Victoria Bluff is just a stone’s throw away from the hustle and bustle of Highway 278 is a neighborhood where tall trees, a scenic lagoon and small parks dot the landscape.
Located on Sawmill Creek Road – directly across from the entrance to Tanger Outlet 1 – Victoria Bluff is situated right in the heart of the amazing growth that has marked Bluffton development for the last few years. Still, despite its proximity to Bluffton’s fastest growing borough, Victoria Bluff seems a world away from the busy commercial and residential development that has sprung up around it since it began taking shape more than eight years ago.
And that was exactly what its developers had in mind.
“There are 1,800 acres surrounding you that can never be built on,” said Rod Engard of the lush, spectacular wetlands and other protected land that surround this magnificent neighborhood.
Engard partnered with Laurel One Corp., of Charleston, to create a master plan for the 37.5-acre property, which was divided into 63 heavily wooded home sites.
The circular design of the neighborhood created cul-de-sacs throughout where small green spaces or parks were built, one with a gazebo for neighborhood-wide events and others with park benches.
Engard said the idea was to create a neighborhood that contrasted with other comparable developments in the same area by giving homeowners the unique opportunity to purchase a lot and then choose their own builder to create a dream home of their own.
Homeowners do have to follow the guidelines of the neighborhood’s architectural review board, but the flexibility of the project allowed people to build a custom home on their site, he said.
By not adding tennis courts or a golf course, the neighborhood also has an affordable Property Owners Association fee – $288 a year covers maintenance of the lighting, lagoon, front entrance sign and landscaping.
Boyd Hipp, president of Laurel One Corp., pointed out how the neighborhood reflects the singular goal of designing a neighborhood that maintains a sense of community, a unique natural setting, a variety of tasteful homes and distinct nearby amenities.
“It’s a community that we’re very proud of,” said Hipp. “We accomplished what we set out to do.”
The natural setting is what attracted Tina and Jeff Franklin, who were one of the first families to build a home in the neighborhood. Now the couple is raising their three children there.
“It’s not your typical neighborhood where everything is cleared,” said Tina Franklin, who is administrator of the Freshman School at Bluffton High School. “I like the fact that we are surrounded by natural preserves.”
Franklin also said she likes the mix of people in the neighborhood, which primarily are families with children, but also includes retirees and singles. “And it’s safe,” she added. Finding the right place to raise children was key in Shawn and Cara Grimes’ decision to buy a home in Victoria Bluff two years ago. “It’s a real neighborhood,” said Shawn Grimes. “Custom homes, wooded lots, no gates.”
In fact, Grimes said he and his wife picked the neighborhood before they picked their home and have since found they made the right decision. “It’s a family-oriented, friendly and safe neighborhood,” Grimes says.
And not only do Victoria Bluff residents have access to miles of scenic walking trails in the surrounding forest preserve, but they can also take advantage of a public dock located at the end of Sawmill Creek Road where people can launch their boats into Colleton River.
With so many amazing amenities available in such a bucolic atmosphere located minutes away from all the best of Bluffton, it should come as no surprise that only one lot remains for sale in Victoria Bluff. Several resale homes are on the market, which a median price of about $395,000.
~ Penny Starr
- Total # Homes : 63
- Total # Lots : 7
- POA Home/Villa : $543
- POA Fee Lot : $543
- Transfer Fee : Not on file
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