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That's possible with Bull Creek Peninsula, a 15-home community on a West Ashley marsh that requires a few twists and turns off S.C. Highway 61 to reach. The neighborhood is in a clearing past the Dogwood Gardens subdivision on a street grafted to Pierpont Avenue. It rubs up to wetlands that buffer Interstate 526 in the distance.
While Bull Creek Peninsula may be hard to locate, it's worth the journey once you get there. The dwellings, which are one-of-a-kind each, are made of stucco, fiber cement and -- eventually -- brick siding. They are from 2,000 to 4,500 square feet and $500,000 to more than $1 million in price. Six lots are left to be sold, running from $75,000 to $225,000.
Bull Creek Peninsula's appeal includes "being on the marsh and water," said Nell Postell, a Realtor with Prudential Carolina Real Estate who is marketing the property. Moreover, Bull Creek Peninsula "is a very quiet area," she said.
The developer, Bull Creek Peninsula LLC, is a partnership of three neighborhood property holders: commercial airline pilots Jason Haywood and Mike Farkas and wine and spirits representative Dave Mantek, who also has dabbled in real estate management.
The group approved strict building covenants to protect the property, realizing it always can adjust them if necessary. While the homes are custom-built, they include such standard features as space for elevators, structured wiring to permit high-speed online service or cable and security cameras, what Mantek called "the wave of the future." Interiors have crown molding and hardwood floors -- maple is a popular choice.
Custom construction brings flexibility in design. Max Crosby Construction, which built the Manteks' five-bedroom, 4-1/2-bath home, added a laundry chute and incorporated modern features such as a high-tech lamp in the dining room and two high-definition-enhanced televisions without clashing with the traditional Lowcountry exterior.
Swimming pools are allowed, as are extra garage space; two-car garages are typical. Docks on deep water are allowed. One buyer, state Rep. Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston, is clearing space for a 4,600-square-foot house and already has constructed a long dock.
Mantek said he's excited with the new development, the first for all three partners. Since they live or own property in the neighborhood, "It's hands-on," he said. "If you do a development and stay there, the covenants get followed, the lights get fixed."
To reach Bull Creek Peninsula from downtown Charleston, take the Ashley River Bridge to S.C. Highway 61 (St. Andrews Boulevard). Stay left onto Ashley River Road, passing Sam Rittenberg Boulevard, staying right at Paul Cantrell Boulevard. Turn right on Dogwood Road and follow Dogwood as it winds back to Pierpont Avenue. Turn right on Pierpont. Bull Creek Peninsula is on the right.