With new green spaces opening up across Charleston County the proverbial "walk in the park" will soon be more convenient than ever!
"At their regular meeting on Tuesday, June 19, Charleston County Council unanimously approved a total of $2,402,471 for six Urban Grant Program projects in the first round of Transportation "Half-Cent" Sales Tax funds dedicated for greenbelts.
Now that funds have been awarded for the first round of the Urban Grant Program projects, approximately $25 million is still available for upcoming projects in this category. Approximately $55 million is available for Rural Grant Program projects. County Council will consider the first round of Rural Grant Program projects at their July 12 Finance Committee meeting."
For more information about the program: http://www.smallchangeforbigchange.org/greenbelt.html
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Carolina Day!
Best wishes on this day of hope and glory! Thanks be to God!
Quoting from the Carolina Day joint resolution of 1995 –
"On June 28, 1776, a gallant group of out-manned and out-gunned South Carolinians, under the leadership of Colonel William Moultrie, turned back the attack of a powerful British fleet bent on capturing Charleston; and
A defeat of the South Carolinians in the first days of the American Revolution would have been disastrous to the American cause; instead, this brilliant victory provided a beacon of hope to the patriots in those difficult days and became the first triumph of the new nation; and
For subsequent generations of Carolinians, the twenty-eighth of June was independence day, a day to honor the liberty they enjoyed; parades, fireworks, picnics, and many other events were held to mark the day; with this commemoration, citizens of the Palmetto State celebrated not only their independence but also their unique heritage and culture;"
For more information about Carolina Day from the South Carolina Historical Society:http://www.southcarolinahistoricalsociety.org/wire/RevWar/CarolinaDay/past.html
Quoting from the Carolina Day joint resolution of 1995 –
"On June 28, 1776, a gallant group of out-manned and out-gunned South Carolinians, under the leadership of Colonel William Moultrie, turned back the attack of a powerful British fleet bent on capturing Charleston; and
A defeat of the South Carolinians in the first days of the American Revolution would have been disastrous to the American cause; instead, this brilliant victory provided a beacon of hope to the patriots in those difficult days and became the first triumph of the new nation; and
For subsequent generations of Carolinians, the twenty-eighth of June was independence day, a day to honor the liberty they enjoyed; parades, fireworks, picnics, and many other events were held to mark the day; with this commemoration, citizens of the Palmetto State celebrated not only their independence but also their unique heritage and culture;"
For more information about Carolina Day from the South Carolina Historical Society:http://www.southcarolinahistoricalsociety.org/wire/RevWar/CarolinaDay/past.html
Monday, June 25, 2007
East Edisto Development Update
They asked and area residents answered loud and clear –
"They want their river to remain clean and their wildlife to remain abundant. They don’t want traffic congestion, light pollution, trailer parks or golf courses. Some of them said, “We don’t want to be another Mount Pleasant.”
Residents of Ravenel, Adams Run, Hollywood and other nearby communities made their opinions known Wednesday night as they filled Ravenel Community Hall at the invitation of MeadWestvaco, the paper giant that intends to master-plan 72,000 acres of former forest land it owns along the eastern edge of the Edisto River in Charleston and Dorchester counties.
They said they wanted better schools, and community-serving retail, but not a Wal-Mart.
MeadWestvaco officials said their goal was to contain the rural character of the area but also contribute to the community by creating jobs, small towns and villages that are sustainable.
One participant wanted to know if MeadWestvaco was using the term “village” because it sounds better than subdivision.
Ken Seeger, Senior Vice President of MeadWestvaco, said the company does not plan subdivisions, but rather self-sustaining communities where people can walk to work, school, shopping or recreation.
'We are not strictly looking at this as a financial transaction,' he said. 'This comes from the heart. The company really cares about the land. I know people are skeptical about that.'"
For the full Charleston Regional Business Journal article:
http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/current/13_12/news/9670-1.html
For the MeadWestvaco East Edisto development plan, including future meeting information:
http://www.eastedisto.com/
"They want their river to remain clean and their wildlife to remain abundant. They don’t want traffic congestion, light pollution, trailer parks or golf courses. Some of them said, “We don’t want to be another Mount Pleasant.”
Residents of Ravenel, Adams Run, Hollywood and other nearby communities made their opinions known Wednesday night as they filled Ravenel Community Hall at the invitation of MeadWestvaco, the paper giant that intends to master-plan 72,000 acres of former forest land it owns along the eastern edge of the Edisto River in Charleston and Dorchester counties.
They said they wanted better schools, and community-serving retail, but not a Wal-Mart.
MeadWestvaco officials said their goal was to contain the rural character of the area but also contribute to the community by creating jobs, small towns and villages that are sustainable.
