New Meaning For the Words, "Want to Swap?"

Hmmmm – though I expect the perfect pair for a trade only comes along once in a blue moon, if you happened to find your match, this could be very interesting!

"Several Web sites have sprung up to connect owners interested in house swapping, not just for a vacation, but for good. The concept is similar to a conventional sale. Both parties need to agree on the value of their properties and secure new mortgages. Any difference in value is paid either in cash or by wrapping it into the new mortgage.

Some of the Web sites charge a small fee. Others are free to users. 'It's like a dating service for home sellers,' says Greg Holt, CEO and co-owner of Pad4Pad. 'We're bringing people together.' Site managers urge swappers to use an appraiser, home inspector, and either an attorney or a real estate professional to shepherd them through the closing process. Some real estate professionals are charging flat fees to manage swaps, Holt says. Other swapping sites include OnlineHouse Trading and DaytonaHomeTrader."

For the Realtor Magazine article: http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/pages/News2008063002?OpenDocument

Head for the Hills!

As the summer heats up the best way to keep your cool might very well be to follow generations of Charlestonians and spend some time in Western North Carolina! The Smoky Mountains and foothills are not too far away, offer plenty to do for everyone from kayakers to history buffs to shoppers and the change of pace, scenery and climate will bring you home to our beloved Lowcountry refreshed and ready to enjoy her particular beauties with fresh eyes!

For a WNC magazine article on things to do in the area: http://www.wncmagazine.com/feature3.html

For a Charleston magazine article on things to do in the area: http://charlestonmag.com/feature3.html

Lowcountry Loft Living

I love to see the market diversify in this way! It's great for people who just aren't ready for the whole shebang of a house with a yard and the accompanying mortgage to have a good option for ownership that really works for them!

"Today there is a new contender in residential architecture popping up on city streets, laying claim to new construction as well as renovation projects. Loft living in the Lowcountry may still be new, but it has made friends quickly with both developers and home buyers looking for something with an urban edge in a historic setting.

'A loft is more than a space,' said Kristopher King, a project manager with Wecco of Charleston, a developer specializing in mixed-use projects. 'You’re selling aesthetic, you’re selling a lifestyle. They’re sort of edgy. They’re urban.' They can also be less expensive than traditional construction. There is a void of pricey millwork, framing, doors and other features that can drive up construction costs.

'You’re creating a design aesthetic that attracts the buyer but you’re also spending less money to do so,' King said. 'Instead of doing a terrace that might cost $10,000, $15,000 per unit, you do one roof deck. You help spread out the amenities through the density of the unit.'

Wecco is building a 57-unit loft complex with a commercial component on the ground floor off upper Meeting Street on Cool Blow Street. The project, called One Cool Blow, has presold all but 10 units, with prices ranging from $240,000 for a 785-square-foot unit to $340,000 for a 1,125-square-foot-unit. Fifteen percent of the project is designated as work force housing, which will sell to eligible applicants for $179,000.

'The project is urban and has very flexible floor plans,' King said. 'I think that’s what separates the loft from traditional construction. It’s a more efficient space.'

Bee Street Lofts off Lockwood Drive near the Ashley River Bridges is another new construction project that has brought big-city style to the city’s hospital district and is attracting young professionals and medical students. The loft concept has migrated from urban areas where they often were carved out of old warehouses in low-rent neighborhoods, providing living and studio space for artists, students and others living on a budget.

'I do think it allows a lot of flexibility for people and it doesn’t really cause much alteration to the interior of a building,' said Eddie Bello, director of the city’s Architecture and Preservation division. 'I think it’s a great use and they attract the younger, more vital crowd. I think that’s always good to have that in the city. They allow a higher density. A lot of times they can allow for houses to be a little more affordable.'”

For the full Charleston Regional Business Journal article: http://charlestonbusiness.com/pub/14_13/news/12266-1.html

For One Cool Blow: http://www.onecoolblow.com/
For Bee Street Lofts: http://www.beestreetlofts.com/
For the Cigar Factory: http://www.cigarfactorycharleston.com/

Carolina Day!

Remember Carolina Day this Saturday . . . talk to your children about it, talk to your friends about it . . . if you can, come hear the bells ring and be a part of the parade! The more thoroughly we remember the cost of our liberties, the more thoroughly we will defend them!"Fought at the entrance to Charleston harbor on June 28, 1776, the Battle of Sullivan's Island was an important early victory for the patriots in the American Revolution. A sizeable British fleet and army was drubbed decisively during the action, and British pride was seriously wounded. Word was rushed to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia by a single messenger on horseback. The battle brought a boost to American morale that cannot be overstated; as news spread throughout the country, there was rejoicing everywhere.

