Author: Mount Pleasant

A hawk takes to the air, soaring high above the thick forest, wings spread against the crystal blue sky at Sewee Preserve. As nesting season begins, the diligence enlisted in every phase of this 500-acre conservation development continues quietly below, always with the goal to preserve, protect and respect all the wildlife that calls Sewee Preserve home.

Located just north of Mount Pleasant, Sewee Preserve provides a key link in the preservation of a strip of pristine South Carolina coastline. This property completes a seamless network of over 300,000 acres of “greenbelt,” which stretches from Sewee to Santee, and includes the Francis Marion National Forest and Cape Romain Wildlife Refuge. Developer Dennis Avery and his partner, William Dudley, protected more than 400 acres of this property through a conservation easement, ensuring that the land will be permanently protected from further development, offering safe haven for the wildlife that continues to thrive there.

According to Avery, 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. “The goal of preserving this special tract of land is to demonstrate that it is possible to balance ecology and economy,” states Avery. “By offering super low-density housing, we are able to protect the Lowcountry’s natural heritage.”

To further enhance this wildlife habitat, Sewee Preserve has established the Sewee Partnership for birds of Prey with the South Carolina Center for Birds of Prey. The initiative works to improve and increase habitat suitable for eagles, owls, osprey, hawks and other raptors at Sewee Preserve. Property owners are honorary members of the center, which rehabilitates hundreds of injured birds each year and regularly releases them back into their natural environs.

Avery says that the “development side” of the project is nearly complete. “We added a water and sewer system to our original plans,” notes Avery. “We decided to go the extra mile because a water and sewer system is environmentally superior to wells and septic tanks.”

The lake, which will serve as a centerpiece for the development, nears completion. “It’s a 50-acre freshwater lake, which is, to the best of our information, the biggest lake in Charleston County,” comments Avery. “We’ve created a point on the lake that’s full of oak trees. We’re also building a lodge-style boathouse with kayak and canoe racks, and a dock. It will be a place where property owners can enjoy the outdoors.”

Avery notes that the community dock leads directly to Whiteside Creek, with views of Capers Island, the Isle of Palms and the Intracoastal Waterway.

As the concept of a conservation development turns into a reality, interest in the unique lifestyle offered at Sewee Preserve has piqued. “We’ve sold two more lots,” notes Avery. “After so much careful preparation, it’s exciting to finally see a house coming out of the ground.”

That house is being built by Pat Ilderton of Ilderton Contractors Inc., one of Sewee Preserve’s preferred builders. Recently, Dolphin Architects & Builders earned a spot on the development’s preferred builders list, and have plans on the drawing board for another one of the neighborhood’s first home.

“I think Sewee Preserve is very unique and very special even in the Lowcountry where we have so much natural beauty,” comments Walter Seinsheimer Jr., chairman of Dolphin Architects & Builders. “The things that are special – obviously the 400 acres of conservation area that is usable, not just sitting there, while the houses are close enough together to give a sense of community, yet sited to give privacy.”

The community is laced with over seven miles of old hunting and farm trails for exploring by foot, bicycle or horseback. The trails lead to the community dock, Sewee Farm, the lake, nature observation areas, and neighboring Bull’s Bay Golf Club.

“There’s no where else that I know of that you can live in the midst of nature and still be so close to daily necessities and entertainment,” he adds.

According to Seinsheimer, his firm has completed the design phase of the 5-bedroom, 4fi-bath home. Described as “sophisticated rustic” with a “river house feel,” the home will feature a “reverse plan,” with the living level on the second floor to maximize the views that Seins-heimer describes as “absolutely spectacular.”

Home sites range from 1.5 to 3.75 acres in size, with prices beginning in the $600,000’s. Property owners may choose their own builders and house plans in accordance with architectural design standards developed by the Sewee Preserve Architectural Review Board. Sewee Preserve has established guidelines for environmentally-sensitive home-building and lighting technologies and the use of indigenous plants for landscaping, all designed to better blend with the serenity and natural beauty of the property.

Just A Few Minutes North of Mount Pleasant, South Caro lina, I see a sign to Paradise Island. Intrigued, I investigate as the road winds its way toward the river I know is nearby. Already I feel civili zation falling away behind me. And, suddenly, I arrive at Paradise Island. It is surrounded by marsh and un disturbed forest. The deep water of the Wando River beckons as raptors soar overhead.

This is what people mean when they say they want to “get away from it all.” Paradise Island is a 340-acre community offering deep-water, marsh-view and interior lots. The prices of the lots depend on the size–ranging from approximately a half-acre to slightly more than a full acre–and location. Interior lots start at around $190,000, but the prized deep-water home sites go for $575,000.

Covenants provide for homes of any size, and there is no time limit for building. Although the Fran cis Marion forest borders Paradise Island, the community has set aside additional green space that will remain in its natural state. The east end of the development includes a 1.2-acre community lot with a boat ramp and dock for residents.

