Author: Harry Lassiter - The Lassiter Company
02/21/2006
HAMMOND'S FERRY, NEW TRADITIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY, SIGNALS PENDING HOME CONSTRUCTION WITH SALE OF LOTS.
North Augusta, S.C. (February 21, 2006) - North Augusta, SC…Hammond’s Ferry, a new mixed-use community which will rise near the bluffs on the edge of the Savannah River, is advancing to a new phase of development with the official recording of 106 lots previously reserved last May by the members of the Hammond’s Ferry Builders’ Guild and purchasers of custom home lots. The sale of these lots in Phase 1 signal the start of construction and sale of new homes, townhomes and condominiums. The issuance of building permits commenced in February, with construction scheduled to start soon, beginning with a first wave of demonstration houses and custom homes to follow. In addition to new home opportunities, apartments and retail for rent space will also be available in this first phase.
Planned using the principals of Traditional Neighborhood Design, the community features a range of housing types, from single-family homes to townhomes and condominium apartments. There will also be mixed-use buildings with retail space on the ground floors and rental apartments above. Hammond’s Ferry is a public/ private partnership between the City of North Augusta and LeylandAlliance of Tuxedo, New York. Leyland is a recognized leader in the Traditional Neighborhood movement, which emphasizes human scale, pedestrian-friendly streets and walkways and architecture that is in keeping with the cultural traditions of a given geographical setting.
Charlie Walker, Director of Sales for Hammond’s Ferry, states, “We’re seeing a tremendous amount of interest from a variety of prospective homeowners: single professionals, couples with children and empty nesters, including active adults.
Geographically, while most housing inquiries are coming from nearby communities in South Carolina and Georgia, we’re getting requests for information on the project from as far away as Florida and the Northeast corridor.”
The master plan for Hammond’s Ferry, which was prepared by the noted architectural firm of Dover, Kohl & Partners, calls for approximately 800 new dwellings together with some commercial buildings, all integrated into a landscaped framework of parks, open spaces and interior lakes. The 200 + acre site is located on a 1-mile stretch directly across the river from downtown Augusta, Georgia.
The City of North Augusta has been a key driver for Hammond’s Ferry and has provided critical financial and legislative support to bring it to reality. G. M. ‘Skip’ Grkovic, AICP, Director of Economic & Community Development, has been closely aligned with the project. He observes, “We’ve made the substantial investment of time, money and energy that a quality project like this always requires and now are encouraged as the first very tangible benchmarks in the development process are being realized. Hammond’s Ferry will be a unique and special place that brings new life to the riverfront.”
LeylandAlliance has established a unique approach to building the houses and condominiums in the development. To ensure quality control and uniform standards across the board a Hammond’s Ferry Builders’ Guild has been designated to construct all the buildings. The Guild members were selected from a group of qualified applicants with reputations for high standards of construction and craftsmanship in North Augusta. They will provide full service construction management for the residences and commercial buildings, closely adhering to the Hammond’s Ferry Pattern Book, which establishes the intricate standards and guidelines for the building forms, shapes of windows and doors, roof pitches, eaves details and porch styles. The Pattern Book is an essential tool that establishes a cohesive architectural look for the Guild to follow. Architecturally, Hammond’s Ferry is referential to historic North Augusta and Augusta houses that have evolved over three centuries, with a traditional “language” that is drawn from a range of historical styles: Federal, Greek Revival, Italianate, Queen Anne and Craftsman. The overall look is characterized by strong facades, welcoming front porches and raised basements. Building materials typically include horizontal wood siding and brick.
Interestingly, the original concept for Hammond’s Ferry originated as early as 1891, when the visionary James U. Jackson envisioned a North Augusta community similar to the one being realized today. N. Turner Simkins, Project Director for Hammond’s Ferry, states, “The master plan and urban design of Hammond’s Ferry is simply an extension of the genteel architecture, friendly streets and cultural heritage of North Augusta. There has been much anticipation of the project transitioning to reality, so we’re naturally pleased that work on the infrastructure is underway and will progress into the new year, giving evidence that home construction is soon to follow.”
Lark Jones, Mayor of North Augusta, who has been a leading advocate for Hammond’s Ferry since it was originally conceived, summarizes the vision and outlook for the community: “Once in a great while, many forces come together to create a great residential development. North Augusta was fortunate to assemble significant acreage on our riverfront. The City was doubly lucky to have a developer such as LeylandAlliance LLC who helped create the plan. The vision is now becoming reality. Years of planning, perseverance and a tremendous public-private partnership will result in one of the nation's premier communities.”
An official Grand Opening of the demonstration street is planned for the fall of 2006.
For more information about Hammond’s Ferry subsequent lot release or home purchases, please contact info@hammondsferry.com or call 803-613-1641.
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