New Albany's Ashton Grove uniquely beautiful

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When the New Albany Company began transforming New Albany back in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Georgian architecture was the chosen style for the new homes and buildings. 

Georgian style gets its name from the architectural tastes and trends popular in England during the reigns of King Georges I, II, III and IV from the early 1700s to the early 1800s. The hallmarks of the style are balance, proportion and symmetry.

While the Georgian style makes for many beautiful neighborhoods in New Albany, few, if any, may be as uniquely charming as Ashton Grove. Adjacent to Yantis and Johnstown roads, Ashton Grove is made up of only 33 homes on three streets: Ashton Green, King George Drive and Queen Ann Street. The neighborhood was completed in the mid-1990s and is part of the New Albany Country Club Communities. 

The balance, proportion and symmetry are noticeable from the entrance to the neighborhood. Ashton Green is a semicircle that provides two entrance points. The central area of the semicircle is the neighborhood’s focal point: a large green space that serves many purposes for Ashton Grove residents. 

“Our main green space is the foundation of our neighborhood,” says Trish Slagle, who lives in Ashton Grove with her husband, Ehren, and their two daughters. “Residents are out there all the time – walking their dogs, running around and playing games, and even just relaxing and enjoying the view.”

The view Trish mentions is one of New Albany’s finest. 

“The elevated views from the benches overlooking the main green space of holes 2, 3, 4 and 5 of New Albany Country Club’s North Course and the Yantis boardwalk and pond are amazing,” she says.

Adding to the Georgian symmetry, pairs of homes are so close together that they often appear joined at the garage. While all homes are standalone, this setup adds to the charm.

“We love that the homes are so close together,” Trish says. “It gives (the neighborhood) a German Village feel, but their arrangement gives you a feel inside your home that you have space.” 

Residents of Ashton Grove are members of the larger New Albany Country Club Community Homeowner’s Association and are voluntary members of the Ashton Grove Homeowners’ Association. The Ashton Grove HOA helps to maintain the neighborhood and coordinates a couple of gatherings each year, such as a Halloween event with hot chocolate and a summer block party on the main green space. Residents typically communicate via conversation out and about in the neighborhood, and flyers in mailboxes announce special events.

King George Drive forms another semicircle that connects to the top of Ashton Green; it is bisected by Queen Ann Street. In addition to the main green space, Ashton Grove includes four smaller green spaces scattered throughout. With mature trees and brick sidewalks, the neighborhood simply oozes charm.

Rachel Juday and her husband, Joel, had their hearts set on living in Ashton Grove before they even lived in New Albany. 

“I have wanted to live here since I graduated college,” says Rachel. “I used to walk through the neighborhood after work because I thought the houses were so cute.” 

When the couple was looking to move to New Albany eight years ago, a home in Ashton Green happened to be available. 

“I was so happy to find the perfect house in this area,” says Rachel.

The Judays certainly aren’t the only family to wander through the neighborhood taking in the charm as residents or non-residents. 

“We get a lot of people driving or walking through the area because it is so quaint,” Rachel says. “They must see and enjoy the charm, too.”

As with most New Albany neighborhoods, the paved recreation paths are easily accessible and enthusiastically used by residents to walk or bike to destinations throughout New Albany. The Judays and their four children take full advantage of Ashton Grove’s connection to the paths.

“It is quite possibly the perfect walking distance to Starbucks, and you even pass a park on the way,” says Rachel.

Among New Albany neighborhoods, Ashton Grove’s look and feel is unique, but the Slagle family shares a common sentiment with the residents of most neighborhoods in New Albany. 

“We are obviously biased, but we think it’s the best location in New Albany,” says Trish. 

New Albany resident Bob Valasek is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com.

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