Women's Clothing Boutique in South Mount Pleasant, SC

MOUNT PLEASANT — Town Council has approved borrowing $50 million for a park and recreation initiative that voters narrowly approved in a November referendum, setting those plans in motion ahead of a coming property tax increase.

Most of the money, about $40 million, will be used to create a new park complex on more than 120 acres the town bought in 2010 for that purpose on Rifle Range Road just north of Six Mile Road.

The rest will improve existing facilities and expand a town bike/pedestrian trail network.

The first project the money will fund is renovations of the Park West swimming pool setup.

“That’s fully designed and we are going through permitting,” Director of Recreation Steve Gergick said.

The pool space doesn’t have air conditioning, heat, lockers or family changing rooms. All that will change, Gergick said, and the town will begin the process of choosing a construction company for the work in February.

The Rifle Range Road park plan is expected to relieve pressure on the town’s overwhelmed playing fields and courts while providing new amenities in a central location.

The only hint of the park’s existence now is a small parking lot and a trailhead leading into the woods and wetlands. Plans call for soccer fields, pickleball and tennis courts, a gymnasium, a network of trails, performance pavilion, fishing piers and more.

Becky Williamson, who coached tennis at Wando High School for 12 years before retirement, said it’s been hard to find available courts in recent years.

“People are moving here in droves and many of them play tennis,” she said.

Al Bradshaw-Whittemore, local ambassador for the United States Pickleball Association, is looking forward to the eight pickleball courts planned at the new park.

“It’s exploded, pickleball,” he told Town Council at a Jan. 10 meeting. “Every time I teach I have more and more people.”

Following council’s approval for borrowing $50 million, the town expects to issue bonds Jan. 27. Proposals to the town from architectural and design firms hoping to work on the new park are due the same day.

“We’ll have to go through a full design process and permitting,” Gergick said. “I would expect construction to begin in 2024.”

“It’s going to be a jewel for the town, it really is,” he said.

The town’s park site is adjacent to a Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission property that has not been improved. The combined 245 acres were purchased together in 2010 for $20 million, mostly using county greenbelt money.

Mount Pleasant is an affluent suburb with low property taxes, and the November referendum to raise the tax rate to pay for the park and recreation projects barely passed by a vote of 20,925 to 20,254.

Charleston County dropped plans for a tax-raising referendum to fund affordable housing in 2022, partly because the town’s referendum would be on the ballot in the same election. A majority of Mount Pleasant voters had previously rejected referendums on countywide housing and town parks.

Property owners can expect the town’s portion of their annual tax bill to rise by 10 percent starting with the bills that go out in October. The tax increase is expected to remain in place for 15 years to pay off the debt, which will be more than $50 million with interest.

The impact on tax bills will vary depending on the value of a property and whether it’s residential or commercial. A person with a home valued at $500,000 for tax purposes would pay another $80 yearly, for example.

Two members of the nine-person Town Council had opposed holding the referendum: Mayor Will Haynie and Councilwoman Brenda Corley. On Jan. 10 they joined a unanimous vote to do as voters asked and borrow the $50 million.

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. — Baltimore-based Continental Realty Corp. (CRC) has purchased Sweetgrass Corner, a nearly 90,000-square-foot neighborhood shopping center in Mount Pleasant. New Market Properties, a subsidiary of Atlanta-based Preferred Apartment Communities Inc, sold the property for $17 million. The buyer purchased the property on behalf of Continental Realty Fund V L.P., and a co-investment vehicle related to Fund V, which are both managed by CRC.

Built in 1999, Sweetgrass Corner features 13 tenants offering a mix of medical and personal care services, as well as sit-down and fast-casual restaurants. The site was formerly anchored by a BI-LO supermarket that was shuttered as part of a strategic decision by its parent company in 2019.