One participant wanted to know if MeadWestvaco was using the term “village” because it sounds better than subdivision.
Ken Seeger, Senior Vice President of MeadWestvaco, said the company does not plan subdivisions, but rather self-sustaining communities where people can walk to work, school, shopping or recreation.
'We are not strictly looking at this as a financial transaction,' he said. 'This comes from the heart. The company really cares about the land. I know people are skeptical about that.'"
For the full Charleston Regional Business Journal article:
http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/current/13_12/news/9670-1.html
For the MeadWestvaco East Edisto development plan, including future meeting information:
http://www.eastedisto.com/
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Nowhere Else But North Charleston
What will the city be in 10 years? 20? Would you like to help decide?
"Since becoming a city in 1972, North Charleston’s population has grown from 21,000 to more than 80,000 and is South Carolina’s third-largest municipality. The city occupies 60 square miles.
The state mandates that municipalities do comprehensive plans every 10 years.
Since its 1996 comprehensive plan, North Charleston has seen the arrival of the Noisette Co.’s urban revitalization plan for the city, which includes the redevelopment of the former Charleston Naval Base, the creation of the massive Centre Pointe retail development, new hotels along International Boulevard near the Charleston Area Convention Center, the arrival of the Vought Aircraft-Global Aeronautica fuselage assembly complex for Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner, the building of the Verizon call center on Mall Drive, the resurgence of the city’s old business district on East Montague Avenue and the revitalization of the neighboring Park Circle area, and the rise of new residential communities.
Among North Charleston’s most positive changes are the city’s “explosive” development on the upper Dorchester Road corridor, particularly Westcott Plantation; the city’s agreement with Noisette to make further city development sustainable, meaning environmentally friendly, economically efficient and healthy for residents; and the growth of homeownership on the city’s south end, said Kurt Taylor, city council chairman.
More than 10,000 residential units have been proposed within the Mark Clark Expressway alone, Bill Gore [North Charleston's planning director] said.
'I believe that managing this new growth in the heart of the city will be a major challenge and opportunity and will help redefine North Charleston,' Gore added.
'We want as much public participation [in our planning] as possible,' Gore, said.
Project manager Scott Brown of Atlanta-based urban planning consultancy Robert and Co. agreed. Public participation is “vital” to the process, he said.
For the full Charleston Regional Business Journal article:
http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/pub/13_12/news/9619-1.html
For more information and to participate in the planning process:
http://www.northcharleston.org/departments/compplan.aspx
"Since becoming a city in 1972, North Charleston’s population has grown from 21,000 to more than 80,000 and is South Carolina’s third-largest municipality. The city occupies 60 square miles.
The state mandates that municipalities do comprehensive plans every 10 years.
Since its 1996 comprehensive plan, North Charleston has seen the arrival of the Noisette Co.’s urban revitalization plan for the city, which includes the redevelopment of the former Charleston Naval Base, the creation of the massive Centre Pointe retail development, new hotels along International Boulevard near the Charleston Area Convention Center, the arrival of the Vought Aircraft-Global Aeronautica fuselage assembly complex for Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner, the building of the Verizon call center on Mall Drive, the resurgence of the city’s old business district on East Montague Avenue and the revitalization of the neighboring Park Circle area, and the rise of new residential communities.
Among North Charleston’s most positive changes are the city’s “explosive” development on the upper Dorchester Road corridor, particularly Westcott Plantation; the city’s agreement with Noisette to make further city development sustainable, meaning environmentally friendly, economically efficient and healthy for residents; and the growth of homeownership on the city’s south end, said Kurt Taylor, city council chairman.
More than 10,000 residential units have been proposed within the Mark Clark Expressway alone, Bill Gore [North Charleston's planning director] said.
'I believe that managing this new growth in the heart of the city will be a major challenge and opportunity and will help redefine North Charleston,' Gore added.
'We want as much public participation [in our planning] as possible,' Gore, said.
Project manager Scott Brown of Atlanta-based urban planning consultancy Robert and Co. agreed. Public participation is “vital” to the process, he said.
For the full Charleston Regional Business Journal article:
http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/pub/13_12/news/9619-1.html
For more information and to participate in the planning process:
http://www.northcharleston.org/departments/compplan.aspx
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
For VERY Exclusive Island Living . . .
Park West is down to 26 lots available in their latest and last community, Park Island. Panoramic views of the Wando River anyone?
"Park Island is a model for exclusive Charleston area living. The 30-acre island is located at the back of the Park West community in Mount Pleasant. Surrounded by the Wando River and Toomer Creek, the community is accessible by a gated bridge, built specifically for the island.
