Greater Bluffton South Carolina is a real estate market area that consists of many gated and non-gated communities within the 29909 and 29910 & 29927 zip code areas. Once a long lost sibling of Hilton Head Island, Bluffton as burgeoning, if not bursting at the seams, with many new planned unit developments.
This is a place with a good demographic mix, with Baby Boomers , many of whom call Sun City home; and the younger folk. Included in this area is Hardeeville (29927), which will one day become the fourth largest city in South Carolina
If you want to stretch it, Ridgeland is a short 17 miles from Bluffton, but it has a personality all of it's own. It will remain rural, but there are new communities being built and lots of open space for developers. Hilton Head Island is yet another stretch (17 miles to the beach) and up until recently, if you were to ask folks from Bluffton where they live, they'd say "the Hilton Head area, Bluffton"--somthing like that.
There are about 80 Planned Unit developments in BLUFTTON and a chief concern for residents is the fear that the quality of life they came for will be a thing of the past. Traffic has been an issue, but it is being addressed and very well, I think. ( When I hear people complain about the traffic problem, I have to laugh. I traveled the New York-New Jesey-Northern Virginia highways and byways--so, to me traffic here is nothing)
Those who want to look at this area and call it home--Have No Fear! This is the place to be. The Govenor and town fathers are on top of things and have plans in place since 2006, which they are acting on.
What follows are facts which will give you background on the "growth issues that faces South Carolina in general:
South Carolina is one of the fastest growing states in the United States and in the Southeast. A report by Rutgers University indicated that South Carolina was tenth in growth nationally and fifth regionally. SC is now fourth in number of acres being developed. From 1992 to 1997 over 100,000 acres per year were converted to urban use. The same report shows that the growth rate from 1982 to 1992 was only 40,000 acres per year. Consider just a few of the following facts:
- South Carolina's population will grow by another 25% in another 15 years. To support that growth we will need 525,000 new houses; 40 million feet of new office space; 13,000 hotel rooms; 50% more paved roads.
- SC is growing by 130 people per day.
- Farmland acreage has dropped by 34% since 1954.
- SC now has lost 12.4 million acres of forestland
- SC ranks 14th nationally in trip destinations.
- 29 million visitors come to SC annually.
- Tourists spend $1.9 billion annually in SC.
- Hunters, fishermen, and wildlife enthusiasts spend $1.4 billion a year.
- SC currently has 4.5 million acres of wetlands.
- 30% of the potential shell fishing waters is closed due to violations of state water quality standards.
- Since 1978, the amount of corporate WMA land has decreased by over 50%.
The Govenor of SC has asked for $50 million land conservation; to "bank" land which will not be developed. The purpsoe of this is to maintain the quality of life which draws people to South Carolina.
In Bluffton, one developer got the message
This week, the Governor dedicated 120 Acres for conservation easement in Palmetto Bluff, an upscale community located off of route 46 ( May River Road). These lands were voluntarily set aside by the developer of Palmetto Bluff, Jim Mozely. Mr Mozley thinks this is not only a good thing for the area but set-asides that prevent any future development and protecting the environment, it also has has the affect of raising property values.
"Governor Sanford says more developers need to embrace preservation to offset a ticking time bomb." (Sources: Bluffton Today) The land will remain a maritime wilderness, with walking trails, and small lookouts for people to enjoy the natural beauty.
Although Bluffton seems to be busting at the seams, it will dwarf what is anticipated in Hardeeville, SC (Jasper County). Too look at Hardeeville, it's hard to picture a place that will contain 150000 homes, which will create an economic powerhouse, especially becuase of Hardeevilles proximity to the Port of Savannah.
What I do hope is that we Yankees become more like indegenious South Carolinians--I am working on it and quite frankly, I haven't "mashed my car horn in about 4 years. And, I am still working on my "Y'all" it often comes out "yous."
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