For generations, the gallant defense of Sullivan's Island has been commemorated annually in South Carolina with festivities that recalled our nation's struggle for liberty and the blessing of freedom resulting from it. To Carolinians, the June 28 is an Independence Day!"

For more information check out the SC Historical Society: http://www.southcarolinahistoricalsociety.org/wire/RevWar/CarolinaDay/heritage.html

Invite Buyers In With Landscaping

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, "You never get a second chance to make a first impression!" There may be no area where this is more true than real estate. No matter how well-suited a house is on paper, it's almost impossible to overcome
a seller's sinking disappointment when we pull up to a place that just doesn't look like home.

"In this challenging real estate market, curb appeal is particularly important for a home seller. Here are some tips for hiring a landscaper who will do a good job at a reasonable price.

• Review a portfolio. A neighbor’s recommendation is a good starting point, but it is also worthwhile to examine other jobs the landscaper has done and ask for references. Hiring someone who isn’t reliable, doesn’t finish the job or who uses unhealthy plants is a costly mistake.
• Consider maintenance. Asking for a low-maintenance design will ensure that even if the home owner isn’t able to spend hours on the task, the lawn will continue to look good.
• Know what good landscaping is worth. It can’t hurt to let a potential buyer know what the value of the trees and shrubs are. The North Carolina-based Horticultural Asset Management specializes in assessing the value of landscape plants. For instance, it puts the worth of a healthy 60-foot-tall European beech at $50,000."

For the full Realtor Magazine article: http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/pages/News2008061106?OpenDocument

Java to Give the Area a Jolt!

Aside from the general, conversational interest of Starbucks' entrance into the state, it's exciting to watch Charleston's economic development travelling along the interstate highways so to speak. Better and better! This is a wonderful time to live – and invest – in the Lowcountry!

"With plans to fill a huge depot with pre-roasted green coffee beans, a New Jersey-based warehouse company specializing in cocoa and coffee is bringing an economic jolt to Jedburg.

Continental Terminals Inc. recently announced plans to lease a food-grade warehouse of nearly 250,000 square feet from Johnson Development Associates Inc. The facility is in Jedburg Commerce Park just off Interstate 26.

The warehouse will serve as a holding tank for coffee en route from tropical nations to Starbucks’ new roasting facility in St. Matthews, about 60 miles away in Calhoun County.
The company signed a contract with Starbucks earlier this year.

Continental Terminal’s entrance into South Carolina marks the first major coffee warehouse and distribution company to set up shop in the state, raising hopes that a new industry could be brewing.

Johnson Development took a gamble on the Jedburg property nearly a decade ago, speculating the area would eventually become a warehousing mega-center. This deal goes a long way in proving that assumption, said associate Josh Jones.

'It’s really the first big speculative distribution house leased in the Jedburg area,' he said. 'We’re bullish on the area. A lot of people are talking about it.'

Continental Terminals is leasing 245,166 square feet of the building, leaving an additional 100,000 square feet for expansion, which the company is openly eyeing for another food-storage related venture. Johnson Development owns an additional 90 acres nearby where it eventually plans to build another speculative warehouse center.

Located just a few miles off Exit 194, the property sits on Newton Way near Business Park Road. Its neighbors are American LaFrance’s new manufacturing plant and Piggly Wiggly’s distribution center, as well as Southeastern Freight Lines and a Fruit of the Loom warehouse.

'It’s going to happen here,' Baldwin said.

The Jedburg area covers parts of unincorporated Berkeley and Dorchester counties near I-26 and halfway between the Charleston ports and I-95. For Starbucks, the location made sense because it is in a low-traffic area that is halfway between the port and the St. Matthews plant.

'We could have gone anywhere,' Baldwin said. 'We felt this location was wonderful and part of that has to do with travel.'”

For the full Charleston Regional Business Journal article: http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/pub/14_12/news/12190-1.html

One Cool Blow

I really like to see appropriate use of contemporary urban forms in these reclaimed industrial areas of the city! One of the beauties and charms of Charleston has always been our status as a living, never a museum, city, which necessarily includes change over time. I like to see thoughtful, attractive changes in appearance to reflect the same sorts of change in use!

"Wecco of Charleston LLC is proving affordable housing options can be green. Wecco is putting the finishing touches on its One Cool Blow development in downtown Charleston off Morrison Drive near the foot of the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge. The three-building complex includes a commercial building flanked by two other buildings with retail on the bottom and apartments on top.

Eight residential units are available as work force housing set aside for tenants meeting certain income guidelines. Those units are less than $200,000; other units are sold at a market value of $240,000 to $340,000.

