Alesia Hunter, Anderson County Development Standards Manager, says once-dormant Anderson County housing projects have begun to pick back up, with the bulk of activity happening in Powdersville.
“It’s a beautiful area,” says Hunter. “We have an influx of people who want to be in that area.” And developers are responding to that increase in demand.
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Three new subdivisions have recently received phase-one approval, which means ground could break before the end of the year. Sixtythree new homes are proposed in an extension of Airy Springs off of Highway 81 North called the Enclave. Forty-five lots are being prepped for construction in the Ellison Plantation subdivision and another 35 are in the works for James Lake. Sally Ballentine, New Homes Specialist for Airy Springs, says the Wren School District is a big draw for families, as is the convenient location in between downtown Greenville and Anderson. “I live off Woodruff Road and I appreciate the lack of congestion,” she says of Powdersville. But despite the variety of choices home buyers have for new construction, she believes Powdersville is transitioning to a sellers’ market. “We’re in a place now where buyers are having to change the way they’re thinking,” she says, “You can’t just ask for everything and get it for a song.” Besides hundreds of new homes, a new YMCA is currently in the works on Wyatt Road and Highway 81. Recently completed projects include a new Walmart, CVS and a medical complex, which is now “the busiest part of development we have,” says Hunter. During the first seven months of 2013 county officials issued 294 single-family home permits—poised to surpass last year’s number of 369 and double the number of permits issued in 2009 when just 195 new homes were constructed in Anderson County. 88
Q4 2013 // Business Black Box