Documents show that Grandview Heights is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Manheim Township. Grandview Heights is also one of the largest neighborhoods in Manheim Township and perhaps one of the friendliest.

Residents are currently preparing to celebrate everything that makes Grandview Heights a neighborhood.

"My favorite part is the people," said Colin Cook, a longtime resident of Grandview Heights and an advocate of the neighborhood. "For me, (Grandview Heights neighbors) have been my family since I was a kid. It's very rare to have that relationship with neighbors. The times I remember as a kid are something out of a Faulkner novel. Every corner has a story to tell. I want more people to come to know that. Everyone wants to know where they're from, and sometimes it's hard to find that out."

Cook is also part of a committee that has spent the last nine months planning and preparing for the Grandview Heights 100th Anniversary Block Party, which will take place from noon to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept 27. The celebration of history, people and neighborly values will be conducted on several residential blocks of Pleasure Road and McGrann Boulevard surrounding Grandview Church, 888 Pleasure Road, Lancaster.

The sponsored event is free to attend for current and past residents of Grandview Heights.

The 100th anniversary block party will be preceded on Tuesday, Sept. 23, by a presentation from Manheim Township Historical Society president Ben Webber on the history of the Grandview Heights neighborhood.

"The way I look at it, it's a celebration of what it took to build a great neighborhood to this point," said Cook. "Apparently, we could be classified as an historic district just based on the architecture. Fostering that sense of community is really important. It's a celebration of people who are here now and who came before us."

The family-friendly Grandview Heights 100th Anniversary Block Party will feature a kids' area complete with bouncy castles; 10 vendors; five food trucks; and live music from seven bands or duos, all of whom have ties to Grandview Heights.

"I think the atmosphere will be celebratory, but relaxed," said Cook. "You can come out, and it's handshakes and hugs. It's everybody coming out and seeing each other in person. It's that idea of getting together, talking about memories and making new ones."

Located in the southernmost part of Manheim Township and bordering on the city of Lancaster, Grandview Heights hosts nearly 750 houses and is home to just about 2,000 residents. The development's homes range in value, with the median worth estimated to be around $300,000.

The neighborhood's tree-lined streets and quiet, quintessential middle-class vibe represent the traditional view of American suburbia.

"I would argue that that's true," said Cook. "That combination of sidewalks, big yards and alleys, you don't see that much anymore. It's meant to be walked. It wasn't designed to be driven. When it was built, suburbia was a new idea. It's a really, really neat mix of homes and concepts of how you want to live."

A century ago, Grandview Heights was 400 acres of farmland owned by the McGrann and Rohrer families. The land was developed by Samuel Slaymaker, and in 1928, the first home was completed.

Houses in Grandview Heights have been built at varying rates throughout the development's history, with the most recent being completed in the 2010s.

"It's continued to be added to, and it's continued to grow," said Cook. "The framework is there, and people fill it in. But it's always been a family-driven neighborhood. It's always been a hot real estate market. It's been a great place to raise a family, and (some) people have stayed here for a long time."

Cook was raised in Grandview Heights in the 1990s and 2000s, and after pursuing an education, he has returned to the place that created those childhood memories. Now 35, he is married and raising his own young family there.

For additional information, go to http://www.grandview100.com.