SUMMERVILLE, S.C. – Nexton, the most innovative and walkable community in South Carolina, reported a successful 2023 that includes the addition of cutting-edge commercial space as well as fresh amenities and housing options. As a new year begins, the community is poised for growth on all fronts, advancing its status as a national model for master-planned communities.

“Nexton’s tenth year was filled with accomplishments. From celebrating 2,800 total home sales to welcoming a multitude of high-quality new businesses and housing choices, it was truly a remarkable year,” said Nexton’s Senior Vice President, Development Brent Gibadlo. “Each new year presents countless opportunities for Nexton, and we are excited to continue this momentum as a forward-thinking master-planned community and thriving economic hub in 2024.”

COMMERCIAL Nexton welcomed a collection of world-class retailers and commercial entities in 2023, including:

• The Hub at Nexton, developed by SL Shaw, added 88,000 square feet of office, retail, and restaurant space. It officially opened its doors in May, featuring local favorites such as The Co-Op and Derrington Dermatology. • Brighton Court: Two additional multi-tenant buildings were added adjacent to Coastal Fertility, offering new medical office and retail options. • Downtown Nexton: Sharbell Nexton LLC, the developer of Downtown Nexton, broke ground on Atelier Downtown Nexton office project in June and secured the first five tenants for the ground-floor retail in the Lofts Downtown Nexton apartments. Woodfield Development nears completion of The Ames, featuring 304 market rate apartments, and broke ground on The Radler, which includes 324 market-rate apartments. • Serendipity Labs, an established brand of co-working and flexible office facilities, celebrated the grand opening of its second Charleston location in Nexton in May. • The Pickle Bar: A new restaurant, retail and recreation concept that combines the growing popularity of pickleball with a bar and restaurant opened in November. • Dayfield Park, new commercial properties featuring office space and residential options, as well as retail and service providers broke ground in September. Tenants include The Goddard School daycare, HYLO Fitness, GoDog, Stretch Zone and Pinnacle Bank. • One Nexton, a Publix-anchored commercial center, broke ground with plans to include a bank and neighborhood-serving retail and dining.

RESIDENTIAL Nexton continued to provide a variety residential offerings and amenities to cater to all lifestyles and preferences, including:

• 492 homes sold in four residential villages including Del Webb Charleston, North Creek Village, Brighton Park Village and Midtown. • Nexton celebrated the 2,800 total home sale milestone. • Brookfield Residential was added to the community’s builder program and introduced their new townhome collection. • Builder Ashton Woods unveiled a new 55+ neighborhood of homes called Hammock Walk, featuring 100 villa-style homes in its first phase. The neighborhood celebrated the grand opening of its first homes and model home in December.

CIVIC • Nexton Middle School, a new fifth through eighth grade Berkeley County middle school, broke ground in December with a planned opening in 2026.

AWARDS + ACCOLADES Nexton received several national and regional accolades for demonstrating its commitment to forward-thinking design and innovation:

• Awarded the Grand Aurora Award in the category Residential Housing Community of the Year – Masterplan. • Awarded the Multi-Housing News Excellence Award in the category Development & Design: Mixed-Use. • Awarded a 2023 Best in American Living Award by The National Home Builders Design Committee for The Villas at Nexton in the category Single-Family Community For Rent. • Recognized as #38 of the 50 top-selling master-planned communities in the U.S. by RCLCO Real Estate Advisors, based on year-end 2023 home sales.

LOOKING AHEAD As Nexton closes another successful chapter, the community continues to set the industry standard for master-planned communities across the U.S. The following can be expected from the Nexton in 2024:

• Page’s Okra Grill opened in January 2024. • Additional homebuilder, Stanley Martin will join the Nexton community as well as new with a new collection of townhomes and condos to Brighton Park. Existing builders are adding new floor plans to Nexton’s Midtown neighborhood. • Brookfield Residential’s model townhome and first homes will open to the public in February. • Del Webb Nexton will break ground on its expanded amenity package with the addition of indoor and outdoor pickleball courts, a large gymnasium and restaurant. • Harris Teeter and Publix grocery stores will open. • Dayfield Park, a new commercial property featuring office space and residential options, as well as retail and service providers, will open. • Downtown Nexton: The first phase of the Lofts and Atelier Downtown Nexton will be completed in 2024. • Berkeley County Park will open in the summer of 2024.

