Neighborhood of the week: Dalton Gardens

Here in beautiful North Idaho, we have a wide range of housing options: single family homes, condos, apartments, townhouses; in the city, in the country, in the mountains, on the water. Whatever you're looking for, there's a good chance you'll find it here.

However, if you want the best of two worlds - such as a house in the city that feels like it's in the country - you should take a drive through Dalton Gardens.

Dalton Gardens is a city on its own, with a city council and mayor, even though most folks consider it part of Coeur d'Alene. It's the neighborhood bordered by Dalton Avenue to the south, Prairie Avenue to the north, Government Way to the west, and Canfield Mountain to the east.

Why does this neighborhood feel more like country than city? It's primarily the 1-acre minimum that exists for all properties. "That's why it's so desirable," said Katie Bane, an owner of Northwest Realty Group. "It's the favorite location for people who want elbow room. You get a rural country feel in town."

Dalton Gardens WAS out in the country when the first homes were built. "Coeur d'Alene and Hayden have grown around it, but it has maintained the character and rural nature of the neighborhood," Bane said.

The range of housing options and prices varies widely, she said. "Square footage is all over the board. Year built is all over the board." You'll find farm homes, older homes, newer homes, houses big and small; if you're looking for eclectic, this is it.

"There's a little bit of everything in Dalton Gardens," she said. "It's not all the same."

Residents of this established community are only five minutes from the grocery store, shopping, schools, and all the amenities that Coeur d'Alene and Hayden offer. You're also just a few minutes from your favorite pizza purveyor. One call, and dinner is on its way. "There aren't many places where you can own horses and have pizza delivered to your door," Bane pointed out. It's also convenient for commuters: a quick trip down 15th Street or Fourth Street and you're on I-90, and on your way to Post Falls or Spokane.

Dalton Gardens has always been part of the rural agricultural community, Bane said. You'll find horse trailers, barns and lush gardens as you wander the tree-lined roads. In fact, you can raise livestock on your own property. "4H families can raise beef, horses, pigs, chicken and sheep. All 4H animals are welcome," she said.

There's nothing like wildlife wandering through your property to make you feel like you're in the country, including the herds of deer that call this area home.

This rural, yet not, neighborhood is a stone's throw from Canfield Mountain and the recreational opportunities it offers. Hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders enjoy the hundreds of trails that crisscross the mountain.

Dalton Arena is a riding arena open to the public, with a parking lot large enough to accommodate horse trailers. From there, it's an easy ride to the trails on Canfield Mountain. Just to the south is the 16-acre Canfield Sports Complex, with four Little League baseball fields, a soccer field, restrooms, and picnic shelter.

The land is so desirable, Bane said, that folks buy older homes and either remodel or add onto them. "Lots of people drive the streets of Dalton Gardens, looking for houses and property," she said.

Vacant lots do come onto the market occasionally; in fact, there are three now, ranging in size from .83-.91 acre and priced from $134,900 to $169,900.

In 2015, 25 properties closed in Dalton Gardens, nine are pending, and 22 are active. Prices on the closed properties range from $219,750 to $795,000; the pending properties $175,000 to $598,000, and the active $209,900 to $4.9 million.

Homes in Dalton Gardens have septic systems, which must be pumped every five years per Panhandle Health regulations. Water is provided by the Dalton Water District. Many of the properties are irrigated, with those services provided by Dalton Irrigation District.

"It's one of the most desirable areas in all of Kootenai County for character, location, city services and elbow room," Bane said.

Bane grew up in northeast Washington and North Idaho, and has more than 20 years of experience selling real estate in our area. She is an active leader in the Kootenai County 4H community, a member of the Panhandle Back Country Horsemen, and specializes in rural equine properties.

So, if you're looking for a "peaceful, rural setting in town," call Katie Bane of Northwest Realty Group at (208) 661-6753 to find out more about Dalton Gardens.

If there's a neighborhood that you'd like to see featured in this series, please contact Beth Hanggeli at (208) 659-8367 or bhanggeli@cdapress.com.