The development and 1,500-foot bridge have been several years in the making and are considered the crowning achievement of Park West, a 1,700-acre mixed-use development that opened almost 10 years ago.
The lots range from 0.4 acres to 1.4 acres with the average lot about 0.75 acres.
But the land on Park Island doesn’t come cheap. Lot prices are $700,000 to $2.2 million, with the average price about $1.2 million.
The minimum house size allowed is 4,000 square feet. Baker expects most homes to be about 6,000 square feet. From an architectural standpoint, homes must reflect 18th-, 19th- and 20th-century home styles—federal, plantation revival, Greek revival, traditional Lowcountry and Georgian colonial.
Park Island residents can take advantage of the other Park West amenities and will find themselves part of a thriving area of Mount Pleasant. Park West, located between U.S. Highway 17 and S.C. Highway 41, is near Wando High School, built in 2004, and the forthcoming Roper St. Francis Healthcare facility. It’s also located near Carolina Park, a smart-growth development with residential, commercial and retail.
Despite being minutes from bustling Highway 17, Park Island is a more remote getaway. Many of the trees on the island have been preserved.
The three lots at the back of the island are the most spacious and exclusive and have water views. A viewing platform has been constructed to give potential buyers an idea of what their first-floor view would be."
For the full Charleston Regional Business Journal article: http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/pub/13_12/news/9624-1.html
For Park Island: http://parkwestsc.com/neighborhoods_list.php?int_key=19
"Park Island is a model for exclusive Charleston area living. The 30-acre island is located at the back of the Park West community in Mount Pleasant. Surrounded by the Wando River and Toomer Creek, the community is accessible by a gated bridge, built specifically for the island.
The development and 1,500-foot bridge have been several years in the making and are considered the crowning achievement of Park West, a 1,700-acre mixed-use development that opened almost 10 years ago.
The lots range from 0.4 acres to 1.4 acres with the average lot about 0.75 acres.
But the land on Park Island doesn’t come cheap. Lot prices are $700,000 to $2.2 million, with the average price about $1.2 million.
The minimum house size allowed is 4,000 square feet. Baker expects most homes to be about 6,000 square feet. From an architectural standpoint, homes must reflect 18th-, 19th- and 20th-century home styles—federal, plantation revival, Greek revival, traditional Lowcountry and Georgian colonial.
Park Island residents can take advantage of the other Park West amenities and will find themselves part of a thriving area of Mount Pleasant. Park West, located between U.S. Highway 17 and S.C. Highway 41, is near Wando High School, built in 2004, and the forthcoming Roper St. Francis Healthcare facility. It’s also located near Carolina Park, a smart-growth development with residential, commercial and retail.
Despite being minutes from bustling Highway 17, Park Island is a more remote getaway. Many of the trees on the island have been preserved.
The three lots at the back of the island are the most spacious and exclusive and have water views. A viewing platform has been constructed to give potential buyers an idea of what their first-floor view would be."
For the full Charleston Regional Business Journal article: http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/pub/13_12/news/9624-1.html
For Park Island: http://parkwestsc.com/neighborhoods_list.php?int_key=19
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Remodeling With Less Stress
Pretty much everyone can tell you a few things they would like to change about their house. On the other hand pretty much everyone can tell you a few horror stories of friends who only wanted to change a few things about their houses and ended up with no kitchen for 6 months, a bill that was twice what was expected and perhaps even a year or so in counseling to recover from the stress of thing. Classic Remodeling believes there is a better way.
"Frustrations can arise between a home’s owners as the result of differing agendas and tastes. Trying to agree on colors, texture and fixtures is no simple task.
Imagine how nice it would be if you could hire someone else to handle all the details and turning your house into your dream home was a fun and rewarding process? Imagine being able to sit back and watch your dreams become a reality.
Charleston-based Classic Remodeling and Construction Inc. is one such company. They begin the process by exploring a client’s dreams, helping that client construct a realistic budget, then holding the client’s hand throughout the renovation process.
Classic Remodeling owner, Bob Fleming, attended Clemson University to major in architecture but soon changed his degree to building science because he felt that architecture’s philosophy promoted design at the expense of functionality.
Fleming’s appreciation for the marriage of the design process and the building trades is a primary reason for his company’s success. As Classic Remodeling grew, he hired freelance designers and architects on a project-by-project basis. The company eventually sought more hands-on involvement from concept through completion and brought its freelance design team in house, and, in the process, streamlined the company and its projects.
