New developer steps in to complete Joppa Way

An affordable housing neighborhood backed by private funds, Joppa Way in North Charleston launched with success in 2003. The Charleston Bank Consortium, an alliance of local lenders, spearheaded the construction of 19 homes.

Then this winter, a new developer stepped up, eager to complete the job. "It seemed like a win for everybody," Craig Elwood says. So far, so good.

Leroy Burnell
The Post and Courier

A new developer has taken over the final stages of construction in Joppa Way, an affordable housing community in North Charleston. The homes are modular.

Elwood and Loren Ziff are partners in Nice Joppa LLC. The partnership bought up the remaining acreage and plans to build 23 homes. The neighborhood will have 42 dwellings when finished.

Among those expected to be interested are "first-time homebuyers (and) young families," Elwood says. Homes are available based on buyers' incomes. Monthly payments likewise are based on income.

The new houses from Nice Joppa LLC will be 1,300-1,500 square feet and priced from $150,000 to close to $160,000. The first completed home is a 1,450-square-foot ranch with three bedrooms and two baths priced at $159,900. "We really put a lot in this product," Elwood says.

Joppa Way's location is a big plus. Accessible via Lacross Road or Taylor Street, it is bounded by Charleston International Airport and interstates 26 and 526. Yet the property is remarkably open, and groves of trees block views of the highways and airport.

"It's a little bit of a refuge of North Charleston," says Michelle Whitbeck, of Keller Williams Realty, who is listing the first house built by the new developers.

At the same time, the modular homes come with perks such as a walk-in closet in the master bedroom, faux white wood blinds, energy-efficient kitchen appliances and a garden tub and stand-up shower in the master bath.

The bank consortium, which launched Joppa Way five years ago, still is involved in helping buyers qualify to purchase the homes. To get prequalified with no closing cost and a small down payment, contact Nancy Fabian at the consortium at 766-6676.

For more information, call 800-294-1074, ext. 2022.

Reach Jim Parker at 937-5542 or jparker@postandcourier.com.