The apartments come in two floor plans: 1,175 square feet and 785 square feet. They feature a number of green elements: bamboo flooring and stained concrete as well as some exposed concrete walls. Multiple windows make use of natural lighting.

The buildings feature rooftop gardens and common areas that use porous pavers and native plants. The company is anticipating achieving a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design silver designation, said Brook Griffin, director of marketing for Wecco of Charleston.

One Cool Blow is built by Wecco Construction of South Carolina using walls from Standard Precast Walls, a Wecco firm that produces the concrete walls for the company’s structures and for outside customers.

The concrete walls make the structures more durable and insulated, scoring added LEED points for One Cool Blow. Wecco uses its precast walls for all projects, which also speeds up construction time. The foundation was poured in August 2007 and the first of the three
buildings will be ready this month.

Other green initiatives include:
• Low-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) paints and sealants.
• On-site recycling center.
• EnergyStar appliances.

The green aspects of the project help set it apart, complementing the price and location, said Griffin."

For the full Charleston Regional Business Journal article: http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/pub/14_12/news/12184-1.html

For the One Cool Blow website: http://www.onecoolblow.com/

Going Green From the Top Down!

Sometimes all you can say is . . . cool! In this case it's true in both the figurative and the literal sense.

"To have a truly green structure, consider trading in the roof shingles for plants. The idea of a green roof might sound a little odd at first, but the idea is taking root in the Lowcountry, thanks to Charleston Green Roofs. Sam Gilpin launched the company about six months ago as a way to combine a degree in horticulture with a construction background.

'I wanted to get out of swinging a hammer. I was getting too old for it,' he said. 'This is a good combination and helps the environment.'

But how exactly do you put plants on the roof? A green roof is a layered system of pervious and impervious surfaces. Extensive green roofs have soil that is deeper to support larger plants. An intensive green roof (what Gilpin recently did at Bowens Island Restaurant) has shallower soil with smaller plants.

Gilpin used drought-tolerant and native plants, covering them with about 5 inches of primarily structural lightweight aggregate. A drainage mat underneath provides a root barrier and keeps the plant roots from taking over the drainage cups that hold excess rainwater. The green roof, which is about 10 inches thick, can absorb 100% of water from a short rain, Gilpin said.

A green roof is set up to be maintenance free. The plants might need a little extra water the first season. But once they establish roots, Mother Nature takes care of the rest, Gilpin said.

While green roofs are a new endeavor in Charleston, they’re common in Europe, and Chicago has more green roofs than anywhere in the United States, Gilpin said. 'I think the future is real bright for this,' Gilpin said.

A green roof will cost about $5 more per square foot, which Gilpin admitted can add up on a large roof. He’s looking at ways to bring the cost down. The aggregate he uses is shipped in from North Carolina, which is neither green nor inexpensive, Gilpin said. An alternative might be crushed red brick.

The biggest benefits of a green roof are added insulation and, for a large building, storm water management. The internal temperature difference between a green roof and a regular, flat roof is 40 to 60 degrees, Gilpin said. Better insulation certainly translates into utility savings. Gilpin said large buildings could see hundreds of dollars saved in heating and cooling costs."

For the full Charleston Regional Business Journal article: http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/pub/14_12/news/12186-1.html

For the Charleston Green Roofs website: http://charlestongreenroofs.com/Welcome.html

The Green Heart of North Charleston

With a contract set to close in this neighborhood and long time interest in their efforts and success, I am excited to see others taking notice! And I love that North Charleston is really stepping up to take the lead in this new frontier!

"North Charleston has become a hub of green activity, spurred in large part by The Noisette Co.’s efforts to redevelop the former Charleston Naval Base. It has refurbished existing buildings, upgraded infrastructure and created green space and parks while encouraging the local arts and cultural community.

The Noisette Co. is managing the development of Oak Terrace Preserve, a 55-acre sustainable residential community owned by the city of North Charleston. The property previously was home to about 200 houses constructed during the early 1940s during the shipbuilding boom of World War II.

The city bought the property and helped the residents relocate. The homes weren’t salvageable and were torn down because of asbestos, lead pain and substandard utilities, explained Elias Deeb, project manager at The Noisette Co.

In their place is a new kind of neighborhood. 'We made a wholesale, sustainable approach to the design of the neighborhood,' Deeb said. The entire project includes 374 homes and 17 parks. The first phase consists of 120 single-family homes and 32 townhomes. Nine builders were selected to carry out the community’s sustainable vision. Homes are $185,000 to $315,000, with the majority in the $200,000 price range.

One of the biggest assets of Oak Terrace Preserve is the dozens of trees that were preserved during the planning phase. About 90% of the trees were saved. 'We took considerable more time siting each house,' Deeb said. 'You can’t take the postage stamp approach.'