'I’ve been in the design-build business for 10 years now and our company has grown steadily,' Fleming said. 'Since we went to a full-time, in-house staff two years ago, our business has increased 50 percent. The marketplace, which was chaotic last year, has slowed a bit but is still really strong, especially for the homes priced less than $250,000 and those over $1 million.'"
For the full Charleston Regional Business Journal article: http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/pub/13_12/news/9625-1.html
For the Classic Remodeling website: http://www.classicremodeling.com/
"Frustrations can arise between a home’s owners as the result of differing agendas and tastes. Trying to agree on colors, texture and fixtures is no simple task.
Imagine how nice it would be if you could hire someone else to handle all the details and turning your house into your dream home was a fun and rewarding process? Imagine being able to sit back and watch your dreams become a reality.
Charleston-based Classic Remodeling and Construction Inc. is one such company. They begin the process by exploring a client’s dreams, helping that client construct a realistic budget, then holding the client’s hand throughout the renovation process.
Classic Remodeling owner, Bob Fleming, attended Clemson University to major in architecture but soon changed his degree to building science because he felt that architecture’s philosophy promoted design at the expense of functionality.
Fleming’s appreciation for the marriage of the design process and the building trades is a primary reason for his company’s success. As Classic Remodeling grew, he hired freelance designers and architects on a project-by-project basis. The company eventually sought more hands-on involvement from concept through completion and brought its freelance design team in house, and, in the process, streamlined the company and its projects.
'I’ve been in the design-build business for 10 years now and our company has grown steadily,' Fleming said. 'Since we went to a full-time, in-house staff two years ago, our business has increased 50 percent. The marketplace, which was chaotic last year, has slowed a bit but is still really strong, especially for the homes priced less than $250,000 and those over $1 million.'"
For the full Charleston Regional Business Journal article: http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/pub/13_12/news/9625-1.html
For the Classic Remodeling website: http://www.classicremodeling.com/
Friday, June 15, 2007
"Gifts With Purchase" Reach Amazing Heights
If you've been thinking on buying a home in Charleston, there's no time like the present! With plenty of inventory and a strong economy, buyers are being offered unprecedented incentives to buy!
"Boats are just one of many buyer incentive perks that builders are dangling before buyers who have grown choosier in a housing market floating in inventory.
If you like the idea of six months’ worth of mortgage payments paid by the builder or maybe a year’s worth of homeowners association fees included in your purchase, just ask the company of your choice what they might be offering this month.
Ryland Homes’ deal of the month is a free bonus room.
'There are so many choices on the market right now,” she said. 'How great would it be if you were a buyer and in the position where you could pick and choose extras like a membership in a boat club? Who would have thought, two years ago, that a buyer would be able to decide what extras he wanted?'"
For the full Charleston Regional Business Journal article: http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/current/13_11/news/9603-1.html
"Boats are just one of many buyer incentive perks that builders are dangling before buyers who have grown choosier in a housing market floating in inventory.
If you like the idea of six months’ worth of mortgage payments paid by the builder or maybe a year’s worth of homeowners association fees included in your purchase, just ask the company of your choice what they might be offering this month.
Ryland Homes’ deal of the month is a free bonus room.
'There are so many choices on the market right now,” she said. 'How great would it be if you were a buyer and in the position where you could pick and choose extras like a membership in a boat club? Who would have thought, two years ago, that a buyer would be able to decide what extras he wanted?'"
For the full Charleston Regional Business Journal article: http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/current/13_11/news/9603-1.html
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Median Home Price Continues to Rise
Remember, micromarket fluctuations aside, reasonable real estate is never a bad investment!
"Area home sales fell in May compared to May 2006 as the real estate market continues a correction from the frenzied pace of a sustained sellers’ market that began to cool last spring.
The Charleston Trident Association of Realtors’ Multiple Listing Service reported 1,176 housing units sold in May, down from 1,471 units sold in May 2006. While the median home price slipped last month to $209,945, down from $212,000 in May 2006, home prices for the year-to-date show steady increases.
The median home price in the tri-county area in 2006 was $201,983, while the median home price for 2007 year-to-date is $208,773. In 2000, the median home price in the tri-county area was $140,000."
For the full Charleston Regional Business Journal article: http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/dailyjournal/2_168/full-issue.html#9590
"Area home sales fell in May compared to May 2006 as the real estate market continues a correction from the frenzied pace of a sustained sellers’ market that began to cool last spring.
The Charleston Trident Association of Realtors’ Multiple Listing Service reported 1,176 housing units sold in May, down from 1,471 units sold in May 2006. While the median home price slipped last month to $209,945, down from $212,000 in May 2006, home prices for the year-to-date show steady increases.
The median home price in the tri-county area in 2006 was $201,983, while the median home price for 2007 year-to-date is $208,773. In 2000, the median home price in the tri-county area was $140,000."
