Going to go pick up my season tickets. Go Cougars!

Morris Island, SC - A great white washes ashore on a Lowcountry beach.

The 13-foot-long shark was found at Morris Island last week by fishermen. The Department of Natural Marine Biologists says the shark may have starved to death or been stranded. "They are extremely rare in this area. They're actually rare throughout their range. Their large apex predators, so there's basically not a lot of them around.. And they are actually solitary animals," DNR Marine Biologist, Josh Loefer said. Great white sharks like cool coastal waters and are typically between 12 and 15 feet in length. For all your real estate needs please visit http://www.sallyandj.com/

RICHMOND OFFICE BUILDING SOLD TO DEMOCRATIC PARTY

RICHMOND, VA. — The Democratic Party of Virginia has purchased a 15,000-square-foot office building from Tinsman Holdings for $1.15 million. The property is located at 1710 E. Franklin St. in Richmond. Kathy Ivins and Mac Wilson of Thalhimer’s Richmond office brokered the sale. For all your real estate needs please visit http://www.sallyandj.com/

CofC at Charleston Southern Notes and Stats

College of Charleston (2-1, 0-0 SoCon) at Charleston Southern (1-1, 0-0 Big South) Nov. 20, 2008 • North Charleston Coliseum (10,000) WTMZ 910-AM • CofCSports.com Fast Break Points ... • CofC leads the all-time series 47-23 ... Charleston has won 24 of its last 26 matchups with Charleston Southern ... • Senior Jermaine Johnson is 17 points shy of becoming the 24th player in Charleston history to record 1,000 points, the 12th Division I player ... Johnson leads the Cougars hitting 70.8% of his field goals (17-24) • The Cougars are 30-10 all-time at the North Charleston Coliseum, 13-2 against the Bucs ... Bobby Cremins is 5-3 at the Coliseum, 1-1 vs. CSU ... • CofC is 54-13 vs. the Big South ... CofC has three games against Big South competition this season (Coastal Carolina and Winthrop) ... • Cremins is six wins shy of 500 for his career ... Cremins ranks 74th on the NCAA’s all-time victories list ... his 494 career wins ranks 17th on the NCAA’s active victory list ... For all your real estate needs please visit http://www.sallyandj.com/

Service distinctions, employee hires among happenings of real estate firms, builders.

PRO’s awards out Local suppliers and vendors were honored recently for prompt and quality service as part of the Pro’s Awards given by the Charleston Trident Home Builders Association. The group’s 230 builder members were asked to nominate suppliers and vendors who met nine criteria. The qualifications were: provide quality work and materials, be accessible, have an accommodating schedule, perform duties in time frame allotted, provide good pricing, have quick response to warranty issues, deliver as promised, provide education and information about their specialty and provide marketing materials when applicable. The 17 winners were Southcoast Electrical & Plumbing Services Inc., Builders First Source, Southern Lumber & Millwork, Moluf’s Supply, Melcer Tile, Bird Decorative Hardware & Bath, Ferguson Enterprises, Wurth Wood Group, Buck Lumber, Charleston Lighting & Interiors, A&A Tile, Jilco Kitchen & Bath, Guy C. Lee Building Materials, Nature’s Calling, Quality Marble, CEMEX and G&S Supply. For your real estate needs got to http://www.sallyandj.com/ Marketing rep named Tiffany Shanklin has joined William Means Real Estate in the firm’s downtown office as a marketing coordinator. She was previously with The I’On Group and has several years of marketing experience. An Ohio native, Shanklin holds a degree in business from Kent State University. Community plans tours Poplar Grove Plantation is hosting an “introduction to kayaking” course taught by Sea Kayak Carolina at 10 a.m. on Sunday. Topics are safety, proper boat fit, getting into and out of your kayak, basic paddle strokes and wet exit. Cost is $50 and includes lunch at the Boathouse after the class. Contact Sea Kayak Carolina at (843) 225-7969 to register. Meanwhile, The Poplar Grove Pedal Tour will be held in the afternoon. Lunch will be at 1 p.m. and the biking 2-4 p.m. Green Drinks Charleston is hosting the event, where bikers discover the natural beauty of Poplar Grove, one of the Ashley River plantation district’s “newest” destinations. Naturalists will be on-hand to serve as trail guides and property historians as you explore the miles of bike trails and children’s routes.

Looking for a 6th to play poker tonight?

