New park near Greenville opens as The Preserve at Lakewood between Mauldin and Conestee
March 4, 2022 (Source: Greenville News) With large tracts of land turning into subdivision seemingly overnight to accommodate the Upstate’s growth, the city of Mauldin is celebrating the grand opening of a 120-acre park that will forever keep green in Greenville. A ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday at The Preserve at Lakewood, the DidierGroup’s second privately owned public…
4 projects That Will Shape Greenville’s Future — Here’s Where they Stand
Source: Greenville News (August 8, 2019) – The unprecedented rate of growth in Greenville is matched with the need to keep pace to accommodate it. People are packed into parks that once were virtually empty. There aren’t going to be considerably fewer cars on congested Woodruff Road anytime soon, and the same is true of bikes…
Florida Could Lose Nearly a Fifth of its Rural Lands in 50 years
January 30, 2024 (Source: Key Biscayne Independent) – If Florida continues growing at its current pace, more than 2 million acres of the state’s ranches, timberland and farms could be paved over to make way for another 12 million new residents by 2070, according to a new report from the University of Florida and 1000…
Most recent median home sales in Greenville County up at $333,000
Source: Greenville News (December 17, 2023) – Newly released data for September shows that potential buyers and sellers in Greenville County saw houses sell for higher than the previous month’s median sale price of $324,000. The median home sold for $333,000, an analysis of data from Realtor.com shows. That means September, the most recent month…
Upstate Running Club and Youth Running Events a Mainstay at the Preserve Park
Area schools continue to use the Preserve at Lakewood for regular cross-country practices and events. Schools such as Our Lady of the Rosary use the site weekly for both middle and high school students. The ample parking and the trails, such as the well-known “Spaghetti Loop” and nature areas make the site perfect for races…
Despite historic successes, conservation efforts remain critical to protecting Upstate’s natural beauty
Source: Greenville News (September 1, 2022) The mountains and foothills of northwestern South Carolina are a place of singular beauty and abundant natural resources, causing people to flock here for centuries. That growth has exploded exponentially in recent decades and, if left unchecked, it has the potential to destroy the very things that drew people…
Greenville, SC Real Estate Market: Stats & Trends for 2022
April 18, 2022 (Source: Roofstock.com) – Greenville ranks among the nation’s top 10 hottest housing markets for 2022, with home prices projected to grow by 6% and sales volumes increasing by 11%. Low income taxes and property taxes, along with small-town living and great weather, are some of the reasons why investors love Greenville, SC.…
Seeing green: How one man is bringing a unique model for parks to the Upstate
January 13, 2022 (Source: Greenville Journal) – Hank Didier knows from experience the importance of protecting the environment. As an Orlando attorney who tried cases involving the Takata airbag failures and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, Didier spent more than 20 years as a successful environmental and consumer product safety…
The Breakout Cities on the Forefront of America’s Economic Recovery
May 9, 2021 (Source: Wall Street Journal) – Rising stars such as Greenville, S.C., Des Moines, Iowa, and Provo, Utah, built out vibrant economies even before the pandemic; now, they are drawing new workers and businesses The pandemic is accelerating growth in midsize cities, positioning them to lead the charge in the nation’s economic rebound.…
As Florida lawmakers complete session, still time to preserve environment | Commentary
(April 13, 2021) Source: Orlando Sentinel / Author: Jay Exum — Conservation of natural lands through the Florida Forever program has protected wildlife habitat, areas of aquifer recharge, wetland systems that provide flood storage and wild land recreation in Florida’s most unique ecosystems. Until recently, governors and legislators from both parties have invested hundreds of…
SC Real Estate Simmering on All Fronts
November 23, 2020 (Source: Greenville Magaine/L. C. Leach III) Be it large or small commercial, industrial, office, retail, residential, or space devoted to tourism and greenery, the current real estate market in South Carolina is a boom looking for a place to erupt. And during the inaugural SC Leadership Exchange webinar in November, real estate…