Located at 1909 N Highway 17, the center is adjacent to Mount Pleasant Towne Centre, a 510,000-square-foot regional shopping venue acquired by CRC in 2020. The property is also situated on approximately 10 acres between North Highway 17 and Hungry Neck Boulevard.

LAS VEGAS — RealComm Advisors has arranged the sale of an industrial property located at 4750 W. Sunset Road in Las Vegas. Oulette DS acquired the 42,000-square-foot building for $10.7 million.

Greg Pancirov and Paul Hoyt of RealComm handled the transaction.

VACAVILLE, CALIF. — Nella Holdings and Tower Investments, two local family-owned companies, have acquired Nut Tree Plaza in Vacaville. A partnership managed by Dallas-based Dunhill Partners sold the asset for $124.5 million.

Located at 1621 E. Monte Vista Ave, the 371,114-square-foot Nut Tree Plaza features 68 retail stores, 17 restaurants and outdoor attractions, including a kiddie train. Current tenants include Nordstrom Rack, ULTA Beauty, Best Buy, PetSmart, Five Below, Cost Plus World Market, HomeGoods, Old Navy, Buffalo Wild Wings, Michaels, Bevmo!, Panera Bread, Peet’s Coffee, See’s Candies, Jelly Belly Candy Store and Jamba Juice. At the time of sale, the property was 96 percent occupied.

Dunhill Partners will provide property management services for the retail center.

Jimmy Slusher, Philip Voorhees and James Tyrrell of CBRE’s National Retail Partners – West represented the seller, a partnership managed by Dallas-based Dunhill Partners, while DCA Partners facilitated the relationship between the buyers. Citibank and Wells Fargo financed the transaction.

SHORELINE, WASH. — CBRE has secured an $85.5 million construction loan for the development of Ion, a 252-unit apartment community in Shoreline.

Bill Chiles, Scott Peterson and Morgon Fraser of CBRE’s Capital Markets Debt & Structured Finance team arranged the loan for AAA Management, the developer.

Located at 345 NE 149th St., Ion will feature seven stories of residential space above three levels of subterranean parking with 241 parking spaces. Tenant amenities will include a fitness facility, rooftop deck and bike storage. Completion is slated for April 2024, with an opening scheduled for July 15, 2024.

It’s clear from the moment you enter Ashley’s newest location in Mount Pleasant that the owners truly have the customer’s experience in mind. From the cheerful associate who greets you at the door to the spacious showroom — featuring professionally-designed vignettes allowing you to fully imagine how each piece might look in your home — this location raises the bar for the discerning Mount Pleasant customer.

According to local store owner Burk Parrott, the Mount Pleasant location, located in the Wando Crossing shopping center, is Ashley’s very first “7.0 showroom in the world.” The concept takes the high-quality products loyal Ashley customers know and love and showcases them alongside an incredible selection of wall art, lamps, rugs, chandeliers, textiles and tabletop accessories to create a modern and immersive shopping experience. And because there are so many styles to choose from – including modern refinery, contemporary living, vintage casual, urbanology, lounge, traditional and eclectic styles – visual and design professionals are ready to assist guests in achieving their design goals.

“The store provides our customers with a professionally designed showroom and [the ability] to show our guests what possibilities exist to make their home fashionable yet affordable.”

Ashley Furniture Industries is the largest furniture manufacturer in the world, and the closest distribution center is located in nearby Summerville. This competitive advantage allows them to fulfill orders and deliver products to this area more quickly and efficiently than most businesses. They keep the customer informed about the availability of their selections and are able to provide other in-stock alternatives as needed. Parrott explained that the Ashley team’s commitment to quality begins in the showroom and does not end until a delivery is complete and the customer is totally satisfied.

He added, “We don’t just sell furniture; we create relationships. That is why our customers return.”

