Merry Christmas!

With all my heart I wish you all a very merry Christmas and hope that you will remember with me what a gift it is to be at home in the Lowcountry! I can think of no expression better than those of the old song: "Love and joy come to you and to all your family, too! And God bless you and send you a happy new year!"

Clemson Program Tops in Architecture

As a loyal Sandlapper I am happy to report that Clemson University's School of Architecture is among the top ten in the country. As a loyal son of the Lowcountry I am perhaps even happier to report that the school's Charleston campus is part of the reason why!

"Architect magazine’s November issue lists Clemson’s program along with those of Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Columbia University and other well-respected institutions.

'It’s nice to be back in the top 10. We haven’t been there in a while, but we have been highly regarded,' said Ted Cavanagh, chairman of Clemson’s School of Architecture. The university tied with Rice University and the University of Texas at Austin for the 10th spot on the list. Clemson ranked 13th the previous four years. Architect magazine’s list is based on surveys conducted by the Design Futures Council, a global network of design firms and service providers that studies trends and opportunities in architecture.

The council surveyed 130 architecture firms that employ more than 100,000 people, as well 46 university architecture deans and 740 architecture students. The university currently enrolls 75 graduate students and about 300 undergraduates in its architecture program.

The magazine cites Clemson’s 'fluid campus concept' that provides students with the opportunity to study in the architecturally rich communities of Charleston; Genoa, Italy; or Barcelona, Spain. Clemson has satellite campuses in each location.

'We have full-time faculty in these places, and we require students to spend at least one semester (there),' Cavanagh said. That mandate makes the Clemson program unique, he said. Through the travels, students learn to incorporate local history, architecture and climate into design plans, he said."

For the full Charleston Regional Business Journal article: http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/pub/13_25/news/10955-1.html

For the Clemson School of Architecture: http://www.clemson.edu/caah/architecture/

Coming Soon . . . a Hospital Near You!

It used to be that one had to drive downtown for a lot of things – a fine meal, a concert, an x-ray, but as the metropolitan nature of Charleston has shifted from a tight peninsular focus the "cluster effect" has restaurants, performance venues and hospitals springing up wherever people live from North Charleston to Mount Pleasant, West Ashley, Daniel Island, Summerville and beyond. The great thing about this trend is that it not only preserves the character of the downtown area, but makes life more convenient for residents across the Lowcountry!

"Last year, Trident Health System purchased 20 acres near the Cane Bay High School in the epicenter of three planned neighborhoods in Berkeley County, Cane Bay, Parks of Berkeley and Carnes Crossroads. It plans to build a medical complex near the Summerville and Goose Creek communities that offers convenient services to the immediate area.

In mid-September, Roper St. Francis Healthcare purchased 66 acres just a few miles away.
With plans to build a similar office complex near the intersection of U.S. Highway 17A and U.S. Highway 176, it is the first business to solidify a proposal to move into the neighborhood now under development by The Daniel Island Co.

'They’re trying to get into our backyard, imagine that,' said Jim Rardin, vice president of development for Hospital Corp. of America, Trident’s parent company, as he discussed hospital growth at Trident’s main campus where he works in North Charleston.

Mark Robinson, the hospital’s chief operating officer, said the recent moves are all about health systems gaining ground where people will be living. 'It’s a lot of jockeying for position,' he said. 'It’s a lot of understanding … what people are doing and where they’re living. That’s why you see Roper buying that land, and you see Trident doing the same thing.'

The Urban Land Institute estimates some 1.1 million new residents will move to South Carolina by the year 2030, and that more than a quarter of those people will find a home in the Charleston region.

With few alternatives inside the landlocked peninsula, it’s only natural that hospital beds would sprawl with the shifting population, away from the downtown medical cluster and into the neighborhoods. Whether they need a dose of penicillin or a CT scan, people are inclined to pick the hospital nearest their home."

For the full Charleston Regional Business Journal article: http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/pub/13_25/news/10956-1.html

Broad Street Revival

If this article piques your interest, you may want to attend the BAR Rehab Seminar 5:30-7:00 pm Wednesday, Dec 19th at the Main Branch of the Charleston County Library. I plan to be there, and you are more than welcome to contact me for more information!

"Restoration has begun on [93 and 97 Broad Street], which date to the 18th and 19th centuries and were purchased from the city of Charleston in August 2006 for $650,000. James Meadors of Meadors Construction and Restoration won the city’s request for proposals to buy the buildings and hopes to restore them to office or residential use or a combination of both. Meadors said he could not yet estimate how much the project will cost, but expects it will take about two years to complete.

The project presents a number of challenges. The two buildings have been vacant for more than 20 years and have extensive termite and water damage. A lashing from Hurricane Hugo in 1989 worsened the deterioration, and 97 Broad St. is braced with interior scaffolding.

Much of the decorative woodwork is in storage, including doors, baseboards, crown molding and columns and will either be restored or replicated. In their present state, the two buildings are in stark contrast to their neighbors, which include law offices, art galleries and multimillion dollar residences in the heart of the city’s judicial district.

'My challenge is to integrate modern infrastructure into these buildings without compromising their appearance. That’s quite a challenge,' Meadors said.

The company also is using green building techniques that will allow the buildings to be certified by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards."

