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The banner year broke the previous record of $116 million set in 2006, and City Codes Administrator Phil Rhoads anticipates that 2008 will produce another solid performance.
“We obviously won’t see new hospitals and city buildings so I don’t anticipate another year like the one we have just experienced. But there are other projects in the works that should make 2008 a substantial year for the construction industry”, Rhoads believes.
The largest project is likely to be a huge retail development, anchored by a Bass Pro Shop, on Highway 14 South near the I-85 interchange. Rhoads said “there is a lot of conjecture about this project. I do know the developer is working to recruit tenants, but I have no idea what retailers are being considered.”
Restaurants will continue to multiply in 2008. A Copper River Grille will open by late February or early March on East Wade Hampton. Rhoads said a new McDonald’s is planned for the corner of West Wade Hampton and Suber Rd., and the long-awaited Casbah restaurant should open in downtown Greer.
Other commercial projects, which Rhoads says will carry the load, include an Arthur State Bank branch and a CVS pharmacy, both of South Buncombe Rd. “We also could see another automobile dealer locate on East Wade Hampton.”
Residential construction starts may be the downside of the outlook, as Rhoads expects the depressed housing market to continue.
“Single family home starts were down 25% during 2007, and I don’t see any change right away. For one thing, many people are now beginning to wait and see how the Presidential election turns out this fall. After that, it may pick up.”
At least two new subdivisions and a pair of town home developments are expected in 2008, however. Rhoads said that an upscale development, Gap Creek Farms, will be built across from Greer High School on Gap Creek Rd. “They are planning 25 lots using five top notch builders. This will be a really nice development”, Rhoads believes.
Infrastructure is nearly complete for O’Neal Village, a new 400-home subdivision on Highway 101 North.
Brushy Creek Town Homes is planned for Brushy Creek Rd and a similar project is set for Hammett Bridge Rd. at Dillard Dr.
To cope with growth, during the past year the Codes Department added Justin Glenn to oversee GIS activities, and Rhoads hopes to hire a plan reviewer in 2008. Rhoads, along with Fire Marshal Scott Keeley, treview all building plans, “and it takes most of my time. I reviewed 74 commercial plans and a great many more residential plans during the past year. It is really a heavy load, especially since our department took over the storm water engineering”, Rhoads said.
Housing starts capped 2007 with the December start of a blockbuster $10.1 million apartment complex. DIR Construction is general contractor for the Preserve at West View at the intersection of South Buncombe Rd. and Jones Ave. Plans call for 17 buildings on the site, including a clubhouse and office. Individual apartment buildings will range from 13,790 square feet to 25,725 square feet.
Another town home complex was begun in the Seven Oaks section of Blue Ridge Plantation. Meritus Signature Homes of Seneca is developing the complex, starting out with four units that range in size from 2,466 to 2,516 square feet and in construction cost from $110,650 to $133,250.
Only 10 permits were issued for new single family homes, continuing the trend of a somewhat depressed housing market that began in August which was the first month to dip to 10 housing starts since January 1998.
Half of the new homes were begun in December were in Chartwell Estates off Gibbs Shoals Rd. Tower Homes began construction of five models, ranging in size from 1,970 square feet to 2,685 square feet and in construction cost from $88,150 to $123,250.
Elsewhere, S.K. Builders began a 2,500 square foot home costing $111,250 at 340 Half Rock Circle in Riverdale, off East Wade Hampton Blvd.
Working in Lismore Park on Suber Rd., Keystone of Charlotte started a $166,425 home of 3,692 square feet at 18 Galway Dr.
Lazarus-Shouse launched a $123,200 model with 2,714 square feet at 31 Hurshfield Dr. in Blue Ridge Plantation.
Working in the Spring Hill section of Bent Creek Plantation on Westmoreland Rd., Mountain Top Homes stared a pair of 3,370 square foot houses costing $147,125 apiece.
The largest commercial project in December was the start of an expansion of Advanced Composite Materials to serve as a new corporate headquarters with additional research and manufacturing space. Located at 114 South Buncombe Rd., the 31,400 square foot building will be erected by Cunningham-Waters Construction Co. The project is expect to cost $2.3 million.
Bradshaw Automotive launched a new Cadillac showroom and sales office on East Wade Hampton Blvd. The $2 million project of 14,800 square feet will be tackled by Penreath Construction Co.
Rounding out commercial starts was the Greer Laundromat at 613 East Poinsett St. Peake Construction Co. is general contractor for the $71,000 building of 3,200 square feet being built for Dennis Cooper.
Other commercial projects included upfits of several buildings. The largest permits were awarded to Cely Construction Co. to complete the interiors of two 30,000 square foot medical office buildings on the Greer Memorial Hospital campus on South Buncombe Rd. These projects were pegged at $1.8 and $1.9 million, respectively.
Price Construction Co. will upfit an area of a medical office building at the Village at Pelham, 2755 Highway 14 South, for the Piedmont Women’s Center. Finishing the 3,000 square foot areas is expected to cost $315,000.
A $110,000 renovation will convert the second story of a building at 230 Trade Street St. into an apartment. Scott Stevens has engaged Palmetto Construction Co. to tackle the 2,500 square foot project.
Rhoads noted that “this will be the third tenant on a second floor in the historic downtown business area, following apartments above Justin’s Steak House an Bin 112. An increasing number of people are looking for residential space like this, so I think this trend will continue.”
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