Wednesday, Mar. 30, 2005 | ||
Bad Links? | Does Hilton Head development hold lessons for Fayette?By JOHN THOMPSON One of the closest Sun City developments to Fayette County is 15 miles from Hilton Head Island in Bluffton, S.C. On Jan. 1, 2004, the company had built 3,208 homes, with a projected build-out of 7,000 homes for the project, according to the companys Web site. The development features a 17,000 square-foot recreation center, along with 10 lighted clay tennis courts, two 18-hole golf courses and a 20-acre lake for fishing. Available home models range from a 1,055 square-foot, two-bedroom, two-bath home starting at $136,150 to a 2,400 square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bath model priced at $259,900. Heres some of that developments timeline, according to the Lowcountry Now Web site. Winter 1992 - Rumors begin circulating that a large amount of Union Camp timberland in the Lowcountry is being eyed for a major residential development. June 1993 - Del Webb Corp. buys an option on 5,100 acres of Union Camp land in Beaufort and Jasper counties near McGarveys Corner, and about 100 acres across U.S. 278 on the Okatie River. Company officials say they will spend six to 12 months surveying the property and meeting with local people to find out their concerns and desires. Dec. 16, 1993 - The Beaufort County Council votes unanimously to bring Del Webbs $1.3 billion Sun City East to the Lowcountry, rezoning 4,250 acres in southern Beaufort County and ratifying a 20-year development agreement pact. The project is expected to bring 11,500 to 15,000 new residents to live in 6,350 or more homes in Beaufort County, and about 1,200 homes in Jasper County. January 1994 - Del Webbs plans for the Lowcountry are officially announced. Gov. Carroll Campbell, speaking during a ceremony at Michael C. Riley Elementary School, calls it one of the most significant projects ever to come to our state. March 1994 - Sun City Hilton Head selected as the name for the project. Hilton Head Island officials, including Mayor Frank Chapman, arent pleased. Weve written them letters, asking them not to do it, he said. Hilton Head Island Mayor Pro Tem Frank Brafman calls it deceptive advertising for something thats 15 miles away. Its devious. April 1994 - Acres of pine trees are cleared on Del Webb property. June 1994 - The Jasper County Council approves a development plan for Sun City Hilton Head. Among other things, the deal includes $300,000 for Jasper County and $87.50 per building permit above the regular cost of a permit. August 1994 - Del Webb buys an additional 377-acre parcel where it plans to build another 600 houses. Beaufort County renegotiates its impact fees. September 1994 - Del Webb buys Eagle Field in Bluffton to save it from being dug up by an excavation contractor. The Bluffton Eagles amateur baseball team has called the field home for a quarter century. November 1994 - Del Webb agrees to forgive a $200,000 loan to Beaufort County and collect $300 per Sun City Hilton Head home sold as part of a renegotiated development deal. The amendment comes after the state legislature rules that, effective in 1997, Beaufort County had to hand over to the state money collected through the countys 0.25 percent real estate transfer fee. The fee was expected to bring in an average of $375 per Sun City home. 6:30 a.m., Nov. 28, 1994 - Home sales begin. By 7 p.m. 25 homes have been sold. The most popular design is a mid-range, $139,000 model with 1,634 square feet. February 1995 - Home construction starts. June 8, 1995 Sun City Hilton Head has its grand opening and about 600 people attend. Gov. David Beasley says the projects impact will be bigger than anything weve ever seen in South Carolina. Plans call for the sale of 500 homes per year over the life of the project. That goal has never been met. September 1995 - Del Webb announces another in a yearlong series of rain delays at Sun City Hilton Head. A rain gauge on the property recorded 21 inches of rain between Aug. 21 and Aug. 28. The delays have already set the project back two or three months. Jan. 25, 1996 - Del Webb announces quarterly earnings 39 percent ahead of the previous year, earning $9.2 million for the fiscal quarter ending Dec. 31, 1995, compared with $6.6 