For the full Charleston Regional Business Journal article: http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/pub/13_25/news/10950-1.html

Expanding SC DHEC Standards Expand Development Possibilities

The question "Does it perc?" used to be the ultimate test for undeveloped land, but SC DHEC has recognized advances in technology and opened up amazing new Low Country vistas!

"When a piece of property north of Goose Creek wouldn’t allow developers to use a traditional septic system, they worked with engineers to use the site’s natural characteristics and find a wastewater treatment solution rather than force the site to adapt to a design that would have allowed fewer homes. Wassamassaw Plantation, the 352-acre development at the end of Jedburg Road, has about as many soil characteristics as can be found in the Lowcountry landscape. The terrain, which descends 33 feet across half a mile, offers not only diverse topography but also a variety of soil types.

A soil assessment made by Land Management Group of S.C., which furnished data to BP Barber & Associates, an engineering firm working with developers on conceptual layout, permitting and construction, found some of the soil types were not suitable for traditional septic drain fields.

'That made the design of each site very unique,' said Frank Iwanicki, an engineer with BP Barber.

Each home site at Wassamassaw Plantation had to be evaluated for an individual water treatment system, something that would not have been allowed until fairly recently, Iwanicki
said.

A relatively new S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control design standard allows a licensed soil classifier to evaluate the soil on individual lots and report findings to an engineer, who then designs the treatment and disposal system. Homeowners who purchase lots in Wassamassaw will be required to purchase their individual water treatment system for about $15,000 as part of their home site package. There will be no tap fees or capacity reservation fees such as those required by municipal water treatment systems.

'It opened up a tremendous amount of land that was undeveloped. A lot of that was in coastal areas where there really were no other options. So a lot of premium land became available for development,' Iwanicki said. 'Previously, if you could not get your soil approved by DHEC for a septic system, that was the end of it. They would not allow you to build a house.'"

For the full Charleston Regional Business Journal article: http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/pub/13_25/news/10946-1.html

For Wassamassaw Plantation: http://www.wassamassaw.com/

For the Land Management Group: http://www.lmgroup.net/index.html

Charleston Dream Home Renovations

Occasionally someone falls in love not exactly with a house, but with the potential of a house. In fact sometimes they really hate certain things, but can see past those to all of the wonderful changes wrought in imagination. From national magazines to cable shows to Extreme Makeover: Home Edition we are all very familiar with remodeling concepts, but it's fun to see how they play out with the architecture, builders and sensibilities a little closer to home.

From Charleston magazine – "Epicurean Delight: food and bev pros Mary & Cary Zapatka renovate a '50s ranch with entertaining in mind"

From Charleston Home magazine – "Open Invitation: an historic South Battery single house gains access to the outdoors, along with an enlightened setting for entertaining friends"

Remodeling Cost versus Value

This annual publication is always a useful reference for those who want to spruce up a home they plan to sell in the next couple of years.

"Remodeling magazine’s annual 'Cost vs. Value Report' shows exterior and replacement projects bring the biggest return. Home rehabbers who are considering a move in the not-too-distant future should focus mostly on exterior upgrades. That’s the message from REALTORS® who participated in Remodeling magazine’s 20th annual 'Cost vs. Value Report', done in cooperation with REALTOR® Magazine.

REALTORS® in 65 markets were given construction specs and costs on 29 upscale and midrange projects and asked to estimate the percentage return at resale. Of projects that saw national cost recovery rates of more than 80 percent in 2007, only one — a minor kitchen remodel, with 83 percent of cost recovered — was a strictly interior job. The others were an upscale siding replacement using fiber cement materials (88.1 percent), a wood deck addition (85.4 percent), midrange vinyl siding replacement (83.2 percent), and upscale vinyl and midrange wood window replacements (81 percent and 81.2 percent, respectively)."

For the full Realtor Magazine article: http://www.realtor.org/rmomag.NSF/pages/2007CostvsValue?OpenDocument

Christmas in Charleston!

I always love the Holy City, but Christmas certainly brings out special charms! Of course everyone has a datebook full of places to go and people to see this time of year, but if you are looking for something else, maybe somewhere different to go with those people to see, check out the Charleston Convention Center calendar and list of attractions: Holiday Calendar.

From the fabulous Chocolate Tour put on by Carolina Food Pros to the natural glories of Magnolia Plantation's camellias in full flower and Handel's Messiah performed by the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, this might truly be the "most wonderful time of the year!"

SC Soundtrack

This place is so cool. If you ever doubt it, just turn on the tunes chosen for the SCIway South Carolina Soundtrack. I defy anyone to listen to these without singing along or at least grinning and tapping a toe! If you're looking for an original Christmas gift, this iTunes download could be just the thing for a Sandlapper far from home or a transplant who could use a tutorial in Carolina appreciation.

"Sifting through seven decades of songs either about South Carolina or by an artist from our state was challenging … but enjoyable. The 15 songs we finally selected range from beach music to country, blues to bluegrass, and rock & roll to gospel and jazz."

From James Brown and James Taylor to Hootie and the Blowfish and The Marshall Tucker Band, this list is as diverse as the state it represents!

For the SCIway SC Soundtrack liner notes: http://www.sciway.net/ccr/sc-soundtrack.html