Developer proposes 174-home subdivision behind Brandon Wilde senior care community in Evans

Correction: An earlier version of this story gave an incorrect date for the Columbia County Planning Commission meeting. The Owens Village proposal is scheduled to be considered at the Nov. 4 meeting. The story also should have said that the Brandon Wilde senior care community in Evans is administrated by LCS, a senior living company based in Des Moines, Iowa. The story has been changed.

A South Carolina developer wants to build a 174-home subdivision behind the Brandon Wilde senior care community in Evans. 

While the planned-use development for the 39.45 acres of land currently allows the construction of up to 279 homes, Charleston-based MoRE Development is proposing a neighborhood with “an abundance of greenspace” