Published November/December 2001 issue

Park West

Along with breathtaking natural beauty, Park West also has that “small town charm.” Designed to respect nature and providing amenities and services normally not found in most neighborhoods, Park West has become one of the Lowcountry’s premier communities.

 

Already a signature landmark in Mt. Pleasant, the entrance to Park West offers calming pools, sparkling fountains, lush foliage, and brick walls scripted with the Park West name. Welcoming and graceful, blending into the natural beauty of the land, the main entrance of Park West showcases the carefree and serene lifestyle found within. 

Remember as a child riding bikes with your best friend who lived right next door? Now with a family of your own, haven’t you wished your children could walk to school or ride their bikes to the pool or tennis courts? Wouldn’t it be wonderful on a lazy fall afternoon if the whole family were able to enjoy a walk to the local ice cream parlor?

Welcome to Park West! A magical community with neighborhoods, schools, a sports complex, jogging trails, bike paths, a planned marketplace and so much more!

Conceived in 1996, Park West, located in Mt. Pleasant, just north of Charleston, is set on 1700 acres of prime Lowcountry property. Bordering Toomer and Darrell Creeks as well as the Wando River, Park West has over 4 1/2 miles of waterfront property and also includes 250 acres of saltwater marsh and 292 acres of freshwater wetlands. From its inception, the developers, Bill Bobo and Pat Tomlin were committed to the “town within a town” concept. Realizing that people were seeking more quality family time and less commuter headaches, Bobo and Tomlin worked to create a community where a family could work, play, attend school and shop while never having to drive onto a major highway. While zoning allows construction of multi-family and single-family homes, in addition to office/commercial property, Park West, has developed each stage with a keen sense of protecting the environment. Zoned for 6,000 residences, Park West envisions no more than 2,800 homes when fully developed. This spectacular site features massive moss draped oaks, rustling palmettos, grand pines, and swaying marsh grass, alive with herons, egrets and deer. Roads as well as building sites have been mapped out to follow the natural lay of the land. Sensitivity of the preservation of wetlands as well as Park West’s mission to safeguard the abundant vegetation and forests within has made them a pioneer in residential development.

Meandering throughout Park West is the Wando River, along with tidal creeks, salt marshes and freshwater wetlands all preserved and protected to maintain the integrity of Mother Nature. Imagine enjoying the sunrise with a steaming cup of coffee, or the thrill of your child catching their very first fish from your own personal dock! Each waterfront home site comes with approved dock corridor plans. 

A development as unique as Park West deserves a unique entrance and at a cost of over one million dollars, the Park West entrance is spectacular! Lining the incoming and outgoing roads are twin tiered pools fronted by elegant brick walls showcasing the Park West name. Entering Park West, the water gives the impression of reflecting pools. Actually because of the natural topography of the land, each pool is tiered, creating waterfalls, which feed into the next level. At the end of the entrance the pools culminate with three cascading fountains. Using Chinese elms, weeping willows and magnolia-leaf hollies, the landscaping is simple yet elegant, reflecting the serene and calming environment which lies within.

Once inside Park West you notice a distinctive European flair in the use of roundabouts or one-way traffic circles. The roundabouts complement the natural beauty by eliminating overhead traffic signals as well as slowing traffic and helping the flow.

Of particular interest to homeowners with growing families is the 105 acre educational complex. Jules Deas Jr., Director of Sales for Park West told me, “Children attending our state of the art elementary and middle schools are being offered cutting edge technology which is reflected in their academic performance. And having the schools actually located inside the community has certainly fueled sales!” A brand new high school slated to open in 2004 is being constructed adjacent on Hwy 17.

Mt. Pleasant Recreation Park is located inside Park West on 59 acres and includes a football/soccer field, a baseball field, a multi-purpose athletic field as well as a community center which hosts a variety of activities from continuing education classes to seniors’ programs. The fields are lighted, restroom facilities are available and parking is plentiful. In the works is an additional baseball field and runner’s track. While the recreation park is open to the general public, the residents of Park West benefit since it is located only a short bike ride, relaxing walk or brisk jog away!

