SCITUATE /First Cliff
First Cliff pretty nice ocean views

By KAITLIN KEANE
For The Patriot Ledger Text

Donald White lived in Scituate for half a century before he realized his dream of living on the ocean. After raising five boys, White and his wife, Pauline, bought a property on Circuit Street in Scituate's First Cliff neighborhood in 1999.

Like many property owners in the pricey oceanfront neighborhood, the Whites knocked down the home that stood on the property and built their new abode from the ground up.

For the Whites, relocating to First Cliff was more than a move -- it was a change in lifestyle.

"You get to see a lot more of the weather," said Pauline White, who can watch the ocean from her study. "You always know when high tide is. And if there is rain coming, you see it."

Living on First Cliff, a small peninsula that juts out into Scituate Harbor, has also changed their daily routine.

The neighborhood is a short walk from the Scituate Harbor area, where an array of restaurants and shops offer everyday conveniences.

"You eat a lot more fish," Pauline White said. "You don't buy frozen fish when it is fresh at your local market a mile away."

Views of the Atlantic and a close proximity to Scituate Harbor are among the main draws of living in the neighborhood, which is one of Scituate's three main "cliffs."

The neighborhood is made up of five streets off Edward Foster Road: Circuit Avenue, Roberts Drive, Sunset Road, Henry Lane and Conroy Terrace.

It is also less than an hour's drive from Boston, and the recently reopened Greenbush rail line offers another option for commuters traveling from Scituate to the city.

But residents also point to a tight-knit community of neighbors, many of whom have lived in their homes for decades.

"Everyone is very friendly," said Ariel Macleod, who inherited her Circuit Street home from her parents. "We share garden tips; we each other help out if we are isolated by storms."

The intimate setting and spectacular views come at a price -- most homes have a price tag in the $1 million range, said Elaine Bongarzone, a real estate agent with Jack Conway.

"It's a very desirable neighborhood," she said. "Almost every house has a water view and the harbor is right there."

The homes come in an array of styles, but many have been razed and rebuilt in recent years. A mix of antique and Nantucket colonials and captain's homes fill the streets -- and nearly every home has some kind of an ocean view.

And the area could soon be even more desirable, with the construction of the Scituate Marine Park nearby, Bongarzone said.

The new park will include boat slips, a boat lift and the Scituate Maritime Center. The Maritime Center will boast a small museum and classroom layout, with public bathrooms and access to information about the town's maritime history.

"That's going to be really nice for the neighborhood," Bongarzone said. "It will utilize the waterfront, and there's going to be a lot more activity over there."