More than 250 year-old house in Charleston’s historic district attractive to varied buyers

The elegant 53 Tradd St. home, constructed in the 1740s, has 11 windows alone on the west side of the house. The kitchen mixes old with modern, from gas stove and granite countertops to orginal exposed brick on one wall. Brickwork connects the side entrance of 53 Tradd St. to the manicured courtyard. A Charleston touch: the joggling board. This second floor bathroom has a couple of unusual features: a fireplace and hardwood floors. The long vanity, meanwhile, has a marble counter. Call 53 Tradd a house for “everyman,” at least anyone with a few million dollars. The three-story brick and stucco dwelling has an historic pedigree, constructed two-and-a-half plus centuries ago and located in the old walled part of the city. Yet the 3,850-square-foot house provides perks that would appeal to 21st century buyers: modern kitchen, off-street parking, courtyard and skyline views from the Battery to the spire at St. Michael’s. “It’s downtown, built in the 1740s. In the past six months, it went through a complete restoration,” says Russell B. Guerard, agent with Disher, Hamrick & Myers in Charleston. Crews installed new wood floors while maintaining the original heart pine in the foyer and anywhere else it was in solid shape. Bathrooms were fixed up, one with wood floors and a fireplace. There’s a decorative second-floor terrace, visible but not accessible. The open kitchen has granite countertops and built in 48-inch Sub-Zero refrigerator, 6-burner Wolf gas stove, convection oven and microwave. The three-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath home is listed at $2,795,000. Guerard says prospects have shown interest in 53 Tradd. People who don’t want a lot of upkeep would like the smallish yard in back and the fairly low maintenance, he says. Those seeking more space would be attracted to the open layout, at least a small yard downtown and parking on a brick driveway separated from the courtyard by an iron fence. “It could be a family house, or for an older couple with no children or a single person,” he says. As with many centuries-old houses, the ceilings are high, in this case 10 feet. Interior touches that accentuate the home’s 18th century appeal include wainscoting on the staircase, a formal sitting room with 9 foot windows Charleston green shutters and working fireplaces. Chimneys have been stuccoed over, but the original brick shows through in places. Buyers could repoint the brickwork if they desired, he says. The recent restoration produced upgrades such as a tiled shower in one of two bathrooms on the second floor. Countertops in the bathrooms are marble. There’s a large room adjacent to the baths that could be a master bedroom, and a room near the street that could be a living room or large library. The full-sized third story has two ample bedrooms. Another selling point is the house is on high ground for the Charleston peninsula at 14 feet above sea level, and it did not flood during Hurricane Hugo in September 1989, Guerard says. Dating back to the mid 18th century, 53 Tradd has had its share of tales. George Saxby, inspector of stamp duties during the Stamp Act crisis of 1765, owned the house. A Charles Town mob ransacked his house and burned him in effigy here at the height of the crisis, according to the Preservation Society of Charleston. Next door at 51 Tradd is the Col. Alexander Hext Eastern Tenement, built in 1736. Guerard says there’s specific profile for who could buy the home. “It could be anybody,” he says.

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East Cooper rental showcases brick construction, large yard

The living room in this ranch for lease in Harborgate Shores comes with a fireplace. It’s a tidy brick ranch — recently renovated, nestled in an established neighborhood and close to schools and retail places. To the naked eye, there’s no way of telling that the dwelling at 1155 Shoreside Way in Harborgate Shores is for lease rather than for sale. “Obviously, the biggest thing is the location,” says Samantha Warren, a Realtor who is listing the home with Old Dominion Realtors and also lives in the neighborhood. “You are five minutes to the beach,” says Warren, who likes to bike ride on Ben Sawyer Boulevard toward Sullivan’s Island. This home is also a few blocks from the terminus of I-526 in Mount Pleasant. Close by are “restaurants, shopping and everything that Mount Pleasant has to offer,” she says. Built in 1978, the 1,254-square-foot home rents for $1,325 a month. It has three bedrooms, two baths and a one-and-a-half car garage. While technically one-story, there’s an unfurnished room above the garage. Another plus is the 30-year-old home is newly restored. “Everything in the baths are completely new, tubs, mirrors, floors,” Warren says. The kitchen has been upgraded with new refrigerator, stove, dishwasher, countertops and cabinets. The house also has a new washer and dryer. The ranch home has a wide front yard and lots of shrubs around the front. It has a beamed ceiling and wood-burning fireplace in the living room. There’s an eat-in kitchen, walk-in closet in the master bedroom, laundry, patio, front porch and storm windows. Harborgate Shores community has a healthy blend of residents: families, young professionals, retired couples. “It’s a great way to get into a good, established neighborhood,” Warren says. For more real estate information please visit http://www.sallyandj.com/

