Mattress storein Summerville, SC

DORCHESTER COUNTY, S.C. (WCSC) - Dorchester County has agreed to a mediation settlement with builder Kolter Homes regarding The Ponds neighborhood near Summerville.

Neighbors say they’re concerned, saying the builder has overdeveloped on the property, but the county disputes that, saying the original agreement was vague.

“Kolter has built themselves into a corner,” homeowner Brian Riesen said. “When they ran out of land to develop, rather than hand over the amenities on those lands and give up some of their maximum number of homes they’re allowed to build, they asked to get rid of the amenities and ask for more homes and more land.”

The mediation agreement was approved at the last county council meeting on April 18. It was made public late on Friday. Neighbors say they like some parts of the agreement and don’t like others.

The county, meanwhile, says the mediation agreement between them and Kolter Homes is in the best long-term solution for all parties involved.

The agreement adds 50 more single-family homes, from 1,950 to 2,000 homes, along with 74 townhomes off Lotz Drive and gets rid of the requirement of apartments to be built in the subdivision.

However, some homeowners say they feel like the county has turned their back on them by signing this agreement with Kolter.

“They’re getting rid of the village center requirement, leaving less than two acres of zoned commercial but no commitment to build,” Riesen said. “They’ve eliminated the nature trails, and there’s maybe three miles of the original 18 in existence. Many of us feel Kolter has already violated and broken their contract, and the county was, up until last week, holding them accountable, and now, they’ve just decided to let Kolter do what they want, essentially.”

County Councilmember David Chinnis, in response, says the village center, which is a planned retail center, in the original agreement from 2005 was described as up to 94 acres of land to be used for that purpose, meaning there was no concrete amount of acreage specified.

“The amount is up to, or not to exceed, which is vague,” Chinnis said. “It doesn’t tell you how much there’s going to be. It tells you what it won’t be greater than.”

Chinnis also says the nature trails were not specifically mapped out when the original development was signed.

However, as part of the new agreement, Kolter must install 10 miles of walking trails and keep existing ones intact.

“There’s a picture of what we want to keep,” Chinnis said. “They talk about 10 miles of existing trails, but I don’t know if we’ve ever had them identified. For us to go back in and say, ‘You had to do this. You’ve taken this trail. You’ve got to mitigate it.’ Well, at this point in time, there’s a house on it.”

Chinnis also described the original development agreement as “horrible” and “open-ended” and is not something that would happen nowadays.

Jeff Vandewiel, the community director of the Charleston Division for Kolter Homes, released the following statement.

“Kolter Homes is pleased to have reached an agreement with Dorchester County on the planned improvements and continued development of The Ponds neighborhood. While we respect differing opinions, we believe this new shared vision will continue to ensure The Ponds is a wonderful place to call home and will benefit the greater Dorchester County community.”

Copyright 2022 WCSC. All rights reserved.

Motorists and residents traveling in Summerville, S.C., will finally see a relief in traffic congestion on the Berlin G. Myers Parkway as construction to build the last few miles of the roadway is on the way.

The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) announced in an April 27 news release that it had awarded a $137 million contract to build the parkway's third and final phase, a 3.9 mi.-long stretch, after more than 18 years of planning, permitting and engineering work.

SCDOT has not yet released the name of the contractor it selected to complete the project in Summerville, located approximately 25 mi. northwest of Charleston.

The state transportation agency noted that extensive interagency coordination was needed to develop a project that met all regulatory requirements and fit well into the region. Several partnerships were formed during that time to bring this final phase to construction.

South Carolina Secretary of Transportation Christy Hall said cooperation was a significant factor in bringing about the parkway's final phase.

"SCDOT is very thankful for the many partners that worked tirelessly over the years to make this project a reality," she said in the release. "The level of cooperation and coordination on this project are unprecedented and we look forward to building this regionally significant and much needed [roadway]. In particular, I would like to thank the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for their commitment to ensuring that we deliver a great project, and to Sen. Lindsey Graham for his steadfast efforts to get the project to construction."

Roadway Expansion, Pathway Creation Part of Effort

The final phase of the project consists of constructing a new four-lane roadway and a shared-use multipurpose pathway along the Sawmill Branch Trail for bicyclists and pedestrians.

In its statement to the media, SCDOT explained that the Berlin G. Myers Parkway roadwork will not only reduce traffic on Summerville's Main Street but improve congestion throughout Dorchester County as the route connects other heavily traveled roads, including U.S. Highway 17A and Bacons Bridge Road.

Officials with the county said Berlin G. Myers will serve as a bypass route, relieving pressure on other local roads.

"Main Street is at its limits and cannot be extended. In addition, congestion will be relieved around Summerville High School," noted Stephen Grant, chair of the Dorchester County Transportation Authority (DCTA). "There are many partners to thank for persevering for many years to get this project to construction, especially the people of Summerville and Dorchester County who placed their trust in us to enhance the quality of life for our citizens."

