There are certain staple attractions that define sought-after communities, such as scenic views from the front porch or backyard, and families and friends regularly gathering together.

Ryland Homes considered these attributes in designing the new Nelliefield Plantation, located off Clements Ferry Road in Berkeley County.

"We are a neighborhood of cul-de-sacs, of wetlands and ponds," said David Dix, sales counselor with Ryland Homes.

The village of 200 three- and four-bedroom homes also has connecting sidewalks and a cozy amenity center with a small brick clubhouse and, by next year, three swimming pools for everyone from toddlers to adults.

"We're trying really hard to create a community quickly," he said.

For being in a rural area, the neighborhood is centrally located. Interstate 526 is six miles away. And it's about 10 to 15 miles to shopping plazas in Mount Pleasant by way of I-526 or nearby S.C. Highway 41.

Buyers have a range of home styles to choose from at Nelliefield Plantation, which is on 90 acres of woods and cleared grounds. The builder lists eight floor plans, each with two or three different "looks," such as with or without a den, additional bedroom or bonus room. Some plans come with vaulted ceilings, brick exterior accents, sunrooms and the master bedroom on the first floor.

"There are a lot of options to customize the home," Dix said.

Ryland Homes offers six two-story models - the Socastee,

Marion, Waccamaw, Brookgreen, Huntington and Winyah - and two ranch styles, the Alston and Sumter. Base prices for the 1,381- to 2,665-square-foot homes range from $254,000 to $318,000.

The builder provides a number of extras such as fireplaces, stainless steel kitchen appliances, sile stone countertops and outdoor-lighting packages and screened porches. There are a multitude of standards including fiber-cement siding, architectural shingles, two-car garages, extensive landscaping, 9-foot smooth ceilings, 42-inch kitchen cabinets, separate bathroom tub and shower and 120-foot concrete patio. Also standard are high-efficiency windows, which are supposed to save buyers 20 percent on their energy bills.

Nelliefield Plantation is situated in unincorporated Berkeley County although it is close to areas that the city of Charleston has annexed along Clements Ferry northeast from Daniel Island.

The neighborhood is in the early stages, with the first sale closings expected this week. Dix said the houses are well-priced for buyers ready to purchase a home for the second or third time. "We see it really as a 'move up' neighborhood," he said.

Noting that the largest model, the Winyah, is priced at $118 a square foot compared with $200 or more in Mount Pleasant, Dix sited Nelliefield Plantation as "a good value for the money. I see it as a great family location."

To get to Nelliefield Plantation from downtown Charleston, take Interstate 26 to the Mount Pleasant exit on I-526. Follow I-526 to the Clements Ferry Road exit. Turn left at the base of the exit ramp. (Alternate route: Take the Ravenel Bridge to Mount Pleasant. Enter I-526 to North Charleston. Exit at Clements Ferry Road and take a right.) Follow Clements Ferry for about six miles. Nelliefield Plantation is on the right.

 

Neighborhood

Nelliefield Plantation

Location

Berkeley County

Developer, marketing

Ryland Homes

More info

phone: 216-6755

Hours: Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 1-6 p.m.

WEB SITE: www.ryland.com

Total homes

200

Home sizes

1,381 to 2,665 square feet

Base home prices

$254,000 to $318,000

Typical features

--Standard-clean range, dishwasher, 42-inch oak cabinets in kitchen

--Cultured marble vanity top with oval basins in bathrooms

--Smooth ceilings

--Hardwood flooring in foyer

--High-speed media-ready wiring

--Natural gas heat

--Fiber-cement siding with Historic Charleston colors

--Concrete patio

Property taxes

$2,250 on a $285,000 home

Area attractions

Cooper River, Francis Marion National Forest, Blackbaud Stadium, Family Circle Cup Tennis Center, Bishop England High School, Wando River, Palmetto Island County Park, Interstate 526

Distance to downtown Charleston

20 miles

Schools

Cainhoy Elementary/Middle

Grades K-8; phone, 899-8963; enrollment, 357; certified staff, 41; PACT results, 5.1 percent of fifth-graders scored proficient or advanced on English/Language Arts, 2.5 percent on math, 2.4 percent on science and 23.8 percent on social studies; 15.4 percent of eighth-graders scored proficient or advanced on English/Language Arts, 2.6 percent on math, 7.3 percent on science and 7.3 percent on social studies.

Hanahan High

Grades 9-12; phone, 820-3710; enrollment, 805; certified staff, 66; SAT results, 499 verbal and 507 math. The 1006 combined score is higher than the state average (993) and lower than the national average (1028).

Housing trends

Cainhoy/Wando area of lower Berkeley County:

Number of sales in the second quarter of 2006: 29 (down from 31 in the second quarter of 2005).

Average sales price: $349,500 (up from $251,300).

Median sales price: $196,000 (down from $216,000).

 

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