Developers unveil plans for $750 million commercial complex

The ambitious proposed project would be built on about 300 acres of the largely vacant 1,760-acre Ingleside Plantation tract near Interstate 26 and U.S. Highway 78. The property is owned by an affiliate of Germany's Weber Automotive, which has a manufacturing plant in Summerville. The first phase of development calls for 1.12 million square feet of retail, office, hotel and residential space along a new road called Future Drive that will extend off U.S. 78, near where it meets I-26. No leases have been signed for any of the space, but construction on roads and utilities could start in about seven months on the first 110-acre parcel, said Eric Meyer, president of Weber USA, the real estate arm of Weber Automotive. The initial phase will cost about $250 million, and the first buildings, most likely restaurants and hotels, will not be completed for at least two years, said Meyer and Richard Weiser, whose Weiser Cos. is a partner in the deal. The second phase would include 2.5 million square feet of retail, office, hotel and residential space and sit near the eastern edge of the property near Colony North subdivision. It would not be developed until the first tract is nearly built out. "Here in Charleston we own a hidhidden jewel," Weber, a German auto parts magnate, said through an interpreter. "We are convinced it is time to release the hidden jewel and make its best use for the public." Ingleside Plantation Phase I (initial development) Retail — 260,000 square feetOffice — 380,000 square feetHotels — 240,000 square feetResidential — 240,000 square feetTotal — 1,120,000 square feetInvestment — $250 million Phase II (future development) Retail — 580,000 square feetOffice — 640,000 square feetHotels — 194,000 square feetResidential — 276,000 square feetPerimeter retail — 850,000 square feetTotal — 2,540,000 square feetInvestment — $500 million Total investment —$750 million — Sources: Weiser Companies/DMR Architecture/Weber USA North Charleston officials believe the Ingleside project will cement the city's ranking as the state's top retail sales center. It also will generate road-building revenues and attract retailers that are not operating currently in the Charleston metro region, said North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey. The unveiling of the project, described as the largest of its kind in South Carolina, comes during a particularly difficult time for the retail industry, which is suffering from a severe slowdown in consumer spending. Asked about the timing, Summey responded: "Everybody knows we are in a slow period. Anybody who believes we will stay in a slow period stand up. They will be prepared for that turn." Weiser, whose firm developed the Centre Pointe shopping area near the North Charleston Coliseum, said it was "a big day for me." "We are so excited about what the potential for this development is," he said. "This is something we need in Charleston. It is not a shopping center per se." Weiser called the development a "live, work, play" area where people won't have to drive far to get to jobs and services. He also said national real estate developers are gearing up now for an economic pendulum that they think will swing in the opposite direction in the months ahead. "With the size of this project, it will be two years before we go up," Weiser said. "We are talking about a 20-year project. For anybody who looks into a crystal ball for that area 20 years from now, it will be entirely different from what we see now." Weiser said Weber told him: "'I'd rather make less money and have something left for the community to enjoy.'" Weiser added: "That is what we plan to do." The developers said they are courting big-box retailers never before seen in Charleston for the second phase of the project. They declined to identify any of them. Previous Stories Development on massive scale, published 11/11/08 Owner agrees to put restrictions on Weber tract, published 07/17/06 Cabela's fishing for site; Retailer said to be eyeing 1,800-acre N. Charleston tract, published 07/22/06 Summey said he has not given up on landing outdoor retailer Cabela's, which had looked at the Ingleside tract for one of its big stores. The chain backed away from the deal after state tax incentives it sought drew political heat from Gov. Mark Sanford. "The governor will be gone in two years," Summey said. "I might come up with a Cabela's after all." As for the traffic that would be generated by a development three times the size of Centre Pointe, Summey said studies are already under way, and revenue generated from the businesses there will help pay for the roads needed to handle the additional loads on the city's already crowded highways. "Whether this goes on or not, we have traffic issues," Summey said. "Revenues generated over the next 20 to 25 years will handle the property and the traffic outside of it. Everybody in the region will benefit." Visit http://www.sallyandj.com/ for more real estate information.

Leases are the latest option at Summer’s Bend on the Ashley

Walking trails wind through a park with benches, flower gardens and oaks at Summer's Bend on the Ashley. Ramped up in 2007, this upscale condominium and townhome neighborhood is adding a new element, year-long rentals and lease-to-own. The spot can’t be beat, hugging the scenic Ashley River across from historic plantations and gardens on S.C. Highway 61. Less than a mile away is main artery Dorchester Road, and another few miles is Interstate 26. The Beach Co. knew it had a popular offering with its Summer’s Bend on the Ashley upscale condos and townhomes. “We have two specific programs going on. The “For Sale” program (and) at the same time, we have interested leasing parties and lease to purchase.” The year-long rentals are $1,200 to $1,600 a month. “We wanted to be helpful to all types of the market, it creates some flexibility for people, too.” Beach Development has constructed 114 flats and townhomes at Summer’s Bend on the Ashley, which opened last year. The property has a scenic, flower-rimmed park with tall oaks. This summer, developers opened Summer Kitchen, an amenities center overlooking Child’s Pond, with swimming pool and clubhouse. There is also a community dock on the Ashley River. Thus far, 40 dwellings have been sold. The rental condos and townhomes come unfurnished. However, The Beach Co. is also launching a program to lease furnished units to executives at a slight premium. Summer’s Bend on the Ashley is situated close to major industries and employers, such as Charleston Air Force Base. Individuals or families move in to the area and may want to rent for the short term until they put down full-time stakes. “What we are finding is they come in, experience it, they stay at Summer’s Bend,” he says. The flats and townhomes, which have garages, come with up to three bedrooms and have upscale features such as hardwood floors, gourmet kitchens and porches or balconies. Visit http://www.sallyandj.com/ for more real estate information.