COVID-19 Has Changed The Housing Market Forever. Here’s Where Americans Are Moving (And Why)
October 11, 2020 (Source: Forbes/ Peter Lane Taylor) – Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, more deep-seated, tectonic-sized questions beyond markets and interest rates are being asked this time around that no one really has the answers to yet—like will people feel safer living in the south and southwest where they can spend all year social…
How Congress Can Improve Laws on Land Conservation
Source: The Hill/Robert Ramsay (September 18, 2020) Thankfully Congress has already taken action this year that will ensure more land is saved from development and available for recreational pursuits, but more remains to be done. Specifically, in July, Congress passed the Great American Outdoors Act with bipartisan support, fully funding the Land and Water Conservation Fund. This…
Former Millstone Golf Course Turned Conservation Land Hosts The Back 9 Ultra Race for Elite Runners
(September 18, 2020) – Greenville, SC – Upstate Ultra, a race and trail event organizer in Greenville, SC hosted an ultra event on The Preserve at RiverWest which represents 200+ acres of conserved property just three miles from downtown Main Street on Saturday, September 19, 2020. The 6-12-24 Hour Race was held at the former Millstone…
Follow the Green Money as Coronavirus Spreads
Source: Politico.com (April 3, 2020) – What is sustainable finance? It’s where the money is, or was. Before the coronavirus crisis hit, there was a fast-building global wave of money flowing toward financing a more sustainable future: from green buildings to renewable energy, from more efficient factories to 479 green bonds in 2019 alone. Yet for…
Green Light: Environmentally Friendly Building Becoming The Norm
Source: Traverse City Business News (April 1, 2020) – When it comes to building, it’s now easy being green. According to the United States Green Building Council, roughly 40% of the single-family house market is made up of green homes and 84% of new residential construction projects incorporate “sustainable features.” The Traverse City Business News spoke to…
13 Proven Methods Businesses Can Leverage To ‘Go Green’
Source: Forbes (February 26, 2020) – With eco-consciousness on the rise, a growing number of businesses are adapting their practices to become more environmentally friendly and reduce their carbon footprint. In addition to being good for the environment, this kind of eco-conscious approach can help attract new customers who are equally interested in being “green.”…
Biodiversity and Business: 4 Things you Need to Know for 2020
Source: GreenBiz (February 5, 2020) – This year, 2020, has been dubbed the “super year” for the environment. We’re used to hearing about climate change and the urgent need to slow global warming. This year, environmental experts are adding another focus to the mix: biodiversity. A new business buzzword? Or an oldie but a goodie?…
OPINION: The Upstate is a treasure worth protecting
Source: Greenville News (April 22, 2018) – Last spring, I invited Dr. Patrick McMillan, Hilliard Professor of Environmental Sustainability at Clemson and Director of the SC Botanical Garden, to speak at one of Upstate Forever’s events. He urged us all to take a moment to be awed by our region’s natural wonders, and to appreciate…
Clemson’s Patrick Square is a model of ULI sustainable living solutions
Source: Upstate Business Journal (May 9, 2019) – In the days of sprawling subdivisions with few amenities, traditional neighborhood developments (TNDs) are a breath of fresh air. That’s where Clemson’s Patrick Square stands out — in a package that maximizes sustainability and green building concepts. The community has been around for nearly a decade, but its…
Mauldin Homes are Fastest-Selling in SC, According to Study
Source: Greenville News (August 13, 2019) – Homes in Mauldin sell faster than anywhere else in South Carolina, according to new new data released by financial advice website SmartAsset.com. Mauldin homes average 37 days on the market. No other Upstate cities cracked the top 10, which ranked as follows, according to SmartAsset: Mauldin (37 days) Oak…
The Increased Importance Of Environmental Sustainability In Real Estate
Homebuyers want — and will pay more for — sustainable features like energy-efficient appliances, windows and the like, alongside features that ensure better air quality. As younger generations are expected to enter the homebuying market, this socially conscious group is looking out for green features.
