Lake Wylie news

Clover Voters Turn Down Schools Referendum

September 28, 2021 by lkw_df Leave a Comment

This month, voters in Clover turned down the much debated Schools Referendum. The bond referendum would have cost $197 million and was to help alleviate congestion as the area is rapidly growing. Turning it down means that there is still overcrowding with no relief in sight, but it gives lawmakers an opportunity to come up with a better plan.

The Schools Referendum included plans for a second high school, an eighth elementary school and a third middle school. To help pay for the new schools, the bond would have been paid for with a tax hike which was estimated to be between 15% and 30%. This was just more than most taxpayers wanted to pay.

The local elections office in York County estimated that about 22% of registered voters turned out for the election. Around 71% of those that voted were opposed to the bond, while about 29% were for the bond. The last school bond measure that passed in Clover was in 2014.

The next steps are for the school district and the community to come up with a new plan to keep Clover schools great, while also keeping taxpayers happy. The district will work closely with residents to come up with a better plan to ease overcrowding without the large price tag for taxpayers. There will be a lot of community meetings like school board meetings, focus groups, town halls, and community information sessions, to help shape the new plan. These meetings could happen as soon as October led by York County Council member Allison Love.

If you want to be a part of the community in Clover and be a part of shaping the future of the community, you need to be ready when a new home hits the market. To be the first to know about homes in Clover, or any other town in the Lake Wylie area, call us at 803-831-8588 and we can help you find the perfect home for you and your family. You can view current listings and create custom searches on our website here.

To read more about this issue, see the full article in The Herald.

New Type of Intersection Now Open at Gold Hill Road

September 15, 2021 by lkw_df Leave a Comment

For those of you who exit Interstate 77 at Gold Hill Road, be prepared for a new type of intersection. This Diverging Diamond Interchange is now open though it is still under construction. This is the first Diverging Diamond in South Carolina though they are used in many other states. The opening is great for commuters who have been stuck in traffic there for a while, but the new setup can be confusing.

The new intersection opened up on Monday after being closed for the weekend. The idea of this type of intersection is to eliminate left turns that take up time and cause congestion. This should also improve safety at the interchange.

The main idea of the diverging diamond is that when you cross over the highway, you will move from the right side to the left side, then back again. Oncoming traffic will shift the same way so that there is no oncoming traffic to make you stop and wait while trying to take a left turn.

A video explaining the process has been provided by York County and Pennies for Progress road improvement program. The link is below so you can see it in action so you can be prepared when you get there.

Diverging Diamond

There are clearly marked lanes and a concrete barrier in place so you don’t end up driving the wrong way. Hopefully when fully completed in October, the intersection will ease congestion from Fort Mill and Tega Cay at I-77 for the roughly 25,000 cars that pass through each day.

To learn more about any home or neighborhood in the Lake Wylie area, call us at 803-831-8588 and we can help you find the perfect home for you and your family. You can view current listings and create custom searches on our website here.

Allison Creek Access Re-Vamp To Begin Soon

July 29, 2021 by lkw_df Leave a Comment

If you are a frequent user of the Allison Creek Access Area and boat ramps, you will need to find an alternate access point starting next month. The two boat ramps and fishing access will be closed for improvements.

The area is scheduled for a much needed upgrade which will feature RV and tent camping, picnic area, trails, canoe/kayak launch, and ranger station spaces. York County recently rezoned 165 acres as part of the project.

The work is slated to begin in August of 2021 with a reopening planned for late in 2022. In the meantime, you can use access points at Buster Boyd, Ebenezer Park, Nivens Creek, or South Point. All of these areas have boat ramps, but there are many other public access points for the lake that do not have boat ramps.

This project is part of the requirements for Duke Energy as part of their federal license to continue operations of hydropower plants on the Catawba River. They have many other improvements in the area including restrooms at the Buster Boyd Access Area, a new riverfront park in Rock Hill, and the restoration of Great Falls. There are many other improvements that have been completed already, are in the works, or have been planned.

For information about buying and selling homes in the Lake Wylie area, give us a call at 803-831-8588 and we can put together a plan for you and your family. You can view current listings and create custom searches on our website here.