More than a dozen tenants are coming to a new grocery-anchored retail development near Summerville that’s almost completely leased several months before construction is set to be completed.

The One Nexton commercial node on Nexton Parkway will include restaurants, service-industry providers, a bank and workout site in addition to a new 48,387-square-foot Publix supermarket.

Food-and-beverage offerings coming to the development include Catrina’s Cantina, Jersey Mike’s Subs, Woodhaven Pizza, Ruby’s Bagels, Indian restaurant Naan Appetit, and Dulce Churros, Ice Cream and Cocktails.

The Packie Wine & Spirits retail shop will join service providers Roper St. Francis Healthcare, Heartland Dental, Noire Nails and insurance firm Swamp Fox Agency. Workout site Basecamp Fitness and Fifth Third Bank round out the announced tenants coming to the site, which is still under construction. One outparcel site remains to be leased next to the 351-unit Camellia One Nexton Apartments under development on the combined 23-acre One Nexton site, Yurfest said.

The multifamily project is expected to be completed in May or June, according to Nexton spokeswoman Cassie Cataline.

Opening dates have not been announced for any of the commercial tenants, but construction is expected to be completed by the fall on the retail center. It sits across Nexton Parkway from a developing Harris Teeter-anchored commercial site. Harris Teeter is tentatively set to open in the spring.

On the way

A rhyming round of slushy sweet adult beverages is on tap for Upper King this spring with the planned arrival of Zachary’s Daiquiris.

The bar, opening in the former Basil Thai restaurant site at 460 King St., is being touted as “Charleston’s Chic Daiquiri Destination.”

Zachary Elliott, a South Carolina entrepreneur, filed for a liquor license recently for the property, and his social media accounts tease the spring opening of the sing-songy locale.

Elliott is also affiliated with Charleston’s Bourbon & Bubbles, Mesu and Republic Garden & Lounge, and is a partner with the Sweetberry Bowls franchise that has locations in the Carolinas, Georgia and New Jersey.

Elliott did not immediately respond for comment on the daiquiri venture.

The space at 460 King, a former bicycle shop and Huddle House, has been empty since spring 2021, when Basil closed its longtime downtown restaurant.

Gassing up

A Savannah-based convenience store chain is looking to add its first location in Mount Pleasant.

Parker’s Kitchen plans to build a 5,175-square-foot shop on S.C. Highway 41 at Wood Park Drive, next to the Lowes Foods-anchored Market at Mill Creek Shopping Center.

Business

Site plans presented to the town show three options for the building’s placement: with fueling stations parallel to the store facing the highway, with gas pumps in the rear, and with the store on the corner near the street and pumps set perpendicular to S.C. 41.

The 6-acre site where the store is planned near the entrance to The Gates at Dunes West subdivision is owned by Highway 41 LLC, an affiliate of auto supplier Oakwood Group of Dearborn, Mich. It bought the property for nearly $1.3 million 16 years ago.

Heads up

A new salon focusing on relaxation and rejuvenation of the scalp and hair is now open in West Ashley.

Charleston Head Spa at 1420 Ashley River Road offers a serene atmosphere and personalized treatments to improve scalp health, according to its website. The business, owned by Molly and Josh Smith, is open weekdays by appointment.

Dance steps

A new place to twirl and tumble is being proposed in Mount Pleasant.

The owners of Tapio School of Dance and Gymnastics want to build a 9,500-square-foot studio between existing buildings at 600 and 608 Seacoast Parkway, a frontage road next to the Mark Clark Expressway west of Long Point Road, according to site plans presented to the town.

The school is currently at 455 Long Point Road in a shared-use structure. The proposal is making its way through the town’s review process.

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A new homebuilder and land developer has been added to builder program at the Nexton community in Summerville.

With plans to develop a new collection of townhomes in Nexton, this addition marks Brookfield Residential’s first project in South Carolina, according to a news release.

Brookfield Residential is an internationally backed organization with more than 65 years of homebuilding experience, the release stated. Operations extend across the United States with major developments in more than 15 markets and over 65 active housing communities.