The Mount Pleasant location, open since January 28, is the 11th Ashley store owned and operated by the Parrott Group and the 1,078th Ashley store worldwide. Parrott, a graduate of The Citadel, was excited to build his newest location in the city where he and his family call home. Parrott got his start in the furniture business more than 30 years ago when he opened Parrott’s Furniture in Florence, South Carolina. That location, still in business today, was how Parrott first became familiar with Ashley products and why he was compelled to open his first Ashley store in 2004. He now has coastal locations in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and North Charleston.

Parrott takes pride in being able to give back to the community he serves. He is most proud of the Hope to Dream program, which has been serving underprivileged children in the Lowcountry for 13 years. The program provides children of low-income families with a mattress, frame and full bedding ensemble – when they otherwise might have been sleeping on the floor. Born out of a Parrott Group initiative, Hope to Dream is now a national program for Ashley and has provided more than 125,000 children with mattresses since its inception.

To learn more, visit ashleyfurniture.com, or call 854-858-5011.

By Sherry Whiting

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AcquisitionsMultifamilySouth CarolinaSoutheast

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. — Baltimore-based Continental Realty Corp. has acquired The Six Apartments, a 92-unit multifamily community located in Mount Pleasant, for $28.3 million. Tai Cohen of Cushman & Wakefield represented the undisclosed seller in the transaction. The asset was purchased via Continental Realty Fund V LP, a $210.8 million private equity fund focused on acquiring retail and multifamily properties in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions.

Developed by an affiliate of Origin Development Partners LLC, the Six offers studio, one- and two-bedroom floorplans ranging from 574 to 1,154 square feet of space. Built in 2018, unit features include granite kitchen and bathroom countertops, custom cabinetry, hardwood flooring, tile backsplashes, pendant lighting, walk-in closets, ceiling fans throughout, in-unit washers and dryers, stainless steel appliances, garden tubs and balconies.

Community amenities include an outdoor pool, clubhouse with conference center, health and fitness center, pet park, bike and kayak storage area, private garages and a recreational area with an outdoor kitchen, movie screen wall and firepit. The three-story community was 97 percent occupied at the time of sale.

Located at 2170 Snyder Circle, the property is situated near top employers including Joint Base Charleston, Medical University of South Carolina, The Boeing Co. and the Berkeley County School District. The apartment community is located 10.3 miles from Charleston and 15.7 miles from North Charleston.

JUPITER, FLA. — A joint venture between PCCP LLC, Woodmont Industrial Partners and Butters has purchased 115 acres in Jupiter. The site is situated within Palm Beach Park of Commerce, a 1,200-acre master-planned industrial park located 23 miles northwest of West Palm Beach. The seller and sales price for the land were not disclosed.

The parcel is zoned for industrial use and the site plan approval is now in process. The joint venture plans to develop eight industrial buildings totaling approximately 1.5 million square feet at the site. The speculative project will feature concrete tilt-up construction, and the first two buildings for development will include a 301,145-square-foot warehouse with anticipated completion in January 2023 and a 50,094-square-foot warehouse anticipated for completion in July 2023.

Palm Beach Park of Commerce is home to more than 70 businesses and 1,400 employees with tenants including Amazon, Walgreens, CSX and McLane. The site is situated close to the Florida Turnpike and Interstate 95.

This streamlined Lowcountry home is set off Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant, SC. See how the family of 6 made it a perfect fit for them.

Shrimp boats, kayaking outfitters, and lively bars and restaurants line the commercial side of Shem Creek, the gem of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina's Old Village Historic District. But north of the Shem Creek bridge, the waterway winds through quiet neighborhoods where children roam on bikes and go crabbing off backyard docks. "My husband dreamed of being on the water, and we fell in love with this lot. We're drawn to older areas where kids can run around," says owner Maggie Bullwinkel. She and husband George, a Charleston native, had two young children when they began renovating this 3,200-square-foot house that was built in the 1970s. Their third child was 9 months old when they moved in. Maggie refers to her then-infant sidekick as "my design assistant."

