While the red tile roofs of ranch-style houses glisten in the sun and the leaves of bougainvillea hanging from entrance ways turn bright pink, the only audible sound is that of a lone lawn mower buzzing dutifully over thick bluegreen blades as it's short-clad owner sweats under the blazing sun.

In this idyllic neighborhood of carefully manicured lawns and finely sculpted gardens, no cries of laughter ring out, no dogs bark, and not a single bicycle speeds by on this Saturday afternoon.

There's a heat wave in the Bay Area and residents are hiding in the chill of air-conditioned homes and splashing in sunken pools. It takes a trained ear to locate the distinctive "krplunk" of a beach ball being bounced into a pool and the subsequent ripples of water as a child lunges for it. But it's there at the community Cabana Club pool. As the afternoon heat diminishes, swimmers slowly emerge wrapped in colorful beach towels and fashionable wraps. Laughter and voices wander down pristine streets and courts as the neighborhood comes alive.

Located on the northeastern corner of Concord, at points adjacent to the Clayton border, Dana Farms is a small buy-up middle class neighborhood of one and two-story homes offering scenic views of nearby Mount Diablo and the golden foothills surrounding the Concord Pavilion.

Its residents are a mixture of families and older adults who appreciate the affordability of the neighborhood. Concord is less expensive than nearby Clayton and because it's so close to Clayton, residents enjoy the benefits of both.

There are 249 homes in the community with four models ranging from approximately 1,600 square feet to 2,289 square feet up to 2,800 square feet with additions to original models. The models were developed by the Louis Rahlves organization from in the late 1960s. The models are referred to by name as The Farrn House, The Ranch House, The Manor House, and the Plantation house. Prices range from approximately $220,000 for The Farmhouse to $260,000 for the larger two-story Plantation House. All the lots measure on average between 10,000 and 12,000 square feet, depending on shape and elevation of the grounds. While Individual models vary, amenities may include fireplaces, formal family-sized dining rooms, wall to wall carpeting, country-sized pantries, 2-2~/2 baths, artistic brass hardware in masse. baths, cedar floors in the closets, wet bars, Tappan double ovens with see-through doors, ceramic tile kitchen counters, cultured marble vanity tops, and large double garages.

The exterior of the homes have a stucco finish ranging from off-white to salmon to burnt sienna. Roofs, originally shake, are now composed of tiles or high standard shingles. Many of the houses have exposed aggregate entry porches and elaborately carved heavy wooden entry doors, some with stained glass windows. Redwood fences line the backyards and elaborate brickwork facades adorn some homes.

Bill Selb, a Realtor with Security Pacific Real Estate Brokerage, in Walnut Creek has been selling homes in the area for 10 years, is an original Dana Farms homeowner and a member of the neighborhood Architectural Committee.

"It's just a nice clean area to live in. You don't see a lot of motorcycles or cars parked on lawns or crowding the streets. And for the age of the neighborhood, it's very dear that people have maintained their property. People take pride in their community," he said.

The community also has an excellent active homeowner's association that keeps people apprised of what's going on, Selb said. All homeowners receive the monthly "Dana Data," a newsletter which informs homeowners of the local issues affecting their neighborhood including: actions of the Architectural Committee and Welcome Committee, as well as crime alerts, summer jobs for teens, pool schedules and achievements of the Dana Dolphins—the community swim team that practices at the Cabana Club. Neighbors neglecting to curb encroaching vegetation from the sidewalk or pull dandelions from their front yards can expect to read about themselves in the bulletin.

However, community maintenance and amenities have a price. Homeowners pay $75 quarterly to the management association and follow CC-R's (covenants, conditions and regulations) order to maintain property values through neighborhood tidiness and to belong to the Cabana Club, which includes a 30X60foot swimming pool, a wading pool, a basketball court, a club house with a 28X32-foot social hall that can be rented, a buds-in kitchen and bath facilities.

There are also plenty of recreation opportunities nearby including golfing at the Walnut Creek Municipal Golf Course, hiking on local trails, and the pleasures of the Delta Area including fishing, boating, sailing, and waterskiing at the end of Kirker Pass Road.