Oak Terrace is also a dense neighborhood with a minimum lot size of 3,200 square feet. These kinds of infill developments help curb urban sprawl and locate residents near existing businesses, schools, restaurants and transportation.

'Oak Terrace is pretty much as dark green as you can get for the Lowcountry and probably for the state,' Deeb said.

Other green initiatives include:
• Job site recycling.
• Insulation upgrades.
• Dual-flush toilets.
• Low-flow faucets.
• Cork or bamboo flooring.
• EnergyStar appliances.
• Tankless water heaters.
• Elevated concrete slab. Not having wood in the flooring system dramatically reduces issues of moisture, mold and termites.
• Native, drought-tolerant plants, eliminating the need for an irrigation system.
• A walking/jogging path around the perimeter of the development is lined with a product of recycled tires and rock, making it durable and porous.

Creating an energy-efficient home can reduce the cost of utilities 20% to 30% and sometimes even 50%, Deeb said.

'We’re starting to reach the tipping point where the objection that it costs too much doesn’t fly anymore,' Deeb said. 'There’s so much you can do that makes a difference without spending a lot of money.'”

For the full Charleston Regional Business Journal article: http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/current/14_12/news/12184-1.html

For the Oak Terrace Preserve website: http://oakterracepreservesc.com/

For Troy's website dedicated to the area: http://parkcircleonline.com/

VOTE!

Since the loooong national primary season has been so drawn out, there's a sense of that chapter having been closed and now all we have to do is show up at the polls again in November. However, here in SC that is not the case! I'm going to keep the blog short today, so that you can spend some time poking around into the links provided below, figure out who will appear on your ballot, make an informed decision about how to award your vote and get out there tomorrow and make it count!

Candidate Websites:
US Congressional offices
State House of Representatives
State Senate
State Solicitor offices
County, school board offices

SC Election Commission website to see who's running and where

How to Find Your SC Precinct, Polling Place:
Look up your precinct, polling location, voting districts
1. Do NOT enter your street number.
2. Do NOT enter an abbreviation such as Rd, St, or Ave.
3. Use slashes in birth date and 4-character year.
4. Click Get driving directions to the Precinct in upper right corner for directions, map.

SC State Songs

A certain sadly displaced South Carolinian I knew back in the late seventies used to sing the James Taylor song "Country Road" with the lyrics slightly altered: "Country road take me home, to the place I belong! Back to Charleston, South Carolina, oh country road take me home." Homesick Sandlpappers today can mournfully croon "South Carolina On My Mind." As a matter of fact you might want to practice along with the YouTube video a few times, so you have it all ready to go for just the right occasion!



"[I]n 1984 our State Legislature passed a resolution making South Carolina on My Mind our second state song, declaring that it had "penetrated the hearts of countless numbers of Americans and ... as a direct result of their exposure to the song, many of them now have 'South Carolina on Their Mind.'" Hank and Buzz then found themselves performing for the General Assembly.

For whatever reason, this important song has suffered relative anonymity for the past two decades. It's been pretty much impossible to find ... until now! SCIway is proud to be able to reintroduce South Carolina on My Mind to our readers, or listeners as the case may be!"
For the full SCIway Newsletter article: http://www.sciway.net/sn/56.html#3

Keeping Pets From Presenting a Selling Problem

I think the key in this situation, as in many with pets, is to remember that nobody loves your puss or pooch as much as you do!"Dale Stevens, an associate with Prudential Connecticut Realty in Enfield, Conn., has been bitten by dogs and assaulted by parakeets, but her worst experience came as a result of a cat sleeping in a chair: Her client, terrified of cats, took one look at the snoring feline and walked away from the deal. If your sellers have pets at the home, here are some suggestions from Stevens and other Connecticut practitioners for managing the potential problem.

Clear up allergy conflicts. Make it clear in the listing that a pet lives in the home to avoid any problem with potential buyers who have allergies.
Get rid of smells. Minimize odors by removing litter boxes and thoroughly vacuuming up dog and cat hair.
Move the dog out. Ask the sellers to relocate their pets during the selling process. Moving the animal to the home of a friend or relative is the best solution.
Next best: to the basement. If the pet can’t be moved, then suggest that they confine the animal to the basement or the garage.
No pets at showings. Insist the sellers take the pet with them during open houses and showings.
Offer to pay for cleaning. Tell sellers you'll give them a credit at closing to pay for having the house thoroughly cleaned by a professional to get rid of any lingering pet odors and hair.
Hide the evidence. Remove evidence of the pet, like pet toys, feeding dishes and photos, which can distract potential buyers who don't like the idea of animals living in the house."

For the Realtor magzine online article: http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/pages/News2008052004?OpenDocument