A few lucky families already enjoy living in this pristine place, where they feel as though they have the best of both worlds: serene country living yet near all the conveniences of town. Excellent shopping and dining are available in Mount Pleasant, and local beaches are just a short drive away. But most times fishing and kayaking are the order of the day on Paradise Island. Just ask Gideon Murray.

“Hands down, I have the best views in Mount Pleasant,” he says. “Others may live on the water, but they don’t have this. …it’s naturally spectacular. Some evenings my wife and I watch the sun set over the Wando River, and I say ‘pinch me’ and she says ‘no, you pinch me.”

Murray goes on to say that “We looked at all the neighborhoods but when you turn down this road, it feels extremely comforting and relaxing.”

That’s the lure for many people, agrees John Popelka, who tells me the biggest “amenity” of Paradise Is land is the fact that it is surrounded by the Wando River and the Francis Marion Forest.

“It’s a very natural, secluded envi ronment,” he says.

While some perceive Paradise Island as being “far away,” Popelka reminds me that Mount Pleasant continues to grow northward.

“It’s just eight miles from where the new Super Wal-Mart will be, Wando High School and Carolina Park,” he says.

Just eight miles … but, when you’re watching that sunset, you might as well be a million miles away.

Park West is a place where you can live, work and play, where kids walk to school, families gather at the nearby recreation complex to watch a game and everyone goes out for ice cream afterwards. You may not even have to leave … or, at least, you may not want to.

At the Park West’s Amenity and Tennis Club, you and your family will enjoy tennis, volleyball, a junior Olympic pool with a Summer Kitchen, a kiddy pool, a children’s playground, and a multi-purpose, swimming pool that features a “zero entry” point at one end, and an “in-pool” volleyball court at the other.

The “zero entry” end includes four hydro-jet fountains to provide a relaxing view for adults and fun for the young children. Additionally, there is a large swimming area at the center of the pool for adults, as well as a hydrotherapy pool that includes underwater bench seating. The building adjacent to the new pool is the new community clubhouse, which has standing room for 120. This is the permitted occupancy for the clubhouse. Seventy-two persons may be seated comfortably in a theater setting.

Other recreational outlets include approximately six miles of bike and hiking paths; four and a half miles of the winding Toomer and Darrell Creeks, with a crabbing dock at the Masonborough Park, and a business center chucked full of shopping and personal service opportunities for shopping, dining, browsing boutiques, or just sipping a cup of coffee … all without ever leaving the community.

Please take some time to explore our vision for Park West, look at the plans for Cambridge Square (the Town Village, which is under contract, but not yet developed), walk through the Park West Business Center, examine the plans for the remainder of the Business Center, look at the recreational and leisure amenities, and ask for information about Park West Schools, and future development of our community. Park West is a community where you will enjoy the results of the work of an environmentally conscious developer, who has taken great care to preserve approximately 250 acres of salt-water marsh and 292 acres of protected fresh-water wetlands; where neighborhoods, commercial establishments, schools, the recreational complex and the swim and tennis club are connected by sidewalks and bicycle and hiking paths for the convenience, safety and pleasure of its residents. It is a place you and your family will want to call home.

Dunes West personifies Lowcountry living at its finest. From its perfectly manicured entrances to its unsurpassed neighborhoods, the security and serenity of coastal Carolina’s most scenic and enticing community welcomes residents home to its spectacular ponds, creeks, marshes and rivers. Situated along the pristine shores of the Wando River in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, Dunes West is considered the Charleston area’s premier gated residential community. Stately homes in established neighborhoods border the championship golf course and Wando tributaries, Wagner and Toomer Creeks. Dunes West offers a superb country club lifestyle with unlimited recreational opportunities.

John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods, which purchased Dunes West in 2002, introduced the community’s brand new amenities center during its grand opening event in June. The new center has already taken this premier community’s amenities package to a higher level.

Of special interest is The Club at Dunes West’s expansive new athletic clubhouse, located on Harpers Ferry Way just behind the gate. The clubhouse includes a state-of-the-art fitness center that features machine and free-weight equipment, an aerobics room where weekly classes are offered and meeting rooms ideal for everything from entertaining small groups to hosting large neighborhood get-togethers. Dunes West’s full-time activities director, Meg Keally, coordinates a busy schedule of events and activities for club members— everything from holiday parties for the entire family to karate, yoga, dance and aerobic classes.

Another major highlight of the new clubhouse is its all-new water park. With something for every member of the family, it features a zero-entry pool with two huge umbrellas that provide shade as swimmers ease into the water as they would at the beach. To the delight of children, the pool includes kiddie-friendly attractions such as a looped water slide and other squirting and spurting features that entertain the little ones for hours. Parents can join in the fun, relax in the screened porch and lounging areas amid tropical palm trees or head over to the competition and lap pools located behind Thomas Lynch Hall for an invigorating workout.

And, of course, tennis enthusiasts love the club’s nine lighted courts—six asphalt and three clay— complemented by viewing pavilions and a pro shop. The tennis center, managed by Director of Tennis Jack Miller, is a veritable hub of activity for all ages, with a variety of programs available, including camps, league play, group clinics and private lessons for all ages.