While the Bullwinkels had renovated and sold houses before, this one would be a keeper. "It had great bones. We loved the back porch and knew this could be our forever home," Maggie says. Working with architect Hunter Kennedy and designer Sidney Wagner, they spearheaded family-friendly changes to the four-bedroom abode that have definitely paid off. Today, the Bullwinkels have four kids under age 10 and plenty of yard, a great porch, and a frequently used outdoor kitchen to accommodate their active lifestyle.

"Overall, the footprint didn't change much," says Sidney, who squared off the kitchen to make it more functional. As the home's command center, it now opens up to a bright eating nook, which is one of Maggie's favorite spots. "Family dinners are a priority," she says. What was previously a formal dining room, adjacent to the kitchen, became the kids' playroom. They removed an attached garage to make way for a new mudroom/laundry area off the kitchen. "It's basically where I live," quips Maggie. They also elevated and enlarged the back porch to be a seamless open-air extension of the family room, ground zero for entertaining during Clemson University football season. "I love that we really do live in each space," Maggie says. "We use it all."

A monochrome kitchen keeps Maggie happy. "It helps to have a clean look in a busy room," she says. Streamlined light fixtures by Cedar & Moss and vintage Lucite barstools scooped up at a local antiques mall add to the airy feel in the room.

"With four kids, there is plenty of chaos," says Maggie. Namibia marble countertops and Benjamin Moore's Simply White (OC-117) paint make her kitchen a calming space. Plus, they allow the Hampton Faucet by Waterstone to shine as the statement piece.

Reorienting the kitchen to open into a family dining area was Maggie's top priority. Hunter bumped out the eating nook to add windows on all sides, inviting in sunlight and creek views. A mid-century modern table and slipcovered chairs keep lines simple, and Roost's whimsical light fixture "softens all the hard surfaces," says Sidney. The fabric used for the curtains (Katana by Kelly Wearstler) is also on the barstools, where it's laminated to be indestructible.

"We needed comfortable pieces that are easy to rearrange," says Sidney, who was mindful of not blocking the French doors that open to the porch. "I love how the vintage-reproduction chairs are movable and sculpturally interesting from whatever angle." A sofa slipcovered in Crypton fabric is ultrapractical, and bare windows keep things light and airy while connecting well with the porch, she says.

Sidney painted the porch floor in Benjamin Moore's Kennebunkport Green (HC-123), the same color that's used on the exterior trim, and added soothing blue accents to complement the surrounding outdoor hues. "We didn't want to distract from the view," she says. Wicker chairs from CB2 add natural texture, and a fun Annie Selke rug anchors the blue tones. Floor-to-ceiling screens and a vaulted ceiling help the porch feel cool in summer.

Two years after moving in, the Bullwinkels worked with architect Chris Heinlen of Heinlen Design to add a backyard shed with a full attic to supplement the home's limited storage. Adjacent to that, they created an outdoor kitchen and entertaining area. "This is our favorite spot for birthday parties, neighborhood suppers, or sometimes sunset sips after the kids have gone to bed," says Maggie. A metal roof, green trim, and white siding tie the shed to the main house.

"I love the playroom right off the kitchen. It's our cuddle area," says Maggie. A big barn door can be closed to contain toys and messes. Commissioned pieces by local artist Michelle Owenby add grown-up flair to the room, designed to one day transform into a family hangout space.

Maggie believes that tidiness is key, even in the playroom. Each child has (and uses!) a designated toy-and-book basket, and a rotating gallery helps solve the what-to-do-with-endless-kids'-art dilemma.

" 'Are you sure about going this showy?' my husband asked about the paint color, and I was—including covering the ceiling," says Maggie of the vibrant Benjamin Moore Slate Teal (2088-20) she chose for the laundry room. "I love how the boldness brings you in." Custom cabinets add extra pantry space.

Next to the laundry room, the bold color continues in the mudroom with an added touch of graphic wallpaper. Each kid has their own space for coats and bags in the blue storage wall.