Comfortable Cotton :Foxbank Plantation offers elegant living on a budget

The 2,490-square-foot Dorchester floor plan is one of eight styles from Sabal Homes in Cottonhope at Foxbank Plantation, off U.S. Highway 52 north of Goose Creek. The upscale kitchen in this Sabal Homes house in Cottonhope at Foxbank Plantation is an upgrade requested by the owner. The master bedroom in the Dorchester model has lots of extra space for a sitting area. The house is at Cottonhope at Foxbank Plantation, where Sabal Homes is building 69 dwellings. Stairs lead from two front rooms to an upstairs hallway in the Dorchester floor plan. No argument here: Developers selected prime land in establishing Foxbank Plantation. The 405-acre site is minutes from a highway that runs from Charleston to North Carolina. Yet it is in a semi-rural area, buffered by woodlands and sprawling plant farms. So it’s not surprising that the planned community, a short commute on U.S. Highway 52 to Moncks Corner or Goose Creek and onto North Charleston, has attracted a wave of builders since its groundbreaking four years ago. Sabal Homes is among those early contractors, placing a model near the development entrance and building homes not far away. Recently, the Mount Pleasant company kicked off its second phase, 69-home Cottonhope. The houses, running from 1,233 to 2,490 square feet, are a bit smaller than the builder’s first batch. They are also less expensive at $139,000-$189,000. “We’ve done a lot with custom.” There are eight floor plans at Cottonhope, each with decidedly Lowcountry names. They are the Jasmine, Azalea, Middleton, Cypress, Dogwood, St. George, Ladson and Dorchester. Sabal has built nine homes, and a few homeowners have moved in. “My wife has always liked this neighborhood,” says Paul Blocker, who with spouse Anne built a 2,490-square-foot Dorchester model. “She wanted something with more room,” he says. The Dorchester floor plan provides formal living and dining rooms and a private balcony. Depending on the model, the vinyl-sided homes come with one- or two-car garages. One-level ranch homes are also available. While offering many standard features, Sabal Homes crafted the dwellings so buyers can also select from a bunch of options. For instance, the Blockers desired an upper end kitchen, and their food preparation center comes with top-end appliances and granite countertops. Elsewhere, the two-level house has four bedrooms and a sizable yard. The couple appreciate that the neighborhood is convenient and removed from traffic. “It’s kind of country but five minutes from everything,” Blocker says. Another perk: Cottonhope residents will be able to use the amenities of Foxbank Plantation, which will include a swimming pool and pool house near the community’s 700-acre lake. Burke says the builder has spent the past few months selling lots at Cottonhope and is now into constructing homes. While designs will vary, they will revolve around favorite themes such as Charleston-style homes “with the double porches. People like them,” she says. Visit http://www.sallyandj.com/ for more real estate information.

