PAID: $920,000
CURRENT VALUE (from Zillow.com): $737,500
WHY THEY LOVE IT: Michael and Heather Danneker already are on their second home in Jonathan's Landing, just five years after seeing the community for the first time.
They were visiting friends who had a boat at Jonathan's Landing and didn't intend to buy a home or even move to Florida.

But one part-time home led to a bigger home and now the Connecticut couple calls Jupiter home all year long.

The Dannekers aren't boaters but like having the marina nearby in case they want to go out on the water. They do play golf and play pretty well so they truly appreciate the courses and the depth of competition here.

The two courses at Old Trail, about 9 miles from Jonathan's Landing, are their favorites. Few homes or roads are within sight of the course so wild birds and animals settle in instead.

"It's as if you're playing in a huge preserve or a huge park," Heather says. "That was the attraction. It's like you're somewhere else."

They have seen a wide variety of wading birds, osprey, even a wild pig with two babies, while playing there. At home, they enjoy Jonathan's Landing's peaceful setting, mature trees and other landscaping, the wide variety of birds, the central location and the proximity to the beach.

"We literally can be sitting on the beach in less than 10 minutes and that's wonderful," she says. "Sometimes you have to sort of pinch yourself."

But, like most of their neighbors, their favorite thing about Jonathan's Landing is the people. They're so friendly and warm.

"We're here because of the people," she says. "The people make the community."

BILL and JANET HOWE
THEIR HOME: 2 bedrooms plus a den with 212 bathrooms and about 2,000 square feet in the Shearwater village.
WHEN THEY MOVED IN: 1993
WHAT THEY PAID: $240,000
CURRENT VALUE (from Zillow.com): $477,000
WHY THEY LOVE IT: It's just a perfect fit for this retired couple from Connecticut.

Janet found the house - and bought it before Bill had even seen it, at his instruction. He was ready to retire (he owned an executive search firm) and sent Janet and their daughter to Florida to find something they liked.

His only requirements? Golf and fishing. Something with a marina would be ideal, he told them.

They quickly found Jonathan's Landing, and Janet immediately loved the landscaping.

"It's just beautiful," she says. "That was the first thing that really took me. I just got a feel for the community and then met really nice people."

Today, Bill plays golf about three times a week, when he isn't working at his daughter's new restaurant. Janet plays a couple times a week during season. They kept a boat at the marina until a few years ago, when they realized they weren't using it very often.

Janet spends much of her time volunteering and working with a group called JL Cares, which was started in 1996 by residents to encourage and coordinate volunteer work in Jupiter.

"It's wonderful because it brings the community together," says Janet.

And Bill agrees with his wife that the people make the place.

"It's not all former presidents of companies," he says. "It has a very good mix of people."

DENNIS and CAROLE McGUIRE
THEIR HOME: 3 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms and about 5,000 square feet in Barrow Island village, plus 3 staterooms on the 55-foot motor yacht (Freedom) at the saltwater dock around back.
WHEN THEY MOVED IN: 1996
WHAT THEY PAID: $900,000
CURRENT VALUE (from Zillow.com): $1.8 million
WHY THEY LOVE IT: They love the people, the golf and the boating. In that order.

Or maybe it's the people, the boating and the golf.

Either way, the McGuires adore their home and their community.

They found it "quite by accident," Dennis says.

When he retired in 1992, they had a boat built that they took all over, including through the Panama Canal, before landing in Florida.

They planned to take up to two years to find the perfect spot to settle into as home.

But four days later, they bought a condo in northern Palm Beach County and were here to stay. Dennis eventually decided he wanted a "place to pound a nail in a board" and started looking at gated communities.

A friend mentioned Jonathan's Landing and the McGuires have loved it ever since.

"We kind of feel like we died and went to heaven because of what we found," Dennis says.

Originally, the biggest draw was the saltwater dock and the ability to keep the boat right behind their house. Dennis also takes full advantage of the golf, playing four or five times a week on the three "marvelous" golf courses, and they both enjoy the clubhouse frequently.

But something else keeps them here.

"Our staying power here is the people," Dennis says. "They're just so friendly and so wonderful. There are people here who could buy and sell me 10 times over that live in a little condo and you'd never know it."

- Stories by Elizabeth Clarke, Palm Beach Post