For the full Charleston Regional Business Journal article: http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/dailyjournal/2_168/full-issue.html#9590
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Ever Mused On the Investment Potential of Foreclosed Properties?
Having participated in purchases of foreclosed property in Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties, I easily navigate the process, but for the uninitiated the Charleston County website offers this explanation:
"When real property is ordered to be foreclosed in Charleston County, a judge called the Master-in-Equity will issue an order directing the mortgaged premises (or part thereof as required to satisfy the claims established) be sold by or under direction of the Master.
The judgment (often called a Master’s Decree of Foreclosure) will contain a legal description of the property being sold, a provision for the necessary legal advertisement, the time and location of the sale, and notice of any senior liens, taxes or other rights to which the property to be sold is subject. As a service to the public, an information sheet and a copy of decrees in notebooks are available in the reception area of the Master’s office. These notebooks are updated daily and you are welcome to review them during regular business hours (8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.). Copies of these packets are not permitted, but you are welcome to make notes.
All Master’s Decrees can be viewed on the Internet. From the county's home page, www.charlestoncounty.org, click on search court records, click on civil cases, enter TMS#, click on search, case will come up, click on docket, look for Master’s Decree Sale and Foreclosure, click on page icon and the document will appear. All legal ads in the newspaper also will have the terms of the sale and are run for three consecutive weeks in a local newspaper, usually the Post and Courier.
Sales are held the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month at 11 a.m. at the front entrance of the Charleston County Judicial Center located at 100 Broad Street in downtown Charleston.
The judgment also will specify the amount of good faith deposit necessary at the time of the sale, which is usually five percent of the successful bid at the sale. Compliance must be made with the bid by 4 p.m. that same day. This deposit is required to be in cash or certified funds and is not refundable. The plaintiff or any other party may be a purchaser on such sale. You have 30 days to comply with the balance of the bid with cash or certified funds."
For information on foreclosed property and the Master-In-Equity's Office for each county –
Charleston: http://www.charlestoncounty.org/index2.asp?p=/departments/MasterinEquity/D-Masineqty.htm
Berkeley: http://www.co.berkeley.sc.us/js/m_equity/index.php?display=textonly&menuLevel=16?display=graphics&menuLevel=
Dorchester: http://www.dorchestercounty.net/masterinequity.htm
"When real property is ordered to be foreclosed in Charleston County, a judge called the Master-in-Equity will issue an order directing the mortgaged premises (or part thereof as required to satisfy the claims established) be sold by or under direction of the Master.
The judgment (often called a Master’s Decree of Foreclosure) will contain a legal description of the property being sold, a provision for the necessary legal advertisement, the time and location of the sale, and notice of any senior liens, taxes or other rights to which the property to be sold is subject. As a service to the public, an information sheet and a copy of decrees in notebooks are available in the reception area of the Master’s office. These notebooks are updated daily and you are welcome to review them during regular business hours (8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.). Copies of these packets are not permitted, but you are welcome to make notes.
All Master’s Decrees can be viewed on the Internet. From the county's home page, www.charlestoncounty.org, click on search court records, click on civil cases, enter TMS#, click on search, case will come up, click on docket, look for Master’s Decree Sale and Foreclosure, click on page icon and the document will appear. All legal ads in the newspaper also will have the terms of the sale and are run for three consecutive weeks in a local newspaper, usually the Post and Courier.
Sales are held the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month at 11 a.m. at the front entrance of the Charleston County Judicial Center located at 100 Broad Street in downtown Charleston.
The judgment also will specify the amount of good faith deposit necessary at the time of the sale, which is usually five percent of the successful bid at the sale. Compliance must be made with the bid by 4 p.m. that same day. This deposit is required to be in cash or certified funds and is not refundable. The plaintiff or any other party may be a purchaser on such sale. You have 30 days to comply with the balance of the bid with cash or certified funds."
For information on foreclosed property and the Master-In-Equity's Office for each county –
Charleston: http://www.charlestoncounty.org/index2.asp?p=/departments/MasterinEquity/D-Masineqty.htm
Berkeley: http://www.co.berkeley.sc.us/js/m_equity/index.php?display=textonly&menuLevel=16?display=graphics&menuLevel=
Dorchester: http://www.dorchestercounty.net/masterinequity.htm
Monday, June 11, 2007
The Carolopolis Award
Ever seen one of these and wondered what it meant?
The nation’s oldest nonprofit member-based preservation organization, the Preservation Society was founded in 1920 to help preserve Charleston’s unique architectural and cultural heritage."