million for the same period in 1994. Total revenues increased 36 percent from $176.1 million to $239.5 million. March 14, 1996 - Del Webb unveils a not-quite-finished, $22 million recreation campus at Sun City Hilton Head. Oct. 17, 1996 - Del Webb announces that construction on a series of Sun Citys boardwalks and community dock is expected to begin by the end of the year. Dec. 7, 1996 - Rich Vandermeer begins his duties as the new general manager of Sun City Hilton Head, succeeding Dennis Wilkins. Jan. 31, 1997 - Sales figures show quarterly earnings growth of 18 percent for Del Webb, in contrast to a 32.8 percent drop in orders at Sun City Hilton Head. April 19, 1997 - Sun City Hilton Head fails to meet its sales goals for three consecutive quarters leading to worries that southern Beaufort Countys growth engine may be sputtering. July 24, 1997 - An uneven sales year for Sun City Hilton Head finishes strongly with a 42 percent jump in home sales for the final quarter. Revenues for Del Webb rose from $1.05 billion to $1.19 billion. Oct. 23, 1997 - Del Webb officials credit the increasing pace of development around Sun City Hilton Head with helping to boost sales 25 percent over the same quarter the previous year. Jan. 20, 1998 - Del Webb expands by acquiring two retirement communities under construction near Ocala, Fla.: Spruce Creek Preserve and Spruce Creek Golf & Country Club, for approximately $45 million. Jan. 26, 1998 - Del Webb announces that 75 homes were sold at Sun City Hilton Head in the quarter ending Dec. 31, 1997, up 25 percent. April 24, 1998 - Del Webb announces 103 homes were sold at Sun City Hilton Head in the quarter ending March 31, marking the third best quarterly sales tally in the communitys history. July 27, 1998 Del Webb announces that Sun City Hilton Head sales increased by 18 percent during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1998. Sept. 19, 1998 - Del Webb files to raise as much as $250 million from sales of debt securities of common or preferred stock. The company plans to use the money to repay credit-line debt, buy land, develop new projects and fund other general purposes. Jan. 26, 1999 - Del Webb announces second quarter sales at Sun City Hilton Head grew by 21 percent. Jan. 30, 1999 - Del Webb announces plans to allow Sun City residents to have their first chance in May to vote for the first resident member of the communitys board of directors. Nov. 20, 1999 - Del Webb lowers the minimum home-buying age from 55 to 50 at Sun City Hilton Head. Nov. 26, 1999 - Del Webb becomes one of the largest employers in the Lowcountry, passing the 400-employee mark. July 14, 2000 - Del Webb sells 63 vacation villas used to give prospective Sun City buyers a place to stay, to Bluffton Ventures LLC for $8.4 million. Dec. 6, 2000 - Del Webb announces a new strategic plan, including the possibility of inviting area builders to help construct homes in Sun City Hilton Head. Jan. 16, 2001 - Del Webb officials consider selling part or all of their Jasper County property to other developers. Jan. 25, 2001 - A house-painting squabble remains unresolved between Del Webb officials and Sun City Hilton Head residents. Feb. 5, 2001 - Hilton Head Island Mayor Tom Peeples advises that if Beaufort County renegotiates its development agreement with Del Webb, it should make sure the changes are in line with the 1997 comprehensive land use plan. March 20, 2001 - Del Webb sells 228 acres of undeveloped property originally intended for inclusion in its Sun City Hilton Head to Hilton Head Island developer Michael Seeland. March 24, 2001 - Del Webbs plans to sell most of its property north of U.S. 278 sparks controversy with residents and county officials upset with the idea of more businesses along the highway. March 26, 2001 - Sun City Hilton Head residents voice their objections to the Beaufort County Council to any revisions to the development agreement Del Webb struck with the county in 1994. County Council Chairman Tom Taylor says no deals have been made and all discussions will be in public. April 11, 2001 - Del Webb lays off about 20 people at Sun City Hilton Head. The cuts were made in management and operations and from the community association. |
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