Local builder trims work force

A leading local builder in Summerville has trimmed its staff recently in response to the local real estate market slump and credit crunch.

Summerville Homes has laid off 12 employees, or a quarter of its work force, in the past few weeks.

The number of home sales across the Charleston region tumbled in the past two years, slowing the need for new houses.

Ari Goodstein, the company's vice president of strategic planning, said that the new number of employees better fits the amount of business the company likely will do this year.

"We kept as many people as we could," Goodstein said in a statement. "However, like the rest of the country, Summerville Homes LLC has experienced downturns in the housing market, the effects of tightening credit and falloffs in the sales of homes in the upper segments of the market where the majority of our inventory is positioned."

Attorney Arnold Goodstein, the chief executive officer, declined to comment on the cuts.

Jobs were cut from two divisions of the company, Summerville Homes LLC and Summerville Site Construction.

The company helped build out neighborhoods such as Baker Plantation in North Charleston, The Club at Legend Oaks in Summerville and River Reach Pointe in the Cainhoy area.

The company also builds homes in Myrtle Beach, Columbia and Aiken.

Reach Katy Stech at 937-5549 or kstech@postandcourier.com.