"Since 1953, the Carolopolis Award has recognized outstanding achievement in exterior restoration, rehabilitation, preservation and new construction. Presented annually by the Preservation Society of Charleston, this prestigious award adorns the entrances of over 1,200 buildings throughout the city and, according to Robert Gurley, an upcoming awards presentation scheduled for Jan. 9 will honor an additional 19 recipients for their efforts to maintain and restore Charleston’s historic architecture.
'The program was developed 50 years ago as a way to recognize and encourage sensitive rehabilitation of historic buildings,” explains Gurley, the assistant director of the Preservation Society of Charleston. “It has grown to include new construction that is sensitive and respectful of the historic architecture around it.'
The nation’s oldest nonprofit member-based preservation organization, the Preservation Society was founded in 1920 to help preserve Charleston’s unique architectural and cultural heritage."
For the full Charleston Regional Business Journal article:
For the Preservation Society of Charleston:
Friday, June 8, 2007
Charleston Regional Development Alliance
Next time you have a few minutes to spend on the web, try poking around the Charleston Regional Development Alliance site. With all kinds of cool information and statistics about the area from business to lifestyle to, my personal favorite, real estate, I'm sure you'll find something interesting!
"The Charleston Regional Development Alliance is a full service, professional economic development organization representing Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties in South Carolina. We serve as a confidential resource to help streamline the site selection process, assisting companies with issues ranging from buildings and sites to financing and workforce training.
The Alliance is organized as a public/private, not-for-profit corporation funded jointly by the three county governments and over 100 area businesses. Since our inception in 1995, we've helped nearly 190 companies find a new home or expand their operations here.
Our commitment is clear: we exist to serve the mutual needs of your company and the Charleston region."
To visit their site: http://www.charleston-for-business.com/index.html
"The Charleston Regional Development Alliance is a full service, professional economic development organization representing Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties in South Carolina. We serve as a confidential resource to help streamline the site selection process, assisting companies with issues ranging from buildings and sites to financing and workforce training.
The Alliance is organized as a public/private, not-for-profit corporation funded jointly by the three county governments and over 100 area businesses. Since our inception in 1995, we've helped nearly 190 companies find a new home or expand their operations here.
Our commitment is clear: we exist to serve the mutual needs of your company and the Charleston region."
To visit their site: http://www.charleston-for-business.com/index.html
Thursday, June 7, 2007
South Carolina & the Movies
Did you know that SC is one of the best places in the country to film for television or the big screen?
With fantastic tax incentives, gorgeous locations and a great workforce, more and more filming is being done in our state and especially in the Lowcountry. I've said it before and I'll say it again, the more you know the cooler this place is!
Not only does the film industry bring money into and showcase the beauty of the area, consider this quote from Stuart Neumann who worked on the films Something to Talk About and The Jackal, "Many film commissions make promises, but South Carolina delivers. You will love the state and may wind up buying a home." I love it!
For more information, including a list of many of the projects filmed here from Cold Mountain to the new TV series Army Wives: http://www.scfilmoffice.com/index.html
With fantastic tax incentives, gorgeous locations and a great workforce, more and more filming is being done in our state and especially in the Lowcountry. I've said it before and I'll say it again, the more you know the cooler this place is!
Not only does the film industry bring money into and showcase the beauty of the area, consider this quote from Stuart Neumann who worked on the films Something to Talk About and The Jackal, "Many film commissions make promises, but South Carolina delivers. You will love the state and may wind up buying a home." I love it!
For more information, including a list of many of the projects filmed here from Cold Mountain to the new TV series Army Wives: http://www.scfilmoffice.com/index.html
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
The Luxe (and lived-in) Life South of Broad
Ever wonder about the families who live in those gorgeous homes downtown . . .
"'This,' says Jenny of the three-story brick Georgian on South Battery, 'is my Father of the Bride house. I love that movie—my husband jokes that I watch it 10 times a year—and when I first saw this place, it had that same feeling. The way it’s oriented on the lot, the yard, the neighborhood….It was my dream house, and I could just see our kids running through it.'
And run through it they do. Though the part-time designer and full-time mom has filled the 70-year-old-plus house top to bottom with a showplace mix of antiques, haute lighting, French and Belgian imports, orchids, gilt-framed prints, and delicious fabrics, it’s a family home first and foremost. Telltale signs, like the climbing boards nailed to a sturdy front-yard tree and the fleet of bikes strewn across the lawn, underscore the point even from the curbside vantage."
For the full Charleston Home magazine article: http://www.charlestonhomemag.com/home.html
"'This,' says Jenny of the three-story brick Georgian on South Battery, 'is my Father of the Bride house. I love that movie—my husband jokes that I watch it 10 times a year—and when I first saw this place, it had that same feeling. The way it’s oriented on the lot, the yard, the neighborhood….It was my dream house, and I could just see our kids running through it.'
