The Crescent. Many call it
Crescent Pointe, this lush stretch of land just on the side of 278, but this somewhat grandiose moniker refers only to the golf club. The community enveloping the club is simply The Crescent – short, snappy, and to the point.
If you’re driving down Highway 278 through greater Bluffton, you can’t miss it. It features twin lagoons, towering fountains and a welcoming entry framed with white picket fencing.
The Crescent is not a “huge community,” said plantation realtor and resident Lynn Alexander. Currently, there are 250 families in residence, including Lynn, who learned to love the Lowcountry back in the days when she was a wistful time-share owner in Port Royal. At build-out, there will be only 400 homes behind the security gates that guard the complex.
The plantation boasts three distinct neighborhoods. The largest, Waterford, features package-deal, “turn-key” homes commissioned from the property’s developer – the nationally renowned
Centex Corporation.
This is not as restrictive as it might sound because Centex offers a wide variety of floor plans and facades, and a choice of three exterior building materials: brick, stucco, or the durable cemplank – a state-of-the-art siding made from a tough mix of cement and fiberglass.
For the buyer, the difficulty of decision is eliminated as Centex offers a generous range of choices for colors, carpeting, appliances, fixtures, and hardware, making the entire building experience a virtual no-brainer.
In the higher price point areas of Heritage Bay and Victory Point, where lot sizes are larger and views include fairways, lagoons, marshes and, for a fortunate few, a distant finger of the Colleton River, owners may choose a Centex model or opt for a custom home created by their own builder.
If you are like some area residents, a dominant thought, as you negotiate Hwy. 278, may be, who are all these people, and where do they come from? And – why?
Becky Smith, sales manager for
The Crescent and for other Centex developments in the area, states that 60 to 70 percent of The Crescent residents are retirees. They’ve arrived here from Ohio and New York and Michigan¸ and some from as far away as California and Nevada. They know that Hilton Head Island is a world-class destination – way ahead of the pack in climate and amenities. What does it matter if you are a few miles away from the island hub? “It’s nice just to have the address,” said Smith. “They want to be near the island.”
But – here’s a surprise! According to Smith, at least one-third moved here after first living on the island itself.
The Crescent residents appreciate the privacy and the sense of community they enjoy in this new neighborhood. Residents here feel the plantation offers “more bang for the buck.” Here, Smith believes buyers can acquire a brand-new home and an enviable lifestyle, often for much less than they would pay for an older and smaller residence across the bridge.
The Crescent offers a companionable mix of residents – many are young professionals who commute to the island, to Savannah, to local military bases and, more and more, to careers in burgeoning Bluffton. Smith and her husband, Gene, both work for Centex. Gene is from Virginia, and met Becky at the Centex offices near Charleston (“Where you could sit in traffic for a hour to go five miles!” said Becky). The couple happily accepted transfers to the Lowcountry, and fell in love with the life at The Crescent. They have an elegant new home in Heritage Bay with a big back yard for their two dogs.
A major selling point for those home-buyers considering this enticing neighborhood is the
Crescent Pointe Golf Club , which features an Arnold Palmer Signature Golf Course. “I’m going to take up golf this spring!” vowed Becky.
Afficionados of the sport rave about the course, which is one of only two built by the master in the Lowcountry and is considered both beautiful and challenging. But if you don’t golf, don’t worry. As a resident, you can still enjoy the amenities of the Crescent Pointe Clubhouse, which include a pro shop, an informal grill (lunch, snacks and bar), a “gathering room,” and a covered rocking chair verandah. There’s a swimming pool, wading pool and sun decks, an indoor fitness center and two all-weather tennis courts.
Days at
The Crescent are crowded with activities. Here’s a sampling of the delights on offer: a monthly lunch bunch, a bunco group, an artists’ group, a meet & greet committee, a garden club, and a social committee which arranges dinners, buffets, dances and parties. And there’s a cadre of eager teenagers who, for a fee, are on call if you need a babysitter.
The Crescent people like to dine at Bluffton’s great restaurants and shop at the myriad stores in the area. And they have a wonderful secret: there’s a quiet back road in and out of the plantation that leads directly into the Kroger parking lot, so they can come and go without the hassles of highway traffic!
