South Carolina Community Exemplifies Smart Development

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (PRWEB) October 27, 2005

Amid live oaks dripping with moss and the gentle breeze off the Ashley River, a new member of the community made its debut today. Reverie on the Ashley, 88 luxury waterfront condominium homes located on the Ashley River in North Charleston, marked its commitment to the environment and to the community by dedicating a preserved 100 year-old live oak to the Charleston Habitat for Humanity.

On behalf of Reverie on the Ashley, Mayor Keith R. Summey and Ben Gramling, III presented Dr. Jeremy Browning, executive director of Habitat with a check for $10,000 to support the Village at Liberty Park Development. Reverie’s donation will help bridge the gap between the appraised value of the land afforded by the City and the sale price enabling Habitat to provide a new, affordable, safe community in North Charleston.

The donation amount was based on the circumference of the honored oak tree; Gramling committed to donate $50 per inch. The actual measurement of the tree was taken with help from Mayor Summey during the ceremony.

Reverie's leaders, Ben Gramling III, managing partner of Reverie on the Ashley, LLC, and president of Gramling Brothers Real Estate and Development, and Dick Stober, principal of Atlantic Island Properties, Inc. (the exclusive seller of Reverie), also announced their ongoing commitment to donate an oak tree to each of the 15-20 new homes Habitat plans to build in the Village at Liberty Park Development. According to Reverie’s leadership, it is just one sign of their commitment to planning and contributing to an environmentally sensitive community.

Reverie on the Ashley is the first property to offer private rooftop terraces and gardens for its penthouse level residences —no other community in Greater Charleston can boast of this luxurious amenity. Although the property could have been zoned for many more units, Reverie on the Ashley is a planned low-density community, focused on preserving the surrounding natural environment, and promoting private, quiet living. “By protecting this land and its eco-system, we are preserving the environmental heritage of this place and offering a unique quality of life for generations to come,” said Gramling. “That preservation is good for the environment – and good for sales because the surroundings become a unique selling-point setting Reverie apart.”

Gramling says leading the way in this forward-thinking trend and encouraging more “smart development,” is essential to good business. He and Stober understand the importance of land preservation and recognize the impact preservation will make on future development plans.

Reverie on the Ashley’s leaders made the decision to preserve the serenity and natural landscape of the property by:

•     Allowing construction on only 4 of the 32 acres purchased for the site (12 of which are buildable acres)
•     Realizing a fraction of the potential sales transactions – forgoing profit for preservation
•     The remaining 28 acres are protected marsh lands and bordering forests, lush with indigenous fauna and foliage such as blue herons and crepe myrtle trees
•     Numerous existing 100-year-old live oak trees will be protected during construction
•     The marsh land of the Ashley River – 600 to 800 feet wide – will remain preserved

Reverie’s decision to build from a minimalist perspective demonstrates respect for the delicate environment that surrounds the Ashley River and a desire to provide residents with a home that is a nature retreat. “It was a conscious and deliberate effort to build a private community in a way that it is comfortable and natural in the amazing place it occupies on the Ashley River,” said Gramling. Landscaping will include South Carolina Wildlife Federation recommended shrubs, trees and plants to foster bird habitats and the nature walking trail will have feeders to support those species.

In addition to its natural surroundings, Reverie on the Ashley offers deepwater boat access with 40 slips at one of the Ashley River’s widest points – one-half mile across to the opposite shore. The community will also have a pool and a private community dock. Construction is well underway on the 88 condos, each of which overlooks the Ashley River.

The six buildings will be made of post-tension concrete and the first building, which is almost completely sold out, should be completed by July 2006. Each condo home will feature spacious gourmet kitchens with crushed quartz countertops, Australian cypress hardwood floors, 10-foot ceilings, and a tiled screened porch.

Reverie on the Ashley is located convenient to downtown Charleston, the North Charleston Performing Arts Center and the Charleston International Airport, and is one-quarter mile off of I-526 at exit 14, Leeds Avenue. Visit http://www.ReverieOnTheAshley.com/beta for more information.

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