 

Along with football and soccer fields at the Mt. Pleasant Recreation Park, which is conveniently located inside the Park West development, is the newly constructed 4,000 square foot community center. Complete with kitchen and restroom facilities, this versatile building is home to a variety of adult and children’s programs. 

A junior Olympic pool with bathhouse, kiddie pool, summer kitchen and toddler playground are available for homeowners to enjoy at the Park West Amenity Center. As the community continues to grow, tennis courts, an outdoor concert area and two additional pools will be constructed as rooftops dictate.

During the summer the whole family can take advantage of the junior Olympic pool complete with gazebos and a full service bathhouse. As development at Park West continues tennis courts and additional pools are planned. 

 

Time to put your toddler in his stroller and take a leisurely walk to the Park West Amenity Center. He plays on the tot lot while you help plan the neighborhood oyster roast to be held at the adjoining summer kitchen. 

The Park West community will build out at approximately fifteen neighborhoods, each with its own unique character and charm. With the emphasis on Lowcountry design, the attention to detail combined with the beauty of the land makes these neighborhoods a welcome respite from the outside world. Each neighborhood has a themed entrance, some with fountains, which correspond with the main entrance. Natural buffering provides privacy as well as architectural harmony for each area. No matter what your housing needs, Park West offers it! multi-family neighborhoods featuring elegant townhomes and patio homes are included as well as pre-designed single-family residences and distinguished custom built homes. With 22 custom builders and 4 national builders including Centex Homes, D.R. Horton, David Weekley Homes and Beazer Homes, potential homowners have the option of purchasing an existing home for immediate occupancy, working with an approved builder to custom design their dream home, or using a builder of their own! Park West is truly a community for all of life’s stages and budgets, with homes ranging in price from the low $100K’s to over a $1 million. All waterfront homesites have pre-approved dock corridors for future development. All homes, whether site or custom built are constructed with a detailed list of criteria from the Park West Architectural Review Board in order to produce an atmosphere of compatibility. Deas said, “Park West has two ARB boards each which include an architect and meet on a weekly basis to address issues in a timely manner.” Strict adherence to architectural standards as well as approved builders who follow these rules have contributed greatly to the success of Park West.

From the beginning, Park West developers worked hand and hand with environmental specialists to make certain that roadways and home sites were constructed following the natural lay of the land. Architecturally distinctive homes, meticulous landscaping and seasonal perennials and annuals enhance each neighborhood. 

Spacious lots, home sides designed with sensitivity to nature, wide streets with sidewalks, bike paths and jogging trails, Park West’s neighborhood range from patio homes to custom-built waterfront estates. Suited for growing families as well as “empty-nesters,” prospective homeowners have the option of an existing home or working with a custom builder to create the “home of their dreams!”

Taking cues from a “Mayberry” style of small town life, which revolves around a center town square, the proposed marketplace will be a quaint village built to reflect “Lowcountry Charm.” Architectural features such as peaked roof, dormers, windows and doors shaded with colorful awnings, and old-fashioned chimneys, will highlight the intended “town within a town” concept. While future plans include bringing in a national anchor tenant, more immediate retailers will be specialty shops and cafes, along with service businesses such as dry cleaners and personal care salons. These will be ground floor tenants. Second and third floors will be utilized as offices for physicians, accountants, and other professionals, along with unique one-of-a-kind apartments. This diverse mix will create a self-contained community, meeting the needs of all residents.

The actual town square will be a neighborhood park and pavilion where residents can sit and leisurely visit with neighbors or just people watch.

Park West is the community of a life-time. Designed for homeowners of all ages, from growing families to busy executives to downsizing retirees, Park West has successfully created a blueprint for small town living combing a plethora of amenities with careful consideration for Mother Nature. Park West, the epitome of what Lowcountry living truly is all about.