Amid IRS Overreach, Congress Has A Real Opportunity to Reform Conservation Easement Legislation
Source: Forbes (June 4, 2019) – In 1980, Congress enacted a law that provided land owners a tax break if they donate a conservation easement. The idea is simple: If someone owns land in some sort of environmentally sensitive area and they forswear developing that land, they can—after donating the easement to a qualified land…
Today’s Challenges Call for Conservation Opportunities to be Expanded Not Limited
Source: The Telegraph (December 21, 2018) On Election Day, Georgians overwhelmingly approved Amendment 1, also known as the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Amendment, which is expected to generate more than $20 million annually in dedicated conservation funding. It will do so not by raising or creating any new taxes or fees, but instead by rededicating a…
Green Building Poised for Growth by 2021
Source: The NEWS (November 29, 2018) Overall, global green building activity continues to rise, with significant increases expected in 19 countries over the next three years, according to the results of the Dodge Data & Analytics World Green Building Trends 2018 SmartMarket Report, to which the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a contributing partner. Importantly,…
The Business Case for Sustainability in Commercial Real Estate
Source: National Real Estate Investor (July 16, 2018) The importance of sustainability in commercial real estate as a growth engine is now recognized by market participants both on the equity and on the debt side. Earlier this year ING issued a survey, which found that in the Americas, sustainability strategies have shifted from being a…
The New Startup South
Greenville has hit on a successful formula for incubating businesses. Could other cities in the region be next? Source: Bloomberg Business (June 28, 218) – When Scott Pancoast was crisscrossing the Carolinas raising money for his health-care startup earlier this year, one of the most important stops was a country club in his hometown of Greenville,…
Letter: Conservation Easements Benefit Public
Ridgeville resident William Baughman wrote the following Letter to the Editor in Charleston’s April 12th Post and Courier: I agree with the March 25 letter headlined “Private easements” about the importance of using conservation easements to protect South Carolina land for future generations. As we go through efforts such as the county comprehensive plan updates, we…
Green (Building) Is the New Gold
Source: RobbReport (May 9, 2018) – The trending environmentally conscious real estate movement shows the industry values the planet and its inhabitants. The green building movement formally took off in the United States during the early 1990s as the American Institute of Architects’ Committee on the Environment sought to create environmentally responsible homes and promote…
Multifamily Developers Embrace Green Building
Benefits like increased energy efficiency and cost savings, combined with heightened resident demand for sustainable features, are driving multifamily developers to go green. Source: Multi-Housing News (May 2, 2018) – Alongside the development boom that Marcus & Millichap estimates will add 335,000 new multifamily units to the nation’s inventory this year, another phenomenon is emerging.…
Evidence mounts: Green buildings cut costs and create healthier communities
the World Green Building Council (World GBC) suggests green, energy efficient buildings can play a significant role in helping to ensure healthier workplaces, and therefore better bottom lines for businesses, while also delivering significant environmental and operating cost benefits.
