Fairview Forest — Then and Now By Grant Goodge, (former longtime resident) In May, 1975, my wife and I bought a lot near the top of what is now called Fairview Forest community. We were told by the developers that great things were going to be done here on "the mountain". When we bought our property there wasn't even a road between it and Fairview Forest Drive 0.7 miles away. Thankfully, the developers did put the road in (now known as White Oak Forest). They also paved 2.3 miles of the main road in 1976. However, due to the horribly steep, poorly engineered, and inadequately drained roads, there were two washouts of the main road at the intersection of Maple Forest Road and Fairview Forest Drive in April and November, 1977. Those of us who lived above that point were blocked from access in or out for days. We were not sure whether the developers would do the needed repairs or not. There was no homeowner's association at that time, no dues collected, no maintenance, nothing. The only maintenance was a couple of us with picks and shovels who at least tried to keep the too few and undersized drains open. Fortunately, the developers did repair most of the damage on the main road after the April storm, but assessed the few homeowners and property owners to help pay for the repair of the November washout seven months later. (see photo) The bottom line is that we have inherited these poorly designed and drained roads, and the only way we can afford to keep them open is to share the financial burden. I know that some of you who live near the bottom of the mountain feel that you shouldn't have to pay for maintenance for roads that are above you. If those of us higher up the mountain take the same attitude then we shouldn't have to pay for the washouts that have occurred to some of the side roads like Weeping Cherry or Dogwood. Those washouts are a perfect example of what happens at or near the bottom of the mountain when the roads are not maintained and secured all the way up the mountain. Also remember that these are the same roads that allow our volunteer fire fighters and their trucks to more quickly control and extinguish fires that can burn up or down the mountain. My wife and I can tell you from personal experience that our home and property had very little value for the first 15 years we lived here until some wonderful people in this community stepped forward and established a homeowners' association against huge obstacles. It has only been since then that the association with the dues it collects has been able to stabilize and improve the roads. Yes, the dues have increased considerably over the last 10 years, but so has everything else. It is because of the steepness of the roads that the NC State Highway Department never has and never will maintain our roads, so that leaves it up to you and I. Fairview Forest Homeowners' Association   •   101 Fairview Forest Drive   •   Fairview, NC 28730 Washout on Weeping Cherry Forest Road, 1998 Repairs being made on Weeping Cherry Forest Road following washout in 1998. Almost a washout... late 90s on Chestnut Forest Road