The homebuilder is an affiliate of Brookfield Properties, which currently has a sizable footprint in the Carolinas including 3,500 active employees and $4.8 billion assets under management, the release stated. Assets include logistics, hospitality and retail operations, notably Columbiana Centre, a high-quality retail mall.

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“We are delighted to join the Nexton community and add to the diverse array of housing options” said Gregg Hughes, senior vice president, Housing and Operations for Brookfield Residential, in the release. “Nexton has a vibrant, charming personality and we’re hoping these new townhomes reflect the community and serve the needs of today’s homebuyer.”

Located in Nexton’s Midtown neighborhood, Brookfield Residential’s entry-level townhome collection will feature 1,600 square feet on two finished levels of living space with prices starting in the mid-$300,000s, the release stated. The townhomes will offer three-bedroom layouts with an option for two primary suites. Interiors will include open floor plans and designer kitchens with stainless steel appliances and granite countertops.

Pre-sales will begin mid-summer with a model residence opening later this year.

Midtown also includes the Midtown Club, featuring a resort-style pool, fitness center and indoor and outdoor flex spaces available to members of the Nexton Residential Association, the release stated. The neighborhood also will feature food trucks, movie nights and social events.

Nexton, which got its start in 2013, is a lifestyle-driven destination that blends live, work and play by offering conveniences such as state-of-the-art schools, modern infrastructure, 20 miles of trails and 2,000 acres of green space, the release stated. Nexton has currently sold over 2,600 homes.

With the addition of Brookfield Residential, Nexton’s builder program now features 10 builders that also includes Ashton Woods, Centex, David Weekley, Del Webb, Homes by Dickerson, New Leaf, Pulte Homes, Saussy Burbank and True Homes, according to the release.

Ample servings of Champagne coupled with a coastal poolside ambiance served as a fitting backdrop to a favorable economic forecast report during an April 4 Nexton luncheon attended by several local realtors at a sun-splashed Midtown Club in Summerville.

Following a brief synopsis of Nexton's recent sales and continued growth as a "third job center" in the Charleston market, the mixed-use development's marketing coordinator Alicia Smith introduced South Carolina Ports Authority Business Development Manager Marion Bull to the podium, as he delved into his group's efforts of recruiting business activity to the Lowcountry.

The guest speaker sang the praises of Nexton — which is currently celebrating its 10th anniversary as a destination venue in the Summerville community — for its role in providing housing for incoming employees of national and global firms seeking to establish a presence in the Charleston region.

Moving forward, Bull anticipates Nexton continuing to offer corporations an attractive option for its staffers as a source of housing, employment and an ever-expanding array of amenities with new industry emerging in the Jedburg area of Summerville, as well as Ridgeville in the very near future.

"When they want to live somewhere with, you know, a high quality of life that's affordable, this is a place where business leaders can feel comfortable locating their businesses here," began the Mount Pleasant resident.

"South Carolina has done a fantastic job as a state, [and] not just as a port, in recruiting business. [We had] $10 billion in investment last year. I think the largest previous year was $3 billion or so. It's a huge number for our economic development in the state of South Carolina and some of it has happened right here."

Bull detailed that South Carolina Ports drives about $63 billion in economic impact statewide, with about $8 billion of it emanating from the Lowcountry. In fact, about 30,000 jobs are either directly or indirectly linked to port activity in the immediate surrounding zone — a number that he anticipates will "dramatically" increase due to investments by Volvo, Walmart, Mercedes-Benz and the like.

Luncheon attendees were also treated to a breakdown of expectations for the real estate market in 2023 by President of the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors (CTAR) Katesha Breland.

The Charleston-born real estate broker noted the Charleston region's remarkable 25 percent population growth over the past decade, along with a 17 percent spurt of newcomers in Summerville over that same 10-year stretch.

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"We see changes in our local culture, our restaurant scene, our retail opportunities, and of course, we feel it in our traffic as well," she stated.

