Dillard Creek Crossing has sold almost half of its 50 homes constructed behind Village at Pelham Hospital on Westmoreland Road.
Village at Bent Creek has 58 homes planned to fill out part of the development that began during Greer's growth spurt in the mid-2000s.
Dillard Creek Crossing has 50 new homes either completed or in construction phases while Village at Bent Creek has begun construction for 58 new homes. At the same time Mungo builders remain committed to 52 single-family patio homes to be built off Brushy Creek Road and S. Suber Road.
These communities fall short of the mid-2000s when three consecutive years of 400 – plus homes were constructed in Greer, before the economic tsunami brought a halt to business and industry about three years ago.
The most surprising element in the homes being built at Dillard Creek and Bent Creek off S. Hwy. 14 and Westmoreland Road is that it’s in the southern part of Greer. Many thought Lake Robinson, Oneal Village and the Blue Ridge area would be the next growth spurt.
“It looks like we’re seeing a paradigm shift south of Greer,” Mayor Rick Danner said last week. It is enough of a shift to have city and business leaders taking note and discussing the spurt in strategy sessions.
All the more interesting is the square footage and price range of the homes. At Dillard Creek, property developed by the Braasch Building Group. The square footage range is 3,116 to 5,996 with the pricing at $135,575 to $255,650.
New home sales in Bent Creek range from $99,875 for 2,187 square foot homes to $156,725 for homes with 3,431 of square feet.
“We’re seeing more re-locators coming to Greer because of the business expansions,” said Anna Meadows, a realtor with Crown Communities who is marketing the Dillard Creek Crossing houses.
“They are asking about location and the Riverside school district (Riverside High and Middle schools and Woodland Elementary). “We’re close to the airport, grocery stores and just minutes away from Woodruff Road,” Meadows said.
As of last week Dillard Creek Crossing had 12 homes sold and 16 contracts pending. Twelve were sold in December and six in January. Sales this month have been brisk, according to developers.
“We’re a hidden treasure and it hasn’t been discovered. I think this area may be the next Five Forks,” Meadows said.
Phil Rhoads, Greer Director of Building and Development Standards, disagrees that area hasn’t been discovered. “It’s more likely rediscovered,” Rhoads said. “I am cautiously optimistic.”
The trend, according to Rhoads, “Is that most houses have been built south of Wade Hampton Blvd. The south is where pretty much everything is. Everybody, commercial and residential developers, want sewer. We have that south of Greer. People like convenience.”
Russ Braasch, of Braasch Building Group, said, “I think we’re seeing a shortage of these types of lots that are clear and free,” of taxes and liens. “I think we’re coming back and may see residential growth reach 250-300 homes this year.”
Braasch said the Dillard Creek Community has gone well enough for his group to move forward in other areas.
Comparatively, Rhoads noted that January 2011 resulted in one building permit. This year there were 12. “That’s a 1,200 percent increase. We are seeing an uptick.”
The city counts permits on a Jan. 1 – Dec. 31 cycle while revenue from taxes, permits and other fees are recorded on its fiscal year, July 1 – June 30. “We will see an increase in revenue for construction in this fiscal year,” Rhoads said. “That is good.”
The glut of housing in Greer has diminished, according to Rhoads. “The buyer could have their pick of thousands of houses.”
From a peak of 471 housing starts in 2005 the decline bottomed out with 391 total starts from 2008-2011 with 106, 87, 86, and 112 starts, respectively. Last year’s late fourth quarter spurt foreshadowed a spark for 2012.
Business leaders point to the expansion of BMW, Michelin, Honeywell, A&E Engineering and the infusion of other higher paying skilled jobs as an important part of the economic spurt.
“It’s Greenville and Birmingham competing for engineer jobs. Greenville County is hot and it’s where it’s at,” Rhoads said.