Recreational activities at Dunes West aren’t limited to the amenities center. In fact, Dunes West boasts what might be the Charleston area’s largest playground. Since it opened in 2005, it has been an instant winner among the under-12 club members, who enjoy hours of fun on slides, swings and jungle gyms.

When you first drive into Nelliefield Plantation, you’ll be delighted by the look of this community. The houses are colorful, ranging from muted greens and blues to splashes of coral and rust. Built with HardiePlank siding, many of the homes are accented with brick, giving them a more high-end look. Architectural shingles add to the good looks and curb appeal. The homes are beautifully landscaped, and some residents even enjoy pond views.

Nelliefield Plantation is located in the growing town of Wando, an easy drive from Highway 41 or the Clements Ferry Road exit of Interstate 526, more familiarly known as the Mark Clark Expressway. This charming neighborhood is just six miles from the exit, near the island community of Daniel Island and the bustling town of Mount Pleasant.

And that is the beauty of Nelliefield Plantation. It is just far enough away from the bright lights and busy roads of Mount Pleasant yet near enough for easy access to shopping and the East Cooper beaches. The homes themselves are spacious, featuring three to four bedrooms in a variety of one- and two-story floor plans. Nine-foot ceilings are standard, as are spacious kitchens with maple cabinets in a variety of styles and glazes, and quality Whirlpool appliances. Extra touches are evident throughout and include ceiling fans with lights in all living areas and bedrooms and pre-wiring for phone, cable and fiber optics. Tankless water heaters mean no more running out of hot water mid-shower.

John Dezinna of Coastal Cottages of South Carolina, among the contractors currently building in Nelliefield Plantation, believes the same quality that goes into million-dollar homes should also be foremost in more affordable housing. Dezinna is a licensed contractor with decades of experience in everything from foundations to those final finishing touches. Although he strives to include as many desirable features as possible, he is happy to provide buyers with additional upgrades such as hardwood floors and solid surface countertops.

All this sounds like it could be expensive, but the homes in Nelliefield Plantation are surprisingly affordable. Compared to Mount Pleasant, where a typical starter home might be in the $300,000 range, Nelliefield offers pricing from the high-$100s to the mid-$200s.

Better hurry if you are interested in one of these homes. At these prices, they’ll be snapped up quickly.

The waters of the Wando River wend their way inland as Molasses Creek. Nestled against its bank lies the Mount Pleasant neighborhood of the same name, a community of about 140 homes that blend almost seamlessly into the lush, green landscape, where residents live amid the ebb and flow of the tidal waters.

Molasses Creek is a gracious neighborhood set along gently rolling hills that line the marsh and creek. The custom homes are comfortably large and, although they vary in style, each embodies the Lowcountry spirit – and the personality of its owner. Not every home is directly on the creek, of course, but those that are take full advantage of marsh and water views with large screened porches and decks.

Lots can be described only as spacious, allowing each home to be sited to its best advantage and to allow plenty of room between houses. Since most of Molasses Creek was built between 1988 and 1994, the landscaping has matured, further enhancing the look of each home. As you drive through the neighborhood, you occasionally are pleasantly surprised by a lovely lagoon or a view of the creek.

The attention to detail continues inside the homes. Living spaces are open and airy, kitchens are laid out for ease of movement and bedrooms feature large closets and private bathrooms. Extras such as tray ceilings, moldings and elegant fixtures serve to punctuate the quality built into each home.

Peggy Leete, an agent with Carolina One Real Estate and a Molasses Creek resident, enjoys the neighborhood’s easy lifestyle. She especially likes living in an excellent school district and close to shopping and places such as the Mount Pleasant Memorial Park, Remley’s Point and Patriots Point Golf Links. And within just a few moments, you can be on the Arthur Ravenel Bridge, heading to historic downtown Charleston and points beyond.

“We’re so close to everything,” Leete said. “We love to ride our bikes through the neighborhood or down to the Mount Pleasant Memorial Park. It’s so beautiful.”

Peggy Leete
Carolina One Real Estate
(843) 532-7923

No huge amenities center mars the pristine beauty of Molasses Creek, but Leete pointed out that homeowners have the option to become members of the Hobcaw Yacht Club or the I’On Club, both just minutes away. The Yacht Club features a waterfront playground and park, a clubhouse, docking facilities, an annual sailing regatta, sailing and swimming lessons, cookouts, fishing tournaments and an outdoor swimming pool monitored by lifeguards. The I’On Club has a junior Olympic pool, a baby pool and a lounge pool, as well as a fitness center and tennis courts.

Leete said that when it is time to upgrade, Molasses Creek homeowners seem to prefer staying in the neighborhood and renovating rather than relocating. She pointed out that one family has chosen to completely renovate their entire house – a year-long project – rather than leave Molasses Creek.

“If I moved, it would be to another home in Molasses Creek,” she said.

For more information, call Peggy Leete at (843) 532-7923, email [email protected], or visit www.peggyleetehomes.com.

Molasses Creek Photos