Growth spurt: Here’s how city of Mauldin’s growth doubled and why it will happen again
Source: Greenville News Online (April 7, 2018) – A year ago, developer Jack Shaw’s land at Interstate 385 and East Butler Road included a half-mile paved loop around an empty, 10-acre field. Today it is the site of BB&T’s 140,000-square-foot, 700-employee mortgage center. Where an abandoned shoe store stood last fall on Main Street in Mauldin, a Starbucks cafe…
What These 5 Banks Think About Tax Reform, Interest Rates, Real Estate and the Economy
There’s been a lot of chatter and uncertainty surrounding the implications of the recent changes in U.S. tax laws and the interest rate hikes expected this year. As the real estate sector and the financial industry as a whole wonder where exactly we are in the economic cycle and what’s coming up next, we decided…
The Advantages Of Investing In Real Estate For Big Tax Savings In 2018
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has changed the dynamics of our finances and the profitability of investments. While much of the press coverage around the new rules has been on its drawbacks, there exist some positive financial opportunities for those who educate themselves and act on new breaks. The new tax law both protects…
One of the best travel destinations in the world is just a two-hour drive from Atlanta
Feb. 20, 2018 –There are lots of “villes” attracting travelers from across the world these days. There’s Tennessee’s Nashville, aka Music City, North Carolina’s mountainous arts district Asheville, but there’s one other ville that is climbing the ranks. (Hint: It’s not the other little-known “ville” in Tennessee, Greeneville, spelled with that awkward fourth “e.”) “Yeah, that…
Atlanta Housing Market Among Best To Invest In For 2018: Forbes
ATLANTA, GA — February 8, 2018 – The Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta metro area is among the 20 best housing markets to invest in for 2018, according to Forbes. Forbes teamed up with Local Market Monitor to come up with the list of places where growth appears most sustainable. The list of cities Forbes deems worth investing…
The Essential Role Of Eco-Capitalism In Saving The Best That Remains
Greater Yellowstone’s rich tapestry will be won – or lost – based on what businesspeople do next. While I was researching my book on Greater Yellowstone media pioneer turned bison rancher Ted Turner (Last Stand: Ted Turner’s Quest to Save a Troubled Planet), my thinking about landscape-level conservation began to shift, particularly in pondering the…
5 Ways Architectural Design Is Going Green
Sustainability has been at the forefront of building construction and design for years. As Americans become more conscious of climate change and environmental issues, building owners are pushing for improved green building strategies that will help reduce the carbon footprint.
Greenville, SC Might Just be the Hottest City in America Right Now. Here’s Proof.
THINK YOU KNOW the South — BBQ, country music, pickup trucks? Nope. Put your assumptions on hold when you visit Greenville, South Carolina because here you’ll find far more fun, food, and straight-up personality than those typical Southern staples imply.
Georgia Leads in Innovative Land Conservation
Considered by many as a founding father of wildlife ecology and land preservation, Aldo Leopold believed “conservation will ultimately boil down to rewarding the private landowner who conserves in the public interest.”
Trends in Real Estate Development
Millennials, by and large, are making spending decisions that choose travel and experiences over what we traditionally saw with previous generations at the same age.
Post-Irma: Conservation Agenda More Vital Than Ever
What is the best defense against a raging hurricane? In addition to a superb team of first responders, smart infrastructure and advance planning, the answer, in part, is preserving natural systems.
What Makes Greenville, SC a Best Place to Live
Great amenities, vibrant economy and focus on authenticity make this city outstanding! The secret of Greenville, SC’s success is simple: balance.
What do we do?
As a real estate development fund manager and promoter of land investment opportunities, a large part of what I do every day is to consider the wealth of information available on emerging marketplaces, building trends
The New Gated Community: More Land, Fewer Neighbors
Ty and Kady Hendrix live in a gated development that doesn’t have a golf course or a clubhouse – or a lot of neighbors.
Green Building in U.S. Luxury Developments Continues to Flourish
Developers are driven to build eco-friendly residences whether the federal government supports it or not. In recent years, luxury real estate developers
Eight Approaches to Indoor/Outdoor Functionality
From the beach to the suburbs, these innovative floor plans open up new possibilities for outdoor spaces. Recent studies show that Americans put a premium on spending time
BMW South Carolina plant adding 1,000 jobs, redesigned X3
German luxury automaker BMW plans to invest $600 million and add 1,000 workers through 2021 at its sprawling plant in Spartanburg, S.C. to prepare for production of X models
Values and impact are increasingly relevant to investors
The world of investing is changing, with new investors looking at how they can achieve both acceptable returns and build a better world with their money.
Older millennials are leaving the city for a new kind of suburb
Why live in a metropolis when you can find urban perks in the suburbs? Older millennials are realizing they don’t have a good answer to that question anymore. The result: a migration out of the city.
Private conservation might be the future hero for endangered species
House Republicans may be endangering the Endangered Species Act (ESA), but that does not mean they are driving endangered species to their prospective graves.