New 115 Acre Project Potentially Coming to Fort Mill

July 5, 2021 by lkw_df Leave a Comment

The first reading of a new proposal for a 115 acre mixed use project was presented at the Fort Mill Town Council meeting in the middle of June. The project, if approved, would bring homes, townhomes, senior living, and commercial space including a grocery store.

The project is located on Fort Mill Parkway at North Doby’s Bridge and Williams Roads near Doby Bridge Park. The plan for the project calls for up to 220 independent and assisted-living memory care units. There would be a separate area for up to 150 homes and 90 homes age restricted for senior living. Up to 240,000 square feet of commercial space would support the needs of residents in and outside of the project. The grocery store would be 50,000 square feet of the space and would be located on the North Dobys Bridge side of Fort Mill Parkway. Within the remaining square footage would be offices and retail. The tentative tenants for these spaces includes medical offices, fast-food, a bank, and general offices.

Crossroads Development Partners are in charge of the project and they have submitted the concept plan for approval. The first look at the project happened at the most recent town council meeting. Based on the proposal, the Town Council can approve or ask for amendments to the plan. The planning commission can make a recommendation for or against the project with the Town Council having a final vote.

Part of the plan is a traffic impact analysis as a large project of this sort can make a big difference in an area. The developer is responsible for traffic improvements including turn lanes, alteration to traffic signals, and widening for turn in lanes. They will also be responsible for new cul-de-sac streets in the residential portion of the project..

The plan calls for a 10-year build out with half of the project happening in each 5 year segment. Town Council will have the ability to amend the plan in ways that would help the community as the project grows. The project will need to have rezoning and annexation which makes it a little bit complicated. This calls for amending the town comprehensive plan as well.

The public will have a chance to have input. The most pressing issue appears to be congested roads in the area and how such a large project will impact them. The first public hearing is tentatively set for July 12th with another hearing to follow.

For more information on the Lake Wylie area, especially buying and selling homes, neighborhood information, and much more, call us at 803-831-8588. You can view current listings and create custom searches on our website here.

To read more about this new development, see the article in the Fort Mill Herald.

Authentic Mexican Restaurant Open in Gastonia

June 28, 2021 by lkw_df Leave a Comment

For those of us mourning the loss of Price’s Chicken Coop, we tend to think that all of the good authentic restaurants are leaving. That’s not the case in Gastonia. A new authentic Mexican restaurant called Las Piñas, which translates to The Pineapples, has just opened and is poised to be an instant classic.

You won’t find the heavy Tex-Mex fare at Las Piñas. The menu specializes in fruit and juice based dishes. Everything is fresh and colorful with touches of spice. They have everything from hot dogs, to cakes, to Mexican-style fruit dishes perfect for the summer weather. You can also get refreshing juices of all types.

Las Piñas is owned and run by Maria Zuniga and Lenyn Henriquez and is a way to bring their culture to the people of Gastonia and surrounding areas. They have lived in Gastonia since 2006 and saw a need for traditional Mexican-style fruit dishes that they missed from their culture. They have a special wall for guests to sign their names and they have already had guests from as far away as New York and California.

Come by and check it out for yourself. They are located at 611 E. Franklin Boulevard. Hours are noon to 8 pm Tuesday and Wednesday and noon to 9 pm Thursday through Sunday. The grand opening was in late June so swing by when you need a refreshing treat.

For more information on buying or selling a home in the Lake Wylie area, call us at 803-831-8588. You can view current listings and create custom searches on our website here.

May Market Report: Greater Lake Wylie Area

June 15, 2021 by lkw_df Leave a Comment

The May numbers have been published by the Canopy Realtor Association and they look very similar to previous months. There is still a severe lack of supply of homes, with high demand driving prices higher and we are still seeing homes sell for more than list price. There are new homes coming on the market, but so far supply has not caught up with demand.

In the Charlotte area as a whole, there are now just 3,104 homes for sale, representing a 0.6 month supply of homes. They are selling for an average of almost $395,000, up 27.4% from last year at this time. Sellers are receiving on average 101.6% of the list price for their homes. Homes are selling quickly with the average home going under contract in 16 days, down 55.6% from last year.