And run through it they do. Though the part-time designer and full-time mom has filled the 70-year-old-plus house top to bottom with a showplace mix of antiques, haute lighting, French and Belgian imports, orchids, gilt-framed prints, and delicious fabrics, it’s a family home first and foremost. Telltale signs, like the climbing boards nailed to a sturdy front-yard tree and the fleet of bikes strewn across the lawn, underscore the point even from the curbside vantage."
For the full Charleston Home magazine article: http://www.charlestonhomemag.com/home.html
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Even More Amazing Planned Communities
If you are looking for something more exclusive than the neighborhoods featured yesterday, perhaps these gated, wildlife preservation, equestrian estate communities will fit the bill.
At the very edge of Mount Pleasant –
"Sewee Preserve is a 500-acre conservation development near Charleston, S.C., located within the Sewee to Santee corridor, which runs from just north of Mt. Pleasant to the Santee River Delta. The property serves as a key link in the preservation of this strip of pristine South Carolina coastline, completing a seamless network of over 300,000 acres in the form of a “greenbelt” from Sewee to Santee, including the Francis Marion National Forest and the Cape Romain Wildlife Refuge.
Developer Dennis Avery has protected more than 400 acres of the property through a conservation easement held by Wetlands America Trust, ensuring that the land will be permanently protected from further development and offering safe haven for the wildlife that will continue to thrive there. The remaining property is divided into just 30 home sites on one contiguous block of 90 acres that runs along the salt marsh of Sewee Bay."
http://www.seweepreserve.com/splash.asp
In Hollywood –
"Poplar Grove offers Lowcountry living the way it should be. We’re convenient to the attractions of Charleston – but like the grand plantations of antebellum times, we’re far removed from urban clatter. All while cultivating a Southern sense of neighborliness thanks to shared facilities like the Boathouse Center, community docks and a community pavilion over the water.
In every way, we let the original landscape dictate the design. Where a grand old oak stood in the path of a road, the road was moved. Where a point of land. Foundation brickwork from plantation buildings was recovered for use in the community boathouse. Irrigation canals that fed the early rice fields were restored to their original profiles. A unique drainage system was installed under roadways to promote a historic, park-like atmosphere and avoid the standard curb-and-gutter look of contemporary subdivisions. These characteristics have drawn people to the Lowcountry for centuries. And we’re making sure Poplar Grove residents will enjoy them for generations.
From landscape materials to our design details and colors, development of Poplar Grove is carefully guided by Lowcountry tradition and the effort to achieve natural harmony. In addition to carefully preserved grand trees and development of a natural, park-like atmosphere, landscape principles rely on a wide variety of plants native to the area. Natural colored paving materials and subdued lighting add to the understated ambiance, and wherever possible, existing habitat for native plants and animals will be protected."
http://www.poplargrovecharleston.com/
At the very edge of Mount Pleasant –
"Sewee Preserve is a 500-acre conservation development near Charleston, S.C., located within the Sewee to Santee corridor, which runs from just north of Mt. Pleasant to the Santee River Delta. The property serves as a key link in the preservation of this strip of pristine South Carolina coastline, completing a seamless network of over 300,000 acres in the form of a “greenbelt” from Sewee to Santee, including the Francis Marion National Forest and the Cape Romain Wildlife Refuge.
Developer Dennis Avery has protected more than 400 acres of the property through a conservation easement held by Wetlands America Trust, ensuring that the land will be permanently protected from further development and offering safe haven for the wildlife that will continue to thrive there. The remaining property is divided into just 30 home sites on one contiguous block of 90 acres that runs along the salt marsh of Sewee Bay."
http://www.seweepreserve.com/splash.asp
In Hollywood –
"Poplar Grove offers Lowcountry living the way it should be. We’re convenient to the attractions of Charleston – but like the grand plantations of antebellum times, we’re far removed from urban clatter. All while cultivating a Southern sense of neighborliness thanks to shared facilities like the Boathouse Center, community docks and a community pavilion over the water.
In every way, we let the original landscape dictate the design. Where a grand old oak stood in the path of a road, the road was moved. Where a point of land. Foundation brickwork from plantation buildings was recovered for use in the community boathouse. Irrigation canals that fed the early rice fields were restored to their original profiles. A unique drainage system was installed under roadways to promote a historic, park-like atmosphere and avoid the standard curb-and-gutter look of contemporary subdivisions. These characteristics have drawn people to the Lowcountry for centuries. And we’re making sure Poplar Grove residents will enjoy them for generations.
