4Br / 4 Ba / $585,000
.82 Acres / $260,000Archive for January, 2008
Charleston County Parks Proposes Purchase of 812 Acres near McClellanville
January 30th, 2008 Buyers Jason No Comments
A recent Post & Courier article about Charleston County Parks and Recreation plans to purchase a large track of land Two Pines Road came to a big surprise to myself and everyone Ive talked to the past few days, so Ive done a little more research to fill people in on the facts. Two Pines is a small community of a dozen or so homeowners along the Intracoastal Waterway just south of McClellanville and north of Tibwin. The proposed 812 acre tract begins at Highway 17 and continues on both sides of Two Pines Road until it reaches the waterfront residences.
This property was bought from an International Paper affiliate in 2005 by The Nature Conservancy for the sum of $4,469,025. Charleston County Parks has now proposed purchasing the entire tract of land for $3 million from The Nature Conservancy. The purchase would be paid for from the CCPs $36 million share of the counties proceeds from the 1/2 percent sales tax increase to fund transportation and green space needs.
I spoke to Senior Design Manager for Charleston County Parks, Julie Hensley, this afternoon to ask her about the development. She couldnt discuss all the details because the deal is still far from complete, but was able to advise that, if purchased, the land would convey with protective convenances restricting land use and limiting the amount of impermeable surface and structures. She stated that it may not be utilized for five to ten years, but development would probably include hiking trails, boardwalks over wetland areas, picnic tables and shelters and some sort of park center facility for educational purposes.
Hensley also assured me that a buffer would remain between the park and the residents of Two Pines Road and that there would be a public input forum when the time comes to develop the park so that the community can voice their opinion. I spoke to several home and property owners on Two Pines Road and all of them indicated that they were happy with the Countys efforts to preserve the area from further development and provide a natural area for the community to take pride in.
I also spoke with Mike Prevost with The Nature Conservancy who confirmed that Charleston County Parks intentions were for the creation of a more passive park that would be fitting with McClellanvilles rural nature. He emphasized the fact that it would be the only park in a rural area east of the Cooper.
McClellanvilles distance from Charleston and the various county decision makers means that we are often the overlooked and underfunded tip of Charleston County. Our incorporation as a Town often gives us a stronger, unified voice, but we still make up a very small portion of the population and county taxes. Im glad to see that Charleston County Parks recognizes the need to provide services to this region and hope that their future plans will be a benefit to the entire community.
You can see from the map that this tract is almost the size of the incorporated Town of McClellanville. Acreage like this in the hands of a developer could changed the face of McClellanville. If nothing else, the citizens of McClellanville should be happy that yet another large track of protected land will continue to act as a buffer against development in the area.
Related Article: More McClellanville Land is Protected by the Nature Conservancy
Bud Hill: a McClellanville Hero
January 26th, 2008 Uncategorized Jason 1 Comment
Whether you live in McClellanville or have just driven through it once, you have seen the work of Bud Hill. Evidence is all around if you know where to look, but he rarely takes credit for any of it. As director of the Village Museum since its formation in 1999, Selden “Bud” Hill has his hands quite full, but he always has time for the community that he cares so much about.
At the Village Museums last Annual Oyster Roast in November, Bud was finally recognized for all his hard work in the community by being awarded the Order of the Silver Crescent. This is the highest civilian honor awarded by South Carolinas Governors Office for local community service. The Order of the Palmetto is awarded for community service at the statewide level.
The plaque reads “In recognition of the dedication, commitment and leadership for the benefit of South Carolina and her citizens”¦”.
I asked Bud what he considered to be his greatest community service, and without pause he emphatically claimed the Village Museum as his proudest accomplishment ever in his life. He said, “the events I plan give me great pleasure, but they are fleeting. The Museum is something that will outlive me and can be passed down from generation to generation.” The cold cinderblock walls have been warmed with the history of our ancestors and exhibits that show off the past lives of McClellanville. Its these future generations that Bud devotes much of his time to, giving museum and walking tours and visiting local schools to talk about the history of the area and instilling them with a sense of heritage.