While the project budget of $137 million is only an estimate, it is supported by $35 million in DCTA funds, $30 million in South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank (SCTIB) funds and $74 million in Charleston Area Transportation Study/SCDOT Funds.

"This is an excellent example of how a focused and collaborative effort on a complicated and complex project can break through years of obstacles to provide much needed traffic relief for the citizens of our state," said John B. White Jr., chair of the SCTIB. [The bank] appreciates the opportunity to assist the DCTA, [and the] Charleston Area Transportation Study/SCDOT Fund [to] deliver a successful project for the Summerville area."

A new marina is in the works on Clouter Creek near Daniel Island in southern Berkeley County.

Thomas Island Marina will consist of 110 slips along with parking near the southern terminus of Clements Ferry Road, according to site plans.

The proposed development will include a 74-space parking area, restroom facility and picnic pavilion as well as a boardwalk across the marsh to the marina.

The 1.5-acre parcel is a highland tract on the southern edge of a 16.5-acre parcel owned by a firm called Clouter Creek Reserve LLC of Charleston.

The city of Charleston must approve the proposal for the site, south of Interstate 526.

Changing hands

A Mount Pleasant real estate investment firm that recently bought a set of office buildings on Shem Creek for nearly $7 million is now the owner of three industrial properties in Summerville after paying $8.1 million.

WRS Inc. Real Estate Investments bought the three sites totaling nearly 56,000 square feet off Varnfield Drive on April 18. The seller was Summerville Industrial Partners LLC.

The deal gives WRS a 25,000-square-foot facility at 215-A&B Varnfield Drive, a 20,803-square-foot building at 114-A&B Trigard Lane and the 9,840-square-foot property at 220 Varnfield Drive.

Pat Marr, development principal with WRS, represented his firm in the purchases off North Main Street, west of Azalea Square Shopping Center.

It’s the company’s latest industrial real estate investment in the Summerville market. In January, WRS paid $13.3 million in two separate transaction to acquire seven industrial and flex-space buildings with a combined 91,000 square feet off U.S. Highway 78 south of Flowertown. One of the sellers was Summerville Industrial Partners.

Earlier this month, WRS paid $6.825 million for twin office buildings at 410 Mill St. beside Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant, four years after the property changed hands for $3.5 million, according to Charleston County land records.

Storage sale

A Charleston-based real estate investment firm recently sold three storage facilities across the Southeast for $48.5 million.

Adams Property Group announced April 21 it sold Monster Self Storage sites on Grand Oaks Boulevard in Charleston as well as sites in Savannah, Ga., and Winston-Salem, N.C., to New York-based Life Storage.

The seller said in a prepared statement the self-storage industry has been rapidly growing in recent years and it wanted to take advantage of “the heated market” for the best return to its investors.

All three properties will be rebranded as Life Storage.

Adams Property Group manages a portfolio of more than 1.9 million square feet of self-storage in 22 properties, including Monster and Your Storage Units, across South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Florida.

The company also owns nearly 1 million square feet of retail and flex space in the Carolinas and Georgia. Those properties include grocery-anchored retail, non-anchored retail and flex industrial facilities in business parks.

By Barry Waldman

Your chance to own a piece of Summerville’s TV production history has finally arrived. The four homes built by local builder, Hunter Quinn Homes for season 3 of HGTV’s “Rock the Block” series will be on the market for sale in early April. You can own a one-of-a-kind home in the award-winning Nexton Community designed by Fixer to Fabulous hosts Dave and Jenny Marrs, sisters Lyndsay and Leslie from Unsellable Houses, Egypt and Mike from Married to Real Estate, or Keith and Evan from Bargain Block.

These 4-bedroom, 3.5-bath, 3,500 spacious square foot homes are well-appointed and unique. Each HGTV team started with the same base floor plan and added their own unique touch to the Charleston-inspired home they worked on. That might mean French doors in an unexpected place, a space-age shower in the master bath, a stand-out feature wall found in no other house, or some other element that makes each house one-of-a-kind.

“Not only will the future owners of these homes have a unique story to tell about who designed their homes, but they will forever be tied to a significant piece of cinematic history in Berkeley County,” said Hunter Quinn Homes marketing director Krista Mott. Each team of design professionals was given $225,000 to design and style their home in just six weeks—and the results are breathtaking.

Local homebuilder Hunter Quinn Homes was chosen by show producers to build the houses in Summerville’s Nexton community, the top master-planned community in the nation in 2020 and the best mixed-use community in 2022, according to the National Association of Home Builders. The producers researched the area before falling in love with the community and determining that Hunter Quinn was the best builder to handle the compressed building schedule and high show standards.

“Hunter Quinn has and continues to establish itself as the builder of choice for its customers, trade partners, team members, and the community,” said Hunter Quinn’s vice president of Sales and Marketing, Jason Harper, “We have put in a lot of work into our systems and processes to make the experience the best it can be, and I believe that is why we were selected to be the builder of these homes for the TV show.”

Each house includes luxury items inspired by architectural features of the historic Charleston single-style house like a Charleston-style veranda that opens to a spacious side yard, Lowcountry staples like sweetgrass and driftwood incorporated into the home designs, and designer finishes that mimic the historic ornamental ironwork found downtown Charleston.

