Scouting sites for a new Mount Pleasant condominium community, Ray Wrenn settled on a spot with a notable track record: Park West.

The sprawling village has three schools and an athletic center with an indoor swimming pool, football field and soccer pitches.

"It's a town within a town," said Dawn Nosal, agent with Trademark Properties. "There's a lot of recreational areas. The neighborhood helped sell the place."

Wrenn, a backup quarterback on the Clemson football team that won the 1981 national title, is developing The Battery at Park West through his company, Wrenn Investments.

Within walking distance of the planned Cambridge Square shopping plaza, the 224-condo neighborhood off Basildon Road has one-, two- and three-bedroom units from 662 to 1,274 square feet that are priced from $156,720 to $199,200.

"You find we have a very competitive price range for this market," Nosal said. Trademark Properties, which is marketing The Battery at Park West and is in charge of sales, is holding a grand-opening barbecue today at the complex.

The well-appointed condos come in four floor plans: the Gibbes, Murray, Moultrie and Tradd. "The floor plans are designed to be functional," she said.

One-bedroom condos have an unusual feature, a garage underneath. Two- and three-bedroom units have screened-in decks and can be obtained with such perks as stainless steel appliances. Hard-wood floors and ceramic tile in bathrooms are common features, and units have laundry rooms with washer and dryer hookups. Garages for the two- and three-bedroom condos cost an additional $1,500 apiece.

In addition to the Park West attractions, the gated condo complex has its own amenities, including a clubhouse now under construction that will include a gym, pool tables and bar. There's also a swimming pool and pond.

Sales started recently. Buyers thus far come from a few demographic groups. They include families who live elsewhere in Park West or nearby who are locating condos for their elderly parents and people who want the low maintenance that condos provide.

Meanwhile, "We are seeing a lot of second-home purchasers," Nosal said.

Wrenn Investments, which built upscale condos at The Retreat on James Island, took the same approach at The Battery at Park West, designing from scratch rather than converting former apartments into condos.

"You can't go wrong with new construction," Nosal said.

To visit The Battery at Park West from downtown Charleston, cross the Ravenel Bridge on U.S. Highway 17 to Mount Pleasant. Continue north about 15 miles to the Park West entrance. Turn left onto Park West Boulevard and continue to the third traffic circle. Exit right from the circle onto Grey Marsh Road. Take the first left, Basildon Road. The Battery at Park West is straight ahead through the gates.

 

Neighborhood

The Battery at Park West

Location

Charleston County

Developer, marketing

Wrenn Investments, Trademark Properties

More info

phone: 722-2802

Hours: By appointment only

WEB SITE: www.thebatteryatparkwest.com

Total condominiums

224

Condo sizes

662 to 1,274 square feet

Condo prices

$156,720 to $199,200

Typical features

--Designer gourmet kitchens with built-in microwaves, maple cabinets

--9-foot ceilings with crown molding

--Stainless steel appliances

--Elevators

Property taxes

$957 on a $175,000 condo

Area attractions

Town of Mount Pleasant athletic complex at Park West, Boone Hall Plantation, Palmetto Island County Park, Wando River, area golf courses, Mount Pleasant Regional Airport, Towne Centre shopping plaza

Distance to downtown Charleston

17 miles

Schools

Laurel Hill Primary

Grades K-2; phone, 849-2200; enrollment, 778; certified staff, 63.

Charles Pinckney Elementary

Grades 3-5; phone, 856-4585; enrollment, 708; certified staff, 55; PACT results, 60.2 percent of fifth-graders scored proficient or advanced on English/Language Arts, 60.9 percent on math, 63.2 per-cent on science and 66 percent on social studies.

Cario Middle

Grades 6-8; phone, 856-4595; enrollment, 1,056; certified staff, 79: PACT results, 54 percent of eighth-graders scored proficient or advanced on English/Language Arts, 48.5 percent on math, 51.4 percent on science and 49.2 percent on social studies.

Wando High

Grades 9-12; phone, 849-2830; enrollment, 2,988; certified staff, 214; SAT results, 532 verbal and 521 math. The 1053 combined score is higher than the state average (993) and the national average (1028).

Housing Trends

East Cooper north of S.C. Highway 41:

Number of sales in the second quarter of 2006: 166 (down from 265 in the second quarter of 2005).

Average sales price: $417,400 (up from $350,100).

Median sales price: $339,000 (up from $295,500).

 

Reach Jim Parker at 937-5542 or jparker@postandcourier.com.