Dana Farms is located within a short drive of both Safeway and Lucky supermarkets and residents can easily tap the unlimited resources of Concord, Pleasant Hill, and Walnut Creek. There is also a Contra Costa branch of the California State University at Hayward about five minutes providing additional convenience and educational and cultural activities.

This is a safe family neighborhood," said Selb. "Residents can walk the streets at night. There are no gangs and crime is virtually nonexistent, although there have been two cases of vandalism," said Selb.

Many of the residents have children who attend nearby schools, said Selb. The schools in the community are well-respected, he added.

They include Pine Hollow Middle School, Highlands Elementary School, Mount Diablo Elementary School, and Clayton Valley High School, which is noted for winning the prestigious Academic Decathlon in 1989-90. All of the schools, With the exception of Clayton Valley High School, are just a short walk away. Clayton Valley High School is just a short drive or bus ride away. The community is also easy accessible by County Connection bus. For seniors or persons with disabilities County Connection offers an excellent door-to-door service for a nominal fee.

While- neighbors are hard-pressed to find fault with their community, they do admit to concerns regarding speeding and traffic. Presently the community is following negotiations between the Hoffman Co. and Mangini's the property owners, to buy their property at the end of Krona Lane near Pine Hollow Middle School. About 35 homes in the $250,000 to $30O,000 range are planned.

A street has been proposed to connect to Merritt Drive which would add traffic on Blue Lake Drive, Lewis Way, and Redlands Way— all in Dana Farms. However, this project is still in the negotiation phase and must be approved by the Concord City Council before it can progress.

While the majority of Dana Farms residents commute to nearby East Bay cities or San Francisco, said, many homeowners choose this area because they want to be isolated from the freeways. Admittedly, Interstates 680 and 242 and even BART are not terribly convenient.

We don't have the congestion people living in Walnut Creek have, Selb said . However, traffic does tend to back up on Ygnacio Valley Road during commute hours, causing delays.

Everything would be perfect, if I didn't work where I work," said Greg Nirnitz, 33, who works In San Francisco and lives with his family in Dana Farms. It's a long commute to the city. There's no way around it," he said. But there's no way I could afford this size house and this neighborhood closer in. It's a trade off. It's a tough nine miles to the Ygnacio Valley onramp, but I'll take it. The quality of the neighborhood makes it worthwhile. Nemitz, his wife Wendy, 34, and their three boys Hunter, 7, Dylan, 5, and Griffin, 3, moved to Dana Farms three years ago when they outgrew their old home. Greg was originally hoping to move closer to San Francisco where he works, but the family's budget at the time was in the mid $200,000 range. "That doesn't buy much in Lafayette," said Greg, who was looking at Lafayette and Orinda.

Raised in Concord, Greg knew there were two or three neighborhoods in Concord that would meet the family's needs. He chose Dana Farms because of its strong neighborhood association, convenience to good schools, and affordability.

"Dana Farms is a well-kept secret. If these houses were in Clayton—which is for all intents and purposes a stone's throw away— they would cost much more. Here we have all the benefits of Clayton with Concord's city services," said Greg.

Joseph Graziani, 67, and his wife Virginia and three children were looking for a home in the country when they moved to Dana Farms in 1972. Moving from the South Bay, Joseph Graziani's original plan, like Greg Graziani's, was to move closer to San Francisco where he worked

However, Dana Farms with its wide open spaces, quiet living and great views of Mount Diablo drew him in. While Traffic and access is a little fight on Kirker Pass Road and Clayton Road," he has been more than satisfied with his choice of neighborhood. "Our kids are grown and gone now," he said, "but they attended the schools here and enjoyed the use of the Cabana Club."

Comparing his neighborhood to others in Concord, Joseph-said, "The level here is above most and it's really off the beaten path." He added, We like it very much. It's just a nice quiet area."

Tracy Bucey, 35, a Dana Farms homeowner and Secretary/Treasurer of the Homeowner's Association has lived in the community with her husband and two children for six years. When she first moved to Dana Farms, she and her husband were planning a family and wanted a safe neighborhood to raise children and to retain or increase their investment. Dana Farms met these needs.

"There’s a lot of pride in ownership in this community" she said. "Overall it’s just a great neighborhood".