Specialized builders take time, effort in designing broad-based upscale Watermark neighborhood

Custom care

In a community with a 33-acre lake, it's not surprising that the neighborhood's title has something to do with water. Developers settled on Watermark because it gives the impression of reaching new heights, as in "where's the water level?" says Daniel J. Doyle, vice president of Beach Development.

Sure enough, the new neighborhood off Rifle Range and Bowman roads in Mount Pleasant plans a surge in 2008. Builders are in the early phases of tailoring 118 custom brick, stucco and fiber- cement homes on lots starting in the $190,000s. Some of the lots are on the neighborhood's man-made lake. Houses are priced from $739,000 to $950,000. At least 20 dwellings are in various stages of construction. On tap is a complex of 39 luxury townhomes priced from the $470,000s and up. The units are 1,900-2,200 square feet.

Another component is Central Square, featuring a 240-unit complex of one-, two- and three- bedroom rentals with 8,000 square feet of complementary retail space. The street-level storefronts will be in eight three-story buildings along the Central Square main entry drive. The upstairs high-end apartments will have interior wood floors, granite island kitchens and stainless steel appliances. On-street parking, large sidewalks and pocket parks also are featured, Watermark says on its Web site.

"It's very pedestrian-friendly," says Kim Boyd of Beach Residential, which is handling sales and marketing.

An amenities center, including a swimming pool and playground being built on the edge of the lake, has a direct view from Central Square. Meanwhile, Mediterranean Shipping Co. has broken ground on a 45,000-square-foot headquarters at Watermark, which will employ 400 people. Workers will be able to venture into retail row, likely to include a small eatery or two.

The mixed-use development, which started in fall 2006, is being coordinated by Beach Shellpoint LLC. The limited liability corporation is an affiliate of Beach Development's parent, The Beach Co. Beach Watermark LLC, also an affiliate of The Beach Company, is heading up Central Square. Land has been cleared for the multifamily and commercial sectors. The neighborhood is designed eventually to have access off Bowman Road to the south and from a proposed extension of Hungry Neck Boulevard to the north.

All of the single-family houses will have custom construction. The Watermark online site lists five builders thus far. They are Tom Blake Custom Homes LLC, Gideon Murray Properties LLC, Atlanticville Homes LLC, Truepenny Homes Inc. and CK Contracting LLC.

Christopher Lee Klick of CK Contracting is completing design and construction of a 2,630-square-foot, fiber-cement-sided dwelling.

"This is a Lowcountry vernacular style home," he says. "It has the two-story front porches."

The four bedroom and 3 1/2 bath home has a metal roof and a semi-detached garage in back. The ceiling is cypress tongue-and-groove bead board. A liquid propane tank fuels the gas fireplace, range and lantern. Kitchen appliances are stainless steel Jenn Air. The master bathroom has a jetted tub.

There are places where kids can run around, for people to launch kayaks in the lake or take one of the walking trails. Doyle says that Watermark takes elements from small towns of the past. "It's designed and planned as a traditional neighborhood," he says.

From downtown Charleston, there are two ways to get to Watermark. Cross the Ravenel Bridge to Mount Pleasant. From the two left lanes off the bridge, travel on U.S. Highway 17 to the Bowman Road intersection and turn right. Turn left at the Watermark sign. From the two right lanes off the bridge, follow Coleman Boulevard to Rifle Range and turn left. Continue on Rifle Range to the Bowman Road roundabout. Follow the roundabout to the left. Turn right at Watermark.

Neighborhood

Watermark.

Location

Charleston County.

Developer, marketing

Beach Shellpoint LLC, Beach Residential.

More info

phone: 881-5822, 971-1312.

Hours: By appointment.

WEB SITE: www.watermarksc.com.

Total residences

118 single-family homes, 39 townhomes, 240 apartments.

Home, townhome sizes (single-family)

2,000-4,500 square feet and up (home); 1,900-2,200 square feet (townhome).

Home, townhome prices

$739,000-$950,000 (home); $470,000 and up (townhome).

Lot prices

$170,000-$250,000s.

Typical features

--Custom builders.

--Porches and decks.

--Fiber-cement, wood, brick, stucco siding.

--Fireplaces.

--Smooth ceilings.

Property taxes

$2,561 on a $800,000 home.

Area attractions

Intracoastal Waterway, Towne Centre Shopping Center, Atlantic Ocean, East Cooper Medical Center, Patriots Point, Francis Marion National Forest, Isle of Palms connector, Interstate 526.

Distance to downtown Charleston

8 miles.

Schools

Mamie P. Whitesides Elementary

Grades K-5; phone, 849-2838; enrollment, 603; certified staff, 46; PACT results, 51.1 percent of fifth-graders scored proficient or advanced on English/Language Arts, 55.8 percent on math, 43.7 percent on science and 58.3 percent on social studies.

Laing Middle

Grades 6-8; phone, 849-2809; enrollment, 460; certified staff, 37; PACT results, 36.2 percent of eighth-graders scored proficient or advanced on English/Language Arts, 31.2 percent on math, 30.2 percent on science and 39.7 percent on social studies.

Wando High

Grades 9-12; phone, 849-2830; enrollment, 3,026; certified staff, 206; SAT results, 517 verbal and 521 math. The 1038 combined score is higher than the state average (984) and the national average (1017).

Housing Trends

Mount Pleasant south of S.C. Highway 41:

Number of sales in the fourth quarter of 2007: 196 (down from 306 in the fourth quarter of 2006).

Average sales price: $487,500 (up from $405,800).

Median sales price: $358,250 (up from $300,800).

Reach Jim Parker at 937-5542 or jparker@postandcourier.com.

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