"The local economy is booming. The Nexton development offers something that Summerville residents hadn't seen before, an intentionally-developed masterplan community that gives residents the ease and opportunity to live, work and play right in their backyards ... that's just what Nexton does. They haven't built a neighborhood, they've built a community. While local media doesn't always like to focus on the positives of our real estate market, there's plenty of good news I can share with you," added Breland without referencing any specific news media outlet.

On that note, the CTAR leader communicated that closed property sales were down in 2022 by 18 percent, but compared to 2019, that total was actually up six percent.

Breland further spoke of a healthy, sustainable pace of growth, as the overall median sales price increased 14 percent, single-family home prices surged 12 percent and townhouse/condos similarly saw a 22 percent uptick.

Summerville and Moncks Corner, in particular, were two of the top areas in terms of home sales in 2022.

"We expect sales will remain at the pace we're seeing now, which is a good, healthy pace. Prices will also increase likely at a slower pace than we've been seeing. But that's good news for buyers who are challenged by the affordability of our region."

Breland concluded her address by lauding Nexton for its development of a wide range of home options (single-family, townhouses, rentals, etc.) and a variety of price points for prospective residents.

Spine Road C was completed by Gulf Stream Construction and funded by the developer, Gramling Brothers. This project included the extension of Nexton Parkway and its associated multi-use pathway into the Cane Bay development; completing the third planned leg of the roundabout on Cane Bay Boulevard near Cane Bay area schools; and improving/installing signage, pavement markings, and pedestrian beacons in and around the roundabout.

Spine Road C ties into the U.S. 176/Nexton Parkway Intersection Improvement project, which was completed and opened to traffic in May 2020. The U.S. 176/Nexton Parkway Intersection Improvement project was constructed by Landmark Construction and funded by the County’s One-Cent Sales Tax Program; Infrastructure Consulting and Engineering (ICE) assisted Berkeley County with project management and inspection of the project.

The U.S. 176/Nexton Parkway Intersection Improvement project consisted of the following work: connecting Nexton Parkway to U.S. 176; improvements and turn lanes on U.S. 176; and the associated intersection signalization. The signals were activated today with the official opening of Spine Road C (Nexton Parkway Extension).

There are also plans to widen U.S. 176 from two to four lanes with dedicated turn lanes, from U.S. 17-A to the intersection of U.S. 176 and Nexton Parkway/Nexton Parkway Extension. Berkeley County Council awarded the contract for this additional project, known as U.S. 176 Widening Phase I, at the Council meeting on June 28.

With the opening of Spine Road C comes a much-needed third access point to enter/exit the Cane Bay community. The County is proud that through our beneficial One-Cent Sales Tax Program—which funded the U.S. 176/Nexton Parkway Extension and intersection improvements—and through the help of developers like Gramling Brothers we can continue to provide the community critical public safety and infrastructure solutions to traffic congestion; and in this case, help make the commute to work and schools in the Cane Bay area both safer and quicker for all citizens. -Johnny Cribb, Berkeley County Supervisor

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– Prepared by the Berkeley County Public Information Office –

This project consists of improvements to approximately four miles of Henry E. Brown Jr. Boulevard, from Liberty Hall Road to U.S. 52. See map attached. The project will increase capacity, improve safety, and provide bicycle and pedestrian accommodations. The roadway will be widened from a two-lane section to three-lane section that includes a multi-use path, raised landscaped medians, painted medians, and dedicated left turn lanes at key intersections within the project limits. Montague Plantation Road will be widened from a two-lane section to a four-lane section with a multi-use path and sidewalk. Additionally, the project will include major improvements to the intersection at U.S. 52, Montague Plantation Road, and Old Mount Holly Road.

On June 28, Berkeley County Council awarded the construction contract to J.R. Wilson Company for approximately $23 million. Seamon Whiteside designed the project; Infrastructure, Consulting and Engineering (ICE) will be providing project management and inspection. The project is expected to take three years to complete and will start with clearing the new road right-of-way, the installation of erosion control devices, and utility relocations. The public is urged to drive with caution throughout the duration of the project.

This improvement project is funded from the 2008 and 2014 One-Cent Sales Tax Referendums. Bids for the project were received on June 16, 2021.

For construction updates, visit www.BuildingBerkeley.com.

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-Prepared by the Berkeley County Public Information Office-