History

The Sanctuary home development has a fascinating history. The story starts around 1976 when Carl & Mary Nourse purchased the property to begin a tennis country club. Central Ohio at that time had tennis clubs but no tennis country clubs. The idea was an 8000 sq ft clubhouse, pro shop, and an indoor/outdoor informal restaurant with a capacity of 80, which was adjacent to a small pool, six indoor clay courts, 12 outdoor courts, a stadium court, and a fitness facility. The concept was announced in 1976 with a late 1977 opening. The idea was widely received, and 400 members joined. A local architect, Friedl Bohm, designed the facilities consistent with the wooded and ravined topography. A jazz radio station, WBBY-FM 103.9, broadcast out of Westerville, had an office within the clubhouse building. The club’s name was Windsong Tennis Club. Surrounding property near the club was to be parceled and sold as residential property. This property, north of Windsong Way, was sold to Bob Webb Development, and Windsong Court was developed.  

 

Windsong Tennis Club operated successfully until the economic crisis in the early 1980’s. Interest rates approached 20%, and the cost of lending for capital improvements was out of reach. The Nourse’s needed to take a different approach. The large size of the condominiums on Windsong Court and the accompanying large price were not consistent with the market need. The slow sales resulted in Bob Webb developing patio homes on Green Springs Drive. These were built between 1981 and 1983.

 

The story goes that Mr. and Mrs. Webb had traveled to England and fell in love with the Cotswolds. Upon his return, Bob Webb built Windsong Court with this look. He later developed Green Springs Drive as “The Village of the Sanctuary” with the look again of The Cotswolds.  

 

Unfortunately, the recession finally took its toll, and the club was closed. The property was sold to Northwoods Venture Inc., who created The Sanctuary in 1986. 

 

An improved economy and lower interest rates worked in their favor as the 80's marched on. The original idea of three cul-de-sacs north of the club evolved into one cul-de-sac (Windsong Court) and a U-shaped street (Green Springs Drive). These homes were quickly built and sold with documents to control appearance. The properties south and east were sold to Planned Communities, who developed single-family home lots and sold them to various builders. These lots sold well. There was no great desire to control home appearances as with Windsong Court and Green Springs Drive. However, builders were held to an approval process to ensure quality exterior materials were used. Originally intended as a gated community, the cost of maintaining private streets would have been a detriment. The gates initially worked, but maintaining them also would have added to the cost and wouldn’t allow the city access to our roads. These homes were built between 1986 and 1995.  

 

There were three building phases: Green Springs Drive (Section 1), which governed independently, and two sections of single-family homes, Sanctuary Drive and Court (Section 2), followed by Lake Bluff Drive and Court, and Shale Ridge Court (Section 3), all which were governed with an umbrella Sanctuary Homeowners Association. Since that time, two additional parcels on both sides of Windsong Dr. at High Street were purchased by the association to protect from the development of a commercial building near our entrance. 

 

Today, The Sanctuary consists of 90 lots with 26 patio homes and 63 single-family homes. The Master Association Board’s structure and the number of members have changed a few times since it was formed in the mid-1980s. Self-governing Green Springs Drive joined the Sanctuary Master Association around 2012. 

Owner volunteers were crucial in creating an attractive, safe, and desirable community, and this necessary element continues. Carl and Mary Nourse contributed heavily to the creation of the Sanctuary, living at 125 Lake Bluff Drive until Carl passed in September 2016. We are all thankful for their vision and contribution.

 

 

Written By

 

 

The Sanctuary Master Association