When you look at the numbers for the greater Lake Wylie area, you see that we are following the same trend. There are 130 homes on the market right now representing a 0.8 month supply of homes. The average sale price rose 36.2% from last May to just over $515,000. Sellers are typically getting 101.8% of the list price for their homes. Homes are receiving a contract after an average of 18 days on the market.

When you look ahead based on this report, you can see that there are more new listings than last year at this time, 34.6% more, but we still have not recovered from a slow spring. We may see more people listing homes over the summer so they can get settled in new schools before the next school year starts. If we get more supply, it could finally be more than the demand and we could see prices start to stabilize. Until then, expect multiple offer situations and offers above list price to continue.

Give us a call at 803-831-8588 to learn more about buying or selling a home in the Lake Wylie area. You can view current listings and create custom searches on our website here.

Ebenezer Park to Reopen Soon

April 7, 2021 by lkw_df Leave a Comment

One of the gems of Lake Wylie is about to reopen after extensive renovations. Ebenezer Park is located on the southern shores of Lake Wylie and has 12,400 acres of land in Rock Hill, South Carolina. The park has many different features, but of course, water based activities are the highlight of the park.

The park has extensive facilities for camping, boating, kayaking, canoeing, playground, volleyball, basketball, fishing, and swimming. Picnic shelters, swings, and benches are all along the waterfront. There are great views of the main channel of the lake perfect for sunrises and sunsets. There are 67 fully equipped campsites with water, sewer and electric hook-ups. Wi-Fi coverage available through most of the park.

Updates to the park include a 10,000 square foot pier with covered shelters, an enlarged and dredged swimming/beach area, and additional boat slips for loading and unloading or watercraft. A multipurpose building was built to accommodate concerts, movies in the park, and special occasion rentals. A new boardwalk was constructed at the Ranger Station with park benches and new trails were built through the woods. Basketball and sand volleyball courts were added, and the parking lot was redesigned with angled spaces for watercraft trailers. An arbor entrance was constructed with beach chairs. All in all, $4.6 million of renovations are almost complete.

The reopening celebration is scheduled for Saturday, May 1st, 2021 from 11 am until 1 pm. Activities will include a ribbon cutting, live entertainment, music, and more. The park is located at 4490 Boatshore Road, Rock Hill, SC for map directions. Special Covid protocols may be in place, please check the York County website for the most updated information including inclement weather announcements. You can also call the park office at 803-366-6620.

If you are ready to buy or sell a home in the Lake Wylie area, call us at 803-831-8588. You can view current listings and create custom searches on our website here.

To read the full story in the Herald, click here.

To see the York County press release, click here.

New Watersports Business Coming to Lake Wylie

March 26, 2021 by lkw_df Leave a Comment

A new watersports business is coming on May first to Lake Wylie. The launch happens just as vaccination rates are on the rise and gathering rules are starting to relax. What more perfect way to celebrate than by getting in the water and enjoying yourself at Lake Wylie.

The new business is called Holley Watersports and is located at Papa Doc’s Shore Club right at the Buster Boyd Bridge access area. This area is typically known for motorized boat traffic, but now will have kayaks, paddleboards, and pedal boats available to rent from Holley Watersports.

Safety is key with Holley Watersports. They have all of the gear you need to be safe in the water. In addition, all participants, adults and children, will need to sign a waiver stating that they will follow safety rules.

There should be plenty of car parking as Papa Doc’s Shore Club has enough spaces for large gatherings like the 4th of July and boat parade events. This means that this is the perfect place to gather before you go out on the water, or for a celebratory meal or drinks after you get back from your lake adventure.

The business is similar to others in place on the Catawba River between Tega Cay and Rock Hill. These services have proved popular so it seems like it will be a great addition to this area. There are so many nearby neighborhoods that can benefit from the lake access in addition to corporate functions, parties, and much more.

You have to be ready to go for listing or purchasing a home in the current market. We can help if you call us at 803-831-8588. You can view current listings and create custom searches on our website here.

To read the full article, click here to read all about it in The Herald.