AUTHENTIC LOWCOUNTRY LIVING

These communities offer modern amenities in a natural setting

BY ASHLEY MCGEE

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Searching for a place to call home is about your lifestyle and extends far past your property lines. With more than two decades of experience in the Southeast, Kolter Homes understands this better than anyone. Nestled in a beautiful Lowcountry setting, its Summerville communities, The Ponds and Cresswind Charleston, were thoughtfully designed with your lifestyle and quality of life in mind.

Just a five-minute drive from historic downtown Summerville, I turn onto Hundred Oaks Parkway to enter The Ponds. Friendly waves from front-porch sitters and dog walkers instantly make me feel at home as I drive beneath centuries-old, mossdraped grand oaks. Designed for families of all ages, The Ponds offers miles of trails for walking, running and biking, along with multiple lakes and ponds for fishing, kayaking and boating. The community features one entrance, promoting a grand community feel and added sense of security. Prospective buyers can tour nine model home designs, ranging from $250,000 to $450,000, with up to five bedrooms. Both ranch and two-story floor plans are available. Each home comes with impressive features, such as James Hardie cement siding, hardwood and ceramic tile flooring, and granite counters, plus the opportunity to customize.

A unique feature of The Ponds community is the option to place the driveway behind the house instead of in front. Not only does this contribute to the community’s idyllic atmosphere, because the streets aren’t lined with car-cluttered driveways, but it’s appealing to those who don’t have young children or dogs and aren’t interested in maintaining a large backyard. “Having the ability to configure your lot ensures your home is an extension of your lifestyle,” says Mike Crawford, vice president of Kolter Homes.

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Families with children rest easy knowing their kids can receive a quality education from top-rated Dorchester District 2 schools. But, residents of any age benefit from the longest list of amenities available in the area. These include a community amphitheater, swimming pool, community garden and a children’s play area with a tree house. A second swimming pool and multisport field are planned for 2018. There’s also a neighborhood YMCA with a full-size gym, organized sports and wellness programs.

Tucked within The Ponds— just beyond a restored 1840s farmhouse (now a social center) —is Cresswind Charleston, a gated community geared toward active adults. Cresswind Charleston, part of the award-winning Cresswind family of communities from Kolter Homes, features two- and three-bedroom ranch-style homes in the $250,000 to $450,000 range. Flexible floor plans allow homeowners to utilize spaces based on their individual needs, like using a second bedroom as an office or craft room.

Prospective buyers can tour eight model home designs, ranging from 1,400 to 2,600 square feet. Upon selecting one, they can personalize it at Cresswind Charleston’s on-site design center. “Given that many people at this stage in life are downsizing, Cresswind is all about low-maintenance living,” says Crawford. For this reason, lawn maintenance is included.

In addition to the shared amenities with The Ponds, Cresswind Charleston offers an impressive list of amenities accessible only by Cresswind residents. The 12,000-squarefoot Club at Cresswind features a full fitness center, yoga/ aerobics studio, arts and crafts room with kiln, social ballroom, party and billiards rooms, and a fully equipped kitchen for cooking classes. The outdoor amenities include a resort-style pool, outdoor fireplace and fire pit, tennis courts and Pickle-ball courts, bocce and horseshoe pits, and an event lawn. “On any given day there are at least five to six activities to choose from, which are coordinated by our full-time lifestyle director,” says Crawford.

Both communities have a selection of move-in ready homes and ready-to-build homesites. Some of these will have pond and preserve views, and all homeowners from both communities can enjoy the benefits of being surrounded by 1,000 acres of conservation land. In early April, Cresswind will open Phase IV, which consists of 142 preserve and standard homesites.

Though I’m currently not in the market for a new home, an afternoon spent at these communities has me rethinking that. Families and active adults alike will feel at home in this sought-after location that combines exceptional amenities with a beautiful natural environment.

Ashley McGee is freelance writer and marketing professional living in Summerville, South Carolina. Visit her at ashleyrmcgee.com.

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