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Waterleaf is right in-between Balsam Waters and Barton’s Clearing. There are quite a few houses in the neighborhood, but more are being added all the time. The home owner I spoke with had been living there for one and a half years and he named three things that brought his family to Balsam Waters: neighbors, land, and location. His daughter is best friends with the little girl next door, and there are many families with young kids in the neighborhood. When I remarked on the size of their backyard, he said, “Yes, almost too much!” The yards are long and back onto a wooded area shared with Barton’s Clearing. Waterleaf also backs onto the same pond that is connected to Balsam Waters on the other side. Finally, he mentioned the convenience of being so close to grocery stores, restaurants, and the highway as the best part of the development.
Balsam Waters is a very unique development on the NE side. While the houses in other neighborhoods are beautiful, they generally have the same aesthetic—at least from the outside. Not so in Balsam Waters. A resident told me that was his favorite part of the neighborhood, “The houses here aren’t cookie cutter,” he said. Taking a moment to look around, I realized that each house is in fact, stylistically very different than the one next to it, yet somehow none of them look out of place. Each house has features that make it stand out from the rest, and new houses are still being built even now with the same stylistic uniqueness. Home owners in Balsam Waters are a mix of families with young kids and empty nesters. Every year, Balsam Waters residents plan a big neighborhood event and are in contact with each other regularly through the neighborhood’s Facebook page. If you’re looking on the NE side of Grand Rapids, but want a house that’s a little out of the ordinary, start your search in Balsam Waters!
