Heading east across Fremont Avenue toward Seaside High, directly through a large intersection, at the portal between the Sand Dollar and Edgewater Shopping Centers, is a two-lane curving road where a right turn on Coe Street leads to Seaside Highlands.

This is an infinitely tidy community, one with only large houses of several different models, each with immaculate pocket lawns, all with ground cover encircling them, plus perfect road and sidewalk surfaces throughout. Clearly, this is a community of people keeping their neighborhood respected and maintained. The houses are in close proximity to one another, so getting to know the neighbors seems a matter of course. People smile openly when meeting even a stranger with a dog and are happy to stop and chat a bit.

Archie and Stacy Hayes live in Seaside Highlands though they’re not originally from the area. (Framed behind a grand shadow box is Archie’s police uniform from Santa Clara, plus his much-honored awards following 28 years of service.) They came here to be near Stacy’s ailing mother. It was important that their children have good schools and be in a safe community. When they bought 4600 Peninsula Point Dr. they got it all.

Their house is elegant looking—painted taupe with white trim and black shutters. It contains five bedrooms and three full baths, with four of the bedrooms on the second level, including the master. The top of the stairs has a wide and banistered balcony that looks below to where the double front doors open into the living room.

The living room can be very large or can be divided for dining, as it currently is, displaying a massive table and creating a practical living room/dining room combination. Beyond is the large kitchen with a center-island, loads of windows and a glass door to the backyard. The open floor plan also offers the family room, or dining room (with fireplace) as an extension of the kitchen. Either way, the kitchen is located perfectly for service.

Every house in the community has a fenced backyard, and the Hayes’ is one of the largest available. The big dome of sky can be seen from every window in the house, and windows are marvelously plentiful in every room. The home’s open layout feels even more so as a result.

A three-minute drive from the Hayes home are the Sand City shopping centers where the array of goods and services is vast including Albertson’s, Borders, Starbucks, Orchard Supply, Circuit City and Target, as well as restaurants and more.

The Hayes, having dedicatedly cared for Stacy’s mother until the close of her life, are leaving for Sacramento to be near the rest of their families.  

Price: $998,000 4600 Peninsula Point Dr., Seaside.  Contact J.R. Rouse, broker/owner, J.R. Rouse Real Estate, 645-9696 x100.