Potential buyers with an interest in purchasing one of these homes can visit the Hunter Quinn website for information on how to submit an offer once the homes are released for sale on April 9. Four lucky families will have the opportunity to purchase and live in homes designed before the eyes of millions of people by designers they know and love.

Situated in Berkeley County, in the heart of the Lowcountry, Nexton offers all the benefits of Lowcountry living—weather, culture, beaches, history—along with delightful livable neighborhoods that are seamlessly integrated with retail and commercial. The show highlights the beauty and charm of Nexton and Berkeley County.

“Rock the Block has been an opportunity to show the world an award-winning master-planned community sited right here in Berkeley County and share some of the many things we love about where we are so fortunate to live,” said Ashley M. Powell, deputy county supervisor. “Our outdoor recreation via attractions like Cypress Gardens, direct access to the Cooper River, Lakes Marion and Moultrie, and the Francis Marion National Forest is unmatched. In addition, we boast ample opportunities for quality places to work and live.

As Hollywood met South Carolina, the project presented many challenges to Hunter Quinn, like lining up subcontractors and materials quickly despite a labor shortage and supply-chain disruptions. In addition, builders had to work with the shooting schedule, occasionally having to re-enact work for the cameras. But the result is four homes that everyone is talking about—and four lucky families will own.

“We normally build houses in about 150 days. Then these guys show up and ask if we can build them in 60 and do it a little differently,” said Will Herring, founder and CEO of Hunter Quinn. “It was a challenge, but we like challenges. If we could do it all again we would—and without hesitation.”

For additional information about South Carolinas Builder of Choice, visit their website www.hunterquinnhomes.com.

AUSTIN, Texas, May 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Advanced Technology International (ATI), TechConnect, and three partner consortia today announced the National Infrastructure Innovation Challenge and $50,000 prize. With Resilient Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy (RISE) Consortium, National Spectrum Consortium (NSC), and Consortium for Rare Earths Technologies (CREaTe), innovators stand to earn prize awards and to pitch before three leaders in the modern infrastructure space.

"Never have we seen the level of monumental funding focused on infrastructure that we're experiencing now from the Infrastructure Law, and the pending COMPETES Act and US Innovation and Competition Act," said Matthew Laudon, Vice President - TechConnect Division, ATI. "This funding speaks to the central importance of modernizing American infrastructure and supply chain to solve critical challenges for the nation. We're proud to do our part through open innovation."

Areas of interest include: energy security, advanced networks, critical mineral innovations, resilient infrastructure, smart mobility, and climate resilience. Innovators representing dual-use solutions for both civilian and national security applications represent ideal entrants for the Challenge.

TechConnect will invite top-ranked applicants to pitch their solutions in-person to investment, industry and military tech scouts, as well as consortia representatives at the Defense TechConnect Innovation Summit between September 26-29, 2022, in Washington DC, where they'll compete for the $50,000 non-dilutive prize.

The Summit, co-located with the SBIR/STTR Fall Innovation Conference, Operational Energy and Logistics Summit, Resilience Week, Smart Cities Connect Conference, and more, boasts an audience rich with prospective buyers and deal-makers.

Qualified applicants receive membership and engagement opportunities with all three partner consortia. RISE Consortium offers its affiliates access to greater opportunity to work with the Federal government, faster contracting speed, and market expansion into the Department of Defense. National Spectrum Consortium positions its members to: collaborate with senior government officials to shape requirements for electromagnetic spectrum sharing; conduct research and development; and provide technical input to policy, regulation and more. Consortium for Rare Earth Technologies members collaborate across rare earth supply chains, gain greater visibility into national supply chain needs, partner with companies large and small, and generate exposure to cutting edge technologies.

Entrants must complete the online form by June 30, 2022, at 11:59 PM EST for consideration. For more information about this Challenge, or to apply by the deadline, visit: https://events.techconnect.org/DTCFall/Infrastructure/.

About Advanced Technology InternationalATI, a public-service nonprofit based in Summerville, S.C., builds and manages collaborations that conduct research and development of new technologies to solve our nation's most pressing challenges. Fueled by a community of experts from industry, academia, and government, ATI accelerates impact by using the power of collaboration to help the federal government quickly acquire novel technologies. ATI is a subsidiary of Analytic Services, Inc. (ANSER), a public-service research institute organized as a nonprofit corporation, which is dedicated to informing decisions that shape the nation's future. ATI.org

About TechConnectWith 25+ years of experience connecting emerging technologies with unique funding and partnership opportunities, TechConnect boasts the most robust research and innovation network in the world. It employs a broad scope of tools to deliver top technologies, including open innovation programs, conferences, and open-access publications. Each year, TechConnect prospects, vets, and connects thousands of emerging technologies with corporate, investment, municipal, and national defense clients. TechConnect is a division of Advanced Technology International. techconnect.org

SOURCE ATI (Advanced Technology International)