CityView Magazine

this year, the Penninks and another neighbor co-hosted a Care Clinic fun- draising dinner. Guests floated between the two homes in an easy casual style, enjoying the diversity of décor. Many of the owners have grandchildren around the same ages. "The hallway has become the 'bowling alley' for the grandkids," laughed Suzanne, who initially received flack from worried grandchildren, cer- tain "Mimi's" new home wouldn't have any fun play spaces. Suzanne admits having a few con- cerns when she moved to the condo- minium, namely noise and privacy. Sur- prisingly, neither fear has manifested. "You get used to the train sounds like you do a cuckoo clock," she said. And the building's thick concrete walls buff- er noises from downtown. As for her concern over constantly bumping into neighbors? "It's amazing how little you see your neighbors," she said, still puz- zling over it. Discovering the Heartbeat of Downtown The Penninks have wholeheart- edly embraced their new community. They enjoy walking the Cape Fear trail, shopping the Farmer's Market, eat- ing on Hay Street, attending festivities at Festival Park, as well as the plethora of events hosted by historic down- town churches. They made visits to the Cameo Art House Theater a weekly event. Suzanne is proud to bring clients downtown, showing off her eclectic and trendy neighborhood. Amazingly, 'old' neighbors from their previous neigh- borhood have now become 'new' next- door neighbors in the condos; and one of their grown sons even lives across the street. "It's fun," she said, "we send mes- sages with our lights." Revitalizing downtown Fayetteville has been hard work; years of decay are not easily reversed. "There are always naysayers," said Menno, reminiscing on the building challenges of the past eight years. But, the Penninks believe in the strong beat of their city's downtown heart, and they – along with a growing number of other believers — are happy to call it home. CV Tee it up for kids! join us for the 17th Annual Friends of Children Golf Classic in memory of L.B. Floyd on Thursday, May 10, 2012 at Highland Country Club. Proceeds from the tournament benefit Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation's Friends of Children to help hospitalized children and their families at thursday, may 10, 2012 highland country club • fayetteville Cape Fear Valley Health. Presented by: A spiral staircase connects the first floor to the guest suite of the Pennink's loft. www.capefearvalley.com/foundation/golfclassic CityViewNC.com | 27

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