As director of one of the finest small town museums in the state, Bud isnt just in charge of the exhibits inside the Village Museum, but also for its advertising, marketing, budgeting, programming, event planning, fundraising, and anything else you can think of! Bud will gladly tell you that none of it would be possible without the generous donations from the community and museum members (which he has grown to over 750 families), but it never would have reached the level that it has without Buds leadership.
Bud does much more than run the Village Museum though. Almost every local event that goes on passes across his desk. He is always willing to help others celebrate their latest achievement with events like book signings, art shows, and concerts. When someone comes up with a good idea, Bud helps them see it to fruition and then gives them all the credit. Hes also been there in times of celebration, sadness, and respect to organize events such as the Veterans Day ceremony and Fourth of July celebrations.
I recently spent an afternoon at the Village Museum in the “Family History Room” upstairs combing through the newspaper articles collected about McClellanville going back to the early 1800s, and Bud was there to help me and expound on each story I read. He has a wealth of knowledge about the area and its people, and more importantly, doesnt mind sharing his knowledge with others.
His genealogy work on the families of McClellanville is vast and growing by the day. As people come to learn more about their families, they share things that are missing and fill in the blanks. Bud is registered with the South Carolina Archives and is always willing to assist people in search of their own family tree.
My fondest memory of Bud goes back to my early teenage years when he had just returned to McClellanville. T.W. Grahams had just gotten a few pool tables, but I didnt have a clue how to play. Bud taught me the principles of the game and a few tricks of the trade. He didnt just tell me how to do it, he took the time to show me until he knew that I got it.
I doubt that this is the “dedication, commitment and leadership” that he was recognized for when awarded by the governor (because I never did become a leader in the pool halls), but it goes to show his character. Bud cares about the Village, its history, its homes, its people, and its future. He simply wants to make McClellanville the best that it can be; nothing more, nothing less.
South Carolina History Lesson:
Name the two symbols featured on South Carolinas state flag?
If you said a palmetto tree and a crescent moon, you were wrong! The crescent shape on South Carolinas flag does not represent a moon, but is probably a gorget, or neck guard. The other item is indeed a palmetto tree and was added to the flag after its logs were used in the construction of Fort Moultries walls and successfully absorbed the British cannon balls.
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The New Daughter Comes to McClellanville
January 17th, 2008 Buyers Jason No Comments
Update: The New Daughter Released: Shots from Around McClellanville
I can now confirm my earlier post about the filming of the new Kevin Costner movie, The New Daughter, here in McClellanville . Film crews are already in the area and filming is slated to begin February 18th. I have been working with the films housing manager to help them find suitable McClellanville Rentals for all the cast and crew.
The New Daughter is a horror/thriller movie, in which Kevin Costner plays a single father who’s daughter starts acting strangely after moving to a new house in the country that happens to have burial mounds on the property. Ivana Baquero, who starred as the young girl in Pan’s Labrinth, will be playing the role of the daughter. Costner has starred in (and often directed and produced as well) more hollywood blockbusters than you can shake a stick at including Field of Dreams, Dances with Wolves, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Waterworld, Wyatt Earp, Tin Cup, 3000 Miles to Graceland, and The Guardian to name a few.
What do you think of the idea of McClellanville as a backdrop for a horror movie? Leave a Comment
Update: New Daughter Movie Update
Recycling Pickup in McClellanville
January 16th, 2008 Uncategorized Jason No Comments
A few months ago I wrote an article about adding recycling pickup to the regular trash pick up in McClellanville. I also put up a few petitions around town asking for signatures from town residents that would be willing to pay an additional $25 a year to pay for the service. I received almost 50 signatures, but I know that there are more of you out there. I will be presenting the idea and the petitions at the next Town Council meeting on February 4th at 7p.m. If you feel as strongly as I do about making it easier for everyone to reduce waste and save the planet, than please join me at McClellanville Town Hall and voice your opinion to our council members. I believe that the current garbage man, Barron Duke, will be present and can field any questions that people have for him. It usually takes several meetings for town council to get something approved and the new years budget starts in June, so we need to hurry on this to get in in the new budget. Please come out to Town Hall Meeting and show your support.
McClellanville Town Council Meeting
January 12th, 2008 Events Jason No Comments
| February 4, 2008 | ||
| 7:00 pm |
McClellanville Town Council Meeting at Town Hall