Residents learn more about Magnolia

Magnolia Development, the company that's steering the massive, 126-acre transformation of the Charleston Neck area, held its first open house last week at its Oceanic Avenue office.

The casual meeting didn't feature any surprises. It was mostly a rehash of what company officials have told nearby residents throughout the yet-to-be built community's planning process.

Still, company officials said they hope to hold additional open houses in the future β€” possibly each quarter β€” to ensure that surrounding residents are able to ask questions about the development, which will feature shops, offices, hotels and up to 4,400 homes.

After years of planning, construction workers are about to begin clearing large swaths of land. Two large communication towers that sit on the property will be moved soon to the other side of Interstate 26, and construction will begin on a long bridge that will take drivers from the southern part of the neighborhood over marshlands to Interstate 26 entrances.

The company could begin constructing the first buildings in spring of next year.

Though company officials have explained this at numerous neighborhood meetings, the message sometimes doesn't translate clearly to residents who hear the news secondhand. The open houses are a precaution against rumor and innuendo, said Chief Executive Officer Robert L. Clement III.

"The more the community hears about it, the more opportunity they have to get an understanding of what's going on and not be surprised," he said.

It might even help them find work, he added, noting that the development will create many construction-related jobs.

At the open house, Magnolia officials also discussed their plans to commit at least $15,000 during the next three years to college scholarships through a program run by the Greater Charleston Empowerment Corp. The money goes to students who live in neighborhoods represented by the organization, which historically are poorer.

Advancing real estate

Re/Max real estate agent David Wertan took a break from helping people find houses to buy something for himself.

Recently, he bought Re/Max Professional Realty's Mount Pleasant location on Johnnie Dodds Boulevard, creating a new Re/Max franchise called Re/Max Advanced Realty.

The company, which currently has 14 agents, previously was owned by Dave Finn, who still owns locations in North Charleston and on James Island. Wertan said he wants to grow the company to between 20 and 25 agents. He has also created a profit-sharing program for agents, and all of them get their own Web sites.

The main reason he wanted his own company, he said, was to have control and be able to adjust its strategies to better handle the slowed real estate market. Part of that strategy will include taking advantage of international resources and boosting the company's Internet presence, he said.

"People that have been in the business for 25 years have gone through these changes over and over and over. I've been through five different cycles like this," he said. "And during this time, not having control of the company, it's hard to get people on board with you on making changes."

Reach Katy Stech at 937-5549 or kstech@postandcourier.com.