More than 30 years ago, a business friend called Gail Viola’s husband Jim and told him he needed to get to Vero Beach right away because there was only one unit left in Marbrisa’s Seaside Village.
“I think you’d like it here,” the friend said.
“We came down that weekend, and my husband bought it a few days later,” Gail says, which thrilled her. “I had been going to Florida with the children on holidays. I went up and down both coasts, and Vero was the town that spoke to me. We loved it there.”
“Marbrisa is a lovely ocean-to-river community,” says Janyne Kenworthy, ONE Sotheby’s International Realty broker-associate. “Houses in these communities rarely go on the market.”
The one-owner property at 560 N. Monterey Dr. was updated in 2005, Kenworthy says.
“Marbrisa Seaside Village is a quaint community just steps away from the oceanfront clubhouse, pool and beach,” Kenworthy adds, noting that residents enjoy a wide range of activities. “It’s a very friendly community.”
The townhouse is one of four located at the north end of the community, a quiet spot where Gail says the stars shine brilliantly at night. “It’s just so beautiful.”
The private entry is located at the end of a short walkway. Stepping through the front door, the foyer opens to a short hallway that leads into the formal living room.
The townhouse has lots of natural light, which streams through a skylight and the wall of sliders and corner windows that run along the rear of the room. High ceilings complement the open floorplan, adding to the sense of spaciousness.
A first floor en-suite guest room is located to the left of the front entry. Gail is currently using the room as a den. Access from the foyer, living room and a set of private sliders lead onto the rear deck, the perfect place for guests to enjoy the flexible space.
A powder room near the living room allows easy access for visitors from the kitchen and living room.
The dining room, kitchen, breakfast nook, laundry room and garage access are located to the right of the front entry. The galley-style kitchen is the epitome of efficiency, with a bench seat in the breakfast nook and countertop providing workspace and a sense of division between the kitchen and dining room.
Upstairs, a bathroom, the owner’s suite and a guest bedroom each have a private balcony with a peek of the ocean. A raised platform sleeping area in the owner’s suite allows for reclining views of the ocean and blue skies – a peaceful and serene setting. Walk-in closets, a water closet, a shower with a built-in bench and high windows finish the lovely suite.
The guest bedroom boasts a raised desk area offering similar views and providing the perfect spot to work from home, something Gail says her daughter often did during visits.
Outside, a large, raised deck spans the width of the townhome, offering a variety of outdoor spaces so you can enjoy time inside and out with great ease. The private oasis is surrounded by lush vegetation, including brightly flowering bougainvillea and hibiscus. A set of stairs allows access to the green space at the back.
“Marbrisa is very well maintained and very well run. They’ve always had a nice reserve and the people are all very friendly,” says Gail. “You feel like you’re in a little village rather than a big town.”
As much as Gail loves living in Marbrisa, she says she wants to be closer to her children and grandchildren. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be going anywhere.
Of Vero Beach, Gail notes all the amenities like the theater, restaurants and parks. “It’s all very close by and not real crowded. I like the small-town atmosphere. That really drew me here.”
Marbrisa is a private, ocean-to-river, gated community with the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Jungle Trail and Indian River Lagoon to the west. Two clubhouses provide all the amenities you could want, including an exercise-fitness room, sauna, pickleball, Har-Tru tennis courts and a screened pool; a marina and day docks can be found at the west clubhouse. The oceanfront clubhouse offers granted beach access, a pool and kitchen.
Photos provided