85 Cumberland St.:Penthouse townhome serves up views, comforts in historic Charleston

Market's Gate Condominiums fronts on Cumberland Street and rises four floors to penthouse townhomes. This penthouse townhome has high-end kitchen appliances such as a Sub-Zero refrigerator and stainless steel microwave and stove. A metal railing anchors the stairs from the top floor living space to the second level bedrooms. The penthouse model is priced at $799,900. This Market's Gate Condominiums penthouse terrace has striking views of historic St. Philip's Episcopal Church. The housing stock in Charleston’s downtown district is diverse and venerable but except for a few instances, not very tall. In the Market’s Gate Condominiums penthouse, though, you are pretty high up there. Located at 85 Cumberland St., the luxury development is a converted apartment complex with a little bit extra — an added fourth level. The top floor is where you can reach the penthouse, more specifically six penthouse townhomes, sized from 900-1,100 square feet and priced at $799,900 apiece. “We tried to keep the price point as low as possible,” says Jay. The model, which is for sale, is representative of the two-level dwellings. It showcases tony interiors and terraces with panoramic views. Connor says that cruise ships and other large vessels on Charleston Harbor are visible from the roof-top perch. The two-bedroom townhome has upscale features such as hardwood floors; open living room with space for plenty of furniture and big screen TV; gourmet kitchen with stainless steel appliances including refrigerator; and built in shelves. Eye-catching wood stairs lead people to the spacious master bedroom on the lower floor, and travertine tile dominates the voluminous master bathroom. Interested parties are primarily wealthier individuals or couples who are viewing the penthouses as places to stay when they are in downtown Charleston. “What you are finding are 50s (age) second home (prospects), Kiawah people.” The backers call Market’s Gate “pied-a-terre,” which is French for part-time residence. In addition to the penthouse townhomes, Market’s Gate Inc. designed 18 flats on the ground and second floors from 440 square feet and $369,900 and up. “It’s price you can enter at.” The building, complete with security system and sprinklers, has models of one-story condos with gourmet kitchens, hardwood floors and cozy bedrooms. The partners kept the old-style elevator with scissor doors, updating and remodeling it. Parking spaces have been set aside in the Charleston County garage across the street. Market’s Gate launched the conversion of the former rentals on Cumberland Street across from the Charleston County parking garage two years ago. The marketing effort began last year. Carolina One Real Estate, is heading up sales. Visit http://www.sallyandj.com/ for more real estate information.

Charleston Retail Market

The Charleston market experienced another solid year of growth in 2007 with 418,814 square feet of retail space being added primarily to the North Charleston and Mount Pleasant submarkets. Even with this expansion of retail space, occupancy increased, all be it marginally, from 87.81 percent at year-end 2006 to 88.86 precent at year-end 2007. Trends and Forecast • Retail property growth has been a derivative of the increasing levels in diversity of job sectors and quality of jobs that the Charleston MSA has been able to attract over the last 5 years. • Retail development has reflected this diversity and has been growing in multiple sectors such as value, grocery-anchored and lifestyle as well as luxury retailers. • The new tax change that was implemented in 2007 has pushed a significant burden on both non-personal residential as well as commercial properties. As commercial projects are sold, tax rates are increasing by as much as 30 to 40 percent, which in turn is being passed directly onto tenants. Considering the rising costs of fuel for American consumers and the secondary rise of price of consumer goods as a result, retail development will evolve into becoming more convenience focused than ever before. This may translate into a greater quantity of more convienence-oriented neighborhood centers located close to or inside major residential nodes and a more diverse tenant lineup located in those centers. As reflected more severely in the national development pipeline, retail growth for 2008 has slowed, but not dramatically. The sector of highest activity in this period should further establish itself in the areas of value retail and grocery-anchored centers. Areas of highest concentration regarding this growth should be Summerville, Goose Creek and Mount Pleasant. Peninsula The Peninsula Charleston submarket continues to be the heartbeat of the city. Upper King Street has transformed from a blighted area not on the radar screen of credit retailers to become a hub of restaurants, home décor retailers, design firms and upcoming hotels. Most recently, the “Midtown” project has cleared city permitting approvals and is moving forward with a project that calls for both hospitality and retail