What's the Scoop?
What's the Scoop?
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What's Coming to Okatie Crossing?
[Note: Okatie Crossing is that portion of the original Okatie Center that lies north and west of the intersection of US 278 and SC 170. We are grateful to a SCHH resident for developing the source of this information. --Ed.]
To view a PDF file of the
general area, click here.
To view a PDF file of the developer's
schematic, click here.
To view a PDF file of a press release from the developer, click here.
Jan 6, 2006 - No update on plans, per se, but did you hear the rumor about the eagle's nest? Well, it's not a rumor, and here's what the original source has to say about that:
It is correct, in that there is, indeed, an eagle's nest. Provisions have been made to protect and preserve that area of the 294 acres. Okatie Crossing is still proceeding on schedule. Actually, I am in Charlotte, NC, talking with some of the big box users! Please let everyone know that all is well both with the eagles and with the developmental progress. Remember how long it took to get Sea Turtle Cinemas to become reality? Multiply that by many times over and you have Okatie Crossing.
Dec 6, 2005 - It is now more complicated to present this material. Two sources have information or insight. One is the GBAC website and the other is the original source for this material. Here's what they have to say:
GBAC:
Banking, Electronics, and Food Service Now Slated for Okatie Crossing
Claudia
Jones, of Horne properties, has advised GBAC that an unannounced bank has closed
on an outparcel along Highway 170, and that a large electronics retailer has
Okatie Crossing before its Real Estate Review Committee. Additionally, a
national franchise Mexican restaurant is tendering a Letter of Intent, and
Outparcel #1 (closest to
GBAC had
queried Horne Properties, to see what new businesses were signing up “in addition to
Dillards, B&N, Stone Cold Creamery, Ethan Allen and Wachovia.”
Okatie Crossing is 136
acres positioned on the northwest quadrant of U.S. Highway 278 and S.C. Highway
170 in Bluffton,
The approximately one million square foot lifestyle center development will have multiple anchors consisting of major department stores, junior anchors, and small shop retailers. In addition, a portion of this development has been earmarked for medical and office space.
For more on Okatie
Crossing, visit Horne Properties, Inc,
then click on Commercial;
Original Source:
Moving “main street to
the suburbs”
Each month we provide an update, from the developer, on what is transpiring at Okatie Crossing.
While it may not look like much is happening in regards to the physical development process across Route 278, there is much going on behind the scenes and you should start to see things begin to happen, perhaps by late Spring (my estimate).
Following for your information is an insightful overview of what the developer is going to build, which I believe you will find of interest.
The scope of Okatie Crossing is significantly larger than anything that has been built around here. There is nothing that currently compares to what we will have.
The design for Okatie Crossing will be that of an open-air lifestyle center.
They refer to the design theme as “moving main street to the suburbs.”
Specifically, they intend to simulate an old fashioned downtown shopping area with 2 main boulevards with the look and feel of what you grew up with in terms of shopping in a downtown area where everything you wanted was in one contiguous place.
“One Stop Shopping”
When Okatie Crossing is completed, Sun City residents will be able to literally have most of their shopping needs satisfied.
This means that you will be able to shop at “big box” retailers (defined as retailers requiring 30,000 or more square feet. One ‘big box’ retailer that has been announced is Dillards department store. Okatie Crossing is expecting to have several big-box retailers).
In addition to big-box retailers, we will be able to access a grocer, dry cleaner, bank, package mailing store, numerous restaurants and much more.
As of this moment in time the developer informed us that they are well underway to completing the process of adding five national restaurant food chains to Okatie Crossing.
Another part of the ambience they intend to create in their theme of bringing “main street to the suburbs” is the amount of landscaping that will be provided.
Okatie Crossing will have
five times the amount of landscaping that is normally included in a typical
mall.
Golf Cart Access
Okatie Crossing is being designed to accommodate golf cart access from Sun City directly into a portion of the shopping center’s parking lot.
There will not be golf car parking spaces, rather we will park our golf carts in the regular car spaces.
It is the developer’s objective that Okatie Crossing will be a shopping destination rather than just a shopping mall. The size, scope and store make-up will be unlike anything offered in the low country.
As soon as the developer has concluded negotiations with all of the big box retailers, the construction activity should be apparent to all of us.
As of this moment in time, following is a list of what we think will be included thus far:
A spa, ladies beauty salon, men’s barber shop, chiropractor, real estate brokers, Greek restaurant, Chinese restaurant, Italian restaurant, sports bar and grille and a jeweler. They are also working to sign a national tenant especially for the craft groups in Sun City.
This is in addition to a grocer, Dillard’s, Barnes and Noble, Cold Stone Creamery, Ethan Allen and a bank.
Oct 31, 2005
- What's happening in terms of actual construction?
“October
was the busiest month ever as far as retailer/restaurant interest. Site
visits have been scheduled for this week involving several national retailers
with 'big boxes!'
"One of the compelling reasons that we have not broken
ground is that these 'big boxes' must be able to be carefully situated on the
site plan so that every retailer may benefit from their placement.
"Okatie Crossing encompasses close to 300 acres, so we
have lots of infrastructure (roads and utilities) work that will continue
once all of the larger users have signed off on the location of their boxes.
"We expect that the continuing
infrastructure work will commence early in 2006 at the latest.” -- The
devolper
Oct 3, 2005
The first new
bank will be closing this month. The announcement of the bank and the ground
breaking for the new building will commence in the next two months. Other new
additions will include a frame shop, including original art by local artists, an
optical shop and a place that serves breakfast. This is all in addition to
Dillards, Barnes and Noble, Cold Stone Creamery, Ethan Allen and several
different restaurants.
Sep 1, 2005
Here are the latest additions to Okatie Crossing: A spa,
ladies beauty salon, men’s barber shop, chiropractor, real estate brokers,
Greek restaurant, Chinese restaurant, Italian restaurant, sports bar and grille
and a jeweler. They are also working to sign a national tenant especially for
the craft groups in Sun City.
This is in addition to a grocer, Dillard’s, Barnes and Noble,
Cold Stone Creamery, Ethan Allen and a bank.
Aug
6, 2005
According to the developer, Dillard’s, Ethan Allen, Cold Stone Creamery and
Barnes and Noble are headed our way. Also a bank and grocer have committed, but
they are awaiting a Letter of Intent before announcing.
The developer also says that there will be restaurants on a lagoon with decks overlooking the water.
Material furnished by Okatie Crossing developer, WWW editor Steve Koehl. Revised: January 08, 2006.