Condo Spotlight: Woodcreek Village

Tucked between Century Ave and the southeastern edge of the Pheasant Branch Conservancy in Middleton is a popular condo community called Woodcreek Village.

Built in the 1980s, these 2-4 bedroom ranch and townhouse style units, sited on approximately 18 acres, are sought after for their natural views, quiet setting, and proximity to the shopping and recreational amenities offered in Middleton and Madison.

Many of the residents here enjoy outdoor activities, so having a deck that looks out onto the woods with sunset views and quick access to the trails of the Pheasant Branch Conservancy are ideal features. The residences backing the conservancy are especially favored by their owners and prospective buyers for the sweeping views of the conservancy. Several of these units facing the conservancy also feature screened porches off the lower level of these homes. 

A group of Woodcreek residents regularly meet for morning walks in their “conservancy backyard,” taking in the sights and sounds of sandhill cranes, multiple species of birds, and the gurgling creek that runs through the hundreds of acres of woods, prairies, and marshland. The record rainfall and flooding in August 2018, which caused nearly $2.5 million in damage to hillsides, trees, bridges, and trails, was very emotional for the Woodcreek village residents, who consider the conservancy part of their neighborhood. Passionate and dedicated volunteers are participating in fundraising efforts, and repairs are underway.

The surrounding neighborhoods have taken a vested interest in the conservancy’s beautification and protection ever since the land was acquired in the 1970s, especially a group of Woodcreek Village residents who helped start the Friends of Pheasant Branch in 1995. The nonprofit’s story has been beautifully captured in this 20th anniversary video, which includes interviews with residents Jan and Guerdon Coombs, Hagen Hedfield, Emil Haney, and Ann Peckham. When Ann Peckham recently moved from Woodcreek Village where she’d lived for 30 years, her son Gardner (who grew up in Shorewood Hills but spent the last 41 years in Washington, D.C.) and his wife Terry decided to purchase her condo -- a place they’d come to know so well. Over the last year and a half, Gardner Peckham and Terry Gnezda have personalized their new home in Woodcreek Village, adding hardwood floors, new bathrooms, and a gas fireplace.

Each residence in Woodcreek Village offers an abundance of closet and storage space, vaulted ceilings, expansive windows, and attached garages.

These spacious condos, all with master bedrooms on the main level and many with walk out lower levels, still feel like houses -- but without the burden of lawn mowing and snow removal.

That “homey” feeling is part of what drew Rod and Patsy Miller to Woodcreek Village when they approached retirement 15 years ago. “We liked the neighbors and the area, and we wanted a main level that didn’t look into a neighbor’s kitchen,” Rod said. Out of 83 units, theirs is one of about a dozen with a third floor that features a lofted den, bedroom, and full bathroom.

The Millers have both been proud members of the Woodcreek Village Condo Association -- Rod as a past board president and Patsy as a member of the social and welcome committees. “There is a lot of knowledge on the board,” Patsy said. “We’re surrounded by talented people who step up and do their thing.”

Fellow past president Herb Heneman agreed, adding that he has found the board to be “fiscally responsible and professional.” For over 20 years, he and his wife Susan had previously owned a large older home nearby on Lake Mendota. When they decided to downsize to a smaller house, they were skeptical about discovering a more manageable space that still offered them the feeling of being close to nature. However, they’ve found their condo home at Woodcreek Village in 2012 to be an ideal size, floor plan, and location. “It’s lovely and beautiful here,” Susan said describing their Woodcreek home. “There’s a lot of room, so we don’t feel cramped.”

While many of the residents had formerly lived in the Madison area, a great number of the new residents are discovering Woodcreek Village after living in other states. They’ve been drawn to its manageable location close to the cultural and educational activities Madison and Middleton offer. Particularly, residents appreciate the privacy of Woodcreek’s tucked away site next to the conservancy, adorned with mature trees, expansive landscaping (including rain gardens), and architecturally distinctive exterior presentations.  

Additional amenities of the community are an outdoor swimming pool, tennis courts which are also used by residents for spirited pickleball games, and a clubhouse. The clubhouse, which includes a kitchen, can be reserved for private events. It also functions as a place for residents to gather for such activities as playing cards and participating in book clubs. The Woodcreek Village Condo Association also holds four main socials throughout the year: a dinner in April, picnic at the pool in July, potluck in September, and a brunch buffet in December. Because of the close-knit atmosphere of the community, residents often gather in each other’s homes for other events throughout the year. 

The Association plans to reinstitute its neighborhood newsletter, as well as use social media for more neighborhood outreach in 2019. To learn about its bylaws and regulations, visit www.wcvcondos.org. For more on the community, check out our Woodcreek Village real estate guide and homes for sale here.