components. Additionally, the Mendel Rivers building, located on Meeting Street just north of Calhoun Street, has been acquired by Dewberry Capital with the intent of redeveloping the 2.2-acre site, which also contains an approximately 150,000-square-foot office building fronting Marion Square. When completed, this project has the potential to further revitalize an area that has received considerable attention from city planners. The trend of more national upscale retailers landing on King Street has continued with the recent addition of Apple and Louis Vuitton, which will open in summer 2008. Other recent openings include BCBG/MaxAzria and Aldo Shoes alongside existing stores such as St. John, Gucci and Saks Fifth Avenue. West Ashley The opening of Best Buy late in 2006 in the former Toys “R” Us space as well an office/retail development at the intersection of Highway 7 and Orleans Road, fronting Citadel Mall, created a flurry of new activity in this trade area. A new Wal-Mart Supecenter at Glenn McConnell Parkway and Bees Ferry Road also opened and will spawn future activity that could gradually move the heart of West Ashley’s retail market further westward from Citadel Mall. At Citadel Mall, JC Penney will open a new store in the former Parisian store that closed in March 2007, and PetsMart’s just opened a new addition at the entrance. In late 2007, Sembler opened West Ashley Place, a Publix-anchored center with 19,000 square feet of shop space and one outparcel. Kimco has finalized plans to redevelop St. Andrews Shopping Center with the addition of Harris Teeter, junior anchors and additional shop space. North Charleston North Charleston remains the epicenter of national power and big box tenants for the Charleston MSA. That reputation grew as the Centre Point project was delivered at the intersection of I-26 and I-526. Anchored by a 352,000-square-foot Tanger Outlet Center and featuring a multi-phase power center, outparcels, restaurants, hotels and unanchored strips in addition to Wal-Mart Supercenter and Sam’s Club, this development has certainly become a destination for shoppers, diners, convention visitors and hotel guests. Currently in planning is Shoppes at Centre Pointe Phase II, which will incorporate additional junior anchors as well as shop space and outparcels. The area bound by I-26, I-526, Montague Avenue and International Boulevard has become a second “node” within this submarket. East Cooper The opening of the new 8-lane Ravenel Bridge has further enhanced Charleston’s most upscale suburban market. From a retail perspective, East Cooper grew more than any submarket due to the Market at Oakland, anchored by Wal-Mart Supercenter and Kohl’s. Additionally, Carolina Park, a mixed-use project and home of the new Wando High School to the north, has released residential lots soon to be followed by substantial quantities of retail. In an effort to reduce the traffic burden on Highway 17, Hungryneck Boulevard will be extended. The Highway 17 expansion to 6 lanes between I-526 and the IOP connector has been completed. Summerville The Summerville submarket, once a small bedroom community of Charleston, has recently come onto the radar screen of regional and national retailers. Summerville continues to attract national tenants, and it appears that the next major growth area for retail space will take place at the intersection of Berlin G. Myers Parkway and Highway 78, with 3 of the 4 corners there having active projects under way. To the south, the Dorchester Road corridor continues to grow in terms of residential communities as well as retail with an upcoming Lowes and grocery-anchored project being developed by Hendon Properties at the entrance to Westcott Plantation. Additionally, the forthcoming “The Ponds” project located at Highway 17A will feature up to 1,950 residential units as well as a commercial component. The Knightsville area continues to experience growth both in the residential and retail sectors with the addition of Paradise Development’s new Publix-anchored center as well as a new CVS/pharmacy and a Walgreens at the intersection of Old Orangeburg Road and Central Avenue. Berkeley County In Goose Creek, major new residential projects along Highway 176, Highway 17A and Highway 52 have been announced that have the potential to be “towns in themselves.” The Parks at Berkeley and similar neighboring developments will bring a quantity of new rooftops to this area that is larger than any other Charleston submarket. This year, Google, Inc., will open a $600 million data center that will further enhance the area’s employment base. A considerable number of grocery-anchored centers have been announced in Berkeley County, including a Super BILO at Tanner Plantation, Harris Teeter at Carnes Crossroads and a Publix on Highway 176. In Moncks Corner, repositioning based on the opening of TailRace Crossing, a Wal Mart SuperCenter anchored project, continues to take place regarding this once more rural submarket. As expected, many retailers continue to cluster around this new epicenter. For all your real estate needs please visit http://www.sallyandj.com/