From landscape materials to our design details and colors, development of Poplar Grove is carefully guided by Lowcountry tradition and the effort to achieve natural harmony. In addition to carefully preserved grand trees and development of a natural, park-like atmosphere, landscape principles rely on a wide variety of plants native to the area. Natural colored paving materials and subdued lighting add to the understated ambiance, and wherever possible, existing habitat for native plants and animals will be protected."
http://www.poplargrovecharleston.com/
Monday, June 4, 2007
Planned Communities Springing Up Further & Further Afield
The idea of building spacious, gracious, gorgeous neighborhoods 30 minutes or so away from the bustle of peninsular Charleston is really catching on. Check out these first two in Summerville and one on the Ashley River in North Charleston –
"When you arrive at The Ponds, you will see a stately oak tree overlooking a pond. And then you'll see another. And another. Pretty soon you'll realize you've discovered a special place-a wonderland of trees and fields and water. We're carefully planning a vibrant new village center set into this natural retreat, providing the perfect balance of town and wilderness.
This is The Ponds, a community intertwined with a lush and diverse landscape. It's a place where nature is respected and small-town life is cherished. We welcome you to experience it."
http://discovertheponds.com/pondshome.asp
"Warmth. Stability. A sense of belonging and the opportunity to thrive. All this, and more, you'll find at Cane Bay Plantation. Here, acres of green space and miles of winding trails connect neighborhood to neighborhood, neighbor to neighbor. Time slows; community takes center stage. That's because at Cane Bay, it's all right here for you. Top quality schools, including Cane Bay High School, already under construction, and an elementary school in the design phase. Plans for healthcare offerings, shopping, soccer fields, and more, as we grow.
All designed to let you slow down, enjoy, and let life happen."
http://www.cane-bay.com/default.aspx
"Summer’s Bend on the Ashley is a special place of protected beauty, carefully planned and thoughtfully crafted. This collection of two- and three-bedroom townhomes and three-bedroom flat-styled condominiums, nestled in a lush landscape with over 1,500 protected grand trees, offers sweeping views of the historic Ashley River Corridor.
The quality, the setting, and the affordability offer an opportunity simply unheard of in the Charleston area today."
http://www.summersbendsc.com/index.asp?n=18&p=0&s=1
"When you arrive at The Ponds, you will see a stately oak tree overlooking a pond. And then you'll see another. And another. Pretty soon you'll realize you've discovered a special place-a wonderland of trees and fields and water. We're carefully planning a vibrant new village center set into this natural retreat, providing the perfect balance of town and wilderness.
This is The Ponds, a community intertwined with a lush and diverse landscape. It's a place where nature is respected and small-town life is cherished. We welcome you to experience it."
http://discovertheponds.com/pondshome.asp
"Warmth. Stability. A sense of belonging and the opportunity to thrive. All this, and more, you'll find at Cane Bay Plantation. Here, acres of green space and miles of winding trails connect neighborhood to neighborhood, neighbor to neighbor. Time slows; community takes center stage. That's because at Cane Bay, it's all right here for you. Top quality schools, including Cane Bay High School, already under construction, and an elementary school in the design phase. Plans for healthcare offerings, shopping, soccer fields, and more, as we grow.
All designed to let you slow down, enjoy, and let life happen."
http://www.cane-bay.com/default.aspx
"Summer’s Bend on the Ashley is a special place of protected beauty, carefully planned and thoughtfully crafted. This collection of two- and three-bedroom townhomes and three-bedroom flat-styled condominiums, nestled in a lush landscape with over 1,500 protected grand trees, offers sweeping views of the historic Ashley River Corridor.
The quality, the setting, and the affordability offer an opportunity simply unheard of in the Charleston area today."
http://www.summersbendsc.com/index.asp?n=18&p=0&s=1
Friday, June 1, 2007
Democratic Debates Bring $30 million to Charleston
Supposing you're not interested in the politics of the thing, what might an event like the presidential debates mean? How would $30 million and a week's worth of national attention for our fair home strike you?
"The upcoming Democratic presidential debate in Charleston will likely have an economic impact on the city for more than a week and total $30 million if not more when all is said and done, said Patrick Norton, a spokesman for the S.C. Democratic Party."
For the full Charleston Regional Business Journal article: http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/pub/13_11/news/9500-1.html
"The upcoming Democratic presidential debate in Charleston will likely have an economic impact on the city for more than a week and total $30 million if not more when all is said and done, said Patrick Norton, a spokesman for the S.C. Democratic Party."
For the full Charleston Regional Business Journal article: http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/pub/13_11/news/9500-1.html
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