CONSTRUCTION ON COLUMBIA OFFICE BUILDING UNDERWAY

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Michigan-based KIRCO has broken ground on Innovista Holdings’ 110,000-square-foot Horizon II office building. The property, part of downtown Columbia’s Innovista center, will cost between $20 and $25 million. A health research building and two parking decks have already been built at the site, with the five-story Horizon I office building and the five-story Discovery I slated for completion next year. Horizon II, which will also deliver next year, will serve as office space for companies that are collaborating with University of South Carolina researchers. Visit http://www.sallyandj.com/ for more real estate information.

Eighteenth century home at 39 Church St. presents 265 years of history

Historic houses in downtown Charleston get their appeal from their centuries-old grandeur, usually preserved in exterior brick, stucco and wood frame single homes and mansions. Yet many times, these multimillion dollar residences are more 21st century than antebellum inside, with gourmet kitchens, jetted tubs and big screen TVs. There’s no challenging the ancestral pedigree at 39 Church St., known as the George Everleigh House. Built in 1743 by a prominent Indian trader, the two story brick home is one of the more photographed in the city. But the property, which includes a carriage house and is on the market for $4,850,000, has kept much of its roots inside as well. While graced with a modern kitchen and other creature comforts, 39 Church has its share of quirkiness. That’s not so odd in a 265-year-old house that’s been in the same family for close to half that time. “A lot (of buyers) come looking for a big house with every amenity,” from high-end appliances to a completely manicured garden. “That’s what they come to expect,” says Weesie Newton, Realtor with Carriage Properties in Charleston who is listing the home. “This is (for) a collector, someone who understands history, is in love with Charleston and doesn’t mind idiosyncrasies.” The house is ample at more than 5,100 square feet including the carriage house. It is of brick construction with two full stories and a third level with two bedrooms and a bath in space that was at one time an attic. Highlights include a long second-story drawing room with a five bay windows and door opening to a front piazza. The first floor also has a drawing room with the original cypress paneling. There are wood floors throughout, and the main staircase is original. The first floor has a sizable dining room and adjacent breakfast room. One newer part is the rear of the house, which had been a porch and two small rooms but was fully enclosed as a sunroom and kitchen. The carriage house does not have access from the main house without going through the back lawn. But Newton said the structures were connected at one time and likely could be linked again. There’s a main room with fireplace and two bedrooms upstairs in the two-level carriage house. Connecting the two structures is the rear yard, dominated by an early garden from Loutrel Briggs, who designed many of the classic Charleston gardens in the mid 20th century. According to Historic Charleston Foundation, 39 Church was restored with modifications in 1914. In the Feiss-Wright survey of Charleston, 39 Church was rated a building of “highest architectural design quality.” The house boasts some of the finest early Georgian interior and exterior detailing in the city and is one of the few remaining buildings that still retain the early 18th century asymmetrical floor plan. Construction of 39 Church Street began after Eveleigh, a prosperous Indian trader, purchased the property in 1743. He transferred ownership 16 years later to John Bull of Prince William Parish. Jean Louis Polony, a Santo Domingan refugee and internationally known chemist and naturalist, bought the property in 1795. In 1875 Richard Maynard Marshall, the great-great grandfather of the current owners, purchased it. The house retains many 18th century architectural elements that have become scarce to Charleston, such as a piazza paved with tile. All of the primary rooms are fully paneled with traditional 18th century Georgian woodwork. The property fronts Church Street with an 18th century wall. An account of the 1752 hurricane claims the original brick columns of the piazza were destroyed. The existing wood piazza, then, would be a later addition. While 39 Church is more historic than highfalutin, it’s drawn interest. “We’ve had some good, significant showings,” Newton says. To locate 39 Church, follow Church Street south below Broad Street to where it runs into Water Street. Jog right and then left onto the bricked paved portion of Church. The house is just below Water on the right. For all your real estate needs please visit http://www.sallyandj.com/

History, convenience highlight St. Charles Place rentals in North Charleston

St. Charles Place has two rental models, including this townhome with living quarters downstairs and bedrooms on the second floor. As an historic region, the Charleston area has hundreds of decades old, even centuries old, classic homes. But urban Charleston doesn’t have many long-lasting examples of one type of housing — apartment dwellings. An exception is St. Charles Place apartments, off McMillan Avenue in North Charleston. The gated complex of 464 rentals in one, two and three bedroom flats and townhomes dates to the 1940s. Its owner Pinnacle Brokerage and Management has tried to preserve the brick apartments’ more than 60-year-old appeal dating to its days as Charleston Naval Base housing. “You don’t find hardwood floors in many apartment homes,” says James J. Kerr Jr., partner in Asset Management & Consulting Services Inc. (AMCS), which manages the property. Other ’40s touches include original one-inch black and white tile in bathrooms and tall, narrow closets with compact door handles. The complex has about 100 townhome units that are either two or three bedrooms. The remainder are one-, two- and three-bedroom flats, also called “garden homes,” says Kristen Bates, property manager. They all come with one bathroom. Sizes range from 590 to 964 square feet. Rents are $534 to $709 a month depending on the floor plan. Apartment amenities are electric power and appliances including refrigerator and stove in the kitchen, hardwood floors or carpeting, eat-in kitchens, and ceiling fans. The units are cable ready. The oak-lined property also has community attractions including a pool, playground, and two clothes care centers. The complex is close to major arteries including Spruill and Rivers avenues and Interstate 26. Charges include $49 per applicant ($75 for married couple), $75 administrative fee, $250 security deposit upon arrival and a $300 nonrefundable pet fee. St. Charles Place also requires a verifiable gross income of three times to monthly rent. Kerr says the complex is located in the Noisette new urban district in North Charleston and is benefiting from gentrification while maintaining its dwellings for “working class families.” Bates says the clientele is a mix of types. “We have students, retirees, families, roommates,” she says. “We appeal to anyone.” For all your real estate needs please visit http://www.sallyandj.com/

Local company employs "western" technology to stabilize home foundation

Crews with Cooper River Contracting pour and spread out concrete for the foundation of a home at Rushland on Johns Island. Post tension sounds like what you might get after negotiating fierce whitewater rapids or plowing through an hours’ long law school exam, the nervous energy from completing hair-raising or pressure filled assignments. But at least in construction circles, post tension is something quite different. It is used on commercial structures to secure them because of their size. And on the residential side, it is popular in California and the arid Southwest, where caked soil can shift and cause homes to crack. Where post tensioning is unusual is on concrete home foundations in the Charleston area. Locally-based Cooper River Contracting, which is getting into the practice, believes it is one of the first to use the technology to stabilize a home under construction in the Rushland neighborhood, close to the Stono River on Johns Island. The builder is Goldin Houser Construction and Development, and the architect is Allison Ramsay Architects Inc. “I think this is way faster, and cheaper,” says Eric Moultrie, foreman for Cooper River Contracting on the recent job. The damp, muddy soils of the South Carolina Lowcountry wouldn’t seem on the surface like the right place for a procedure that’s popular in dry climates. But just as hot baked soil can be unstable, so can moist earth. Tightening the concrete with steel can keep the foundation in one piece in caseof settling. At the same time, it’s a less expensive and evasive procedure than alternatives such as such as pile driving, says Les Taylor, owner-partner with John DeWitte of Cooper River Contracting. Cost savings can be $20,000, for instance, on a large two-story house. With post tension construction, the concrete foundation is poured and steel reinforcing bars set. Then steel cables are tightened in place, thereby holding the concrete together while spreading the tension across the slab rather than confining it to certain places, which can cause cracking or other damage. “This is far from new technology, but it’s new technology here,” Taylor says.

More than 200 homes sold in Del Webb at Cane Bay as amenities center nears completion

The welcome center at Del Webb Charleston doubles as the amenities complex until a new facility opens in December. Leroy BurnellThe Post and Courier The open family room in 1,492-square-foot Gray Mist floor plan is indicative of the houses in Del Webb at Cane Bay. There are 11 styles sized at 1,100-2,800 square feet and priced from $160,000s-$360,000s. Leroy BurnellThe Post and Courier Ellyn Schilit (right) is a "resident host" two days a week at Del Webb Charleston. She lives in the community with her husband. At left is staff member Sheila Foxworth. When people enter the welcome center at Del Webb at Cane Bay, they may seek information from, or just chat with, Ellyn Schilit at the front desk. She is not just an employee, but a “resident host” who lives in the active adult neighborhood and works part-time two days a week. “I really like it a lot,” says Schilit, who with husband Dave Schilit were one of the first five families to move into Del Webb Charleston close to a year ago. “I meet the public. Most of the people are new. They have a lot of questions,” she says, noting just that day she helped out a couple from New Jersey, the same state where she and her husband lived. Schilit says she and Dave, the homeowners association president, enjoy volunteer work. The community makes it easy for them to stay involved. In the past year, Del Webb Charleston has grown from a handful of couples to 130 residents. There are 200 homes sold. Vinyl-sided residences weave around the neighborhood, in the southern corner of the Cane Bay Plantation on U.S. Highway 176 east of Summerville. As initial buyers, the current residents feel like they are pioneers of a new village, says Jennifer Burton, lifestyle director. The community, Del Webb’s third in South Carolina after Sun City in Bluffton and the new Carolina Lakes near Rock Hill, will have 1,009 houses when built out. While a healthy number, the total is about one-third less than Sun City making the Charleston-area locale more intimate, Burton says. Residents are eagerly awaiting the completion of a 20,000-square-foot amenities center in the gated community for seniors aged 55 and above. The complex is scheduled to open Dec. 4. just more than a year after the first homes were occupied. “It’s a great accomplishment, especially at this stage of the process,” Burton says. The complex will have indoor and outdoor swimming pool with zero depth entry, conference center, gathering center with coffee bar and fireplace, and an arts and crafts room. The facility, facing a lagoon, is next to outdoor attractions including four tennis courts, two courts for “pickle ball” — a game like table tennis but on tennis sized layouts — and four bocce courts. In a contest, residents named sections of the complex such as the Spoleto Room, the Piccolo Room and “The Market” Art Studio. They even named the tennis courts, which are “Court Sumter” and “Court Moultrie.” Burton says the neighborhood has had its share of events, including a golf cart parade and a remote-control power boat racing day on one of the lagoons in the property. Bike riding also is popular with the residents. The welcome center is adjacent to 11 floor plans at Model Park, where prospective buyers have a chance to go inside each of the one-story designs. Pulte Homes, the parent of Del Webb, designed homes with names such as Copper Ridge, Cumberland and Gray Mist. They are sized from 1,100 to 2,800 square feet and priced from the $160,000s to the $360,000s, says Tina Jones, real estate associate. The average price is around $240,000. The homes come with many standard features including extra wide door openings, 9-foot ceilings, kitchen stove, microwave and dishwasher; two or three bedrooms depending on the plan; two car garages; patios and sprinkler systems. Options include refrigerators and screened porches or sunrooms. Wentworth Management is the community’s property manager. “It’s such a lovely place,” Jones says. To get to Del Webb at Cane Bay from downtown Charleston, travel west on Interstate 26 to exit 209, U.S. Highway 52. Continue on Highway 52 to Goose Creek, turning left at the intersection with U.S. Highway 176 (St. James Avenue). Follow Highway 176 out of town. A few miles past the U.S. Highway 17A intersection, turn right at the Cane Bay Plantation entrance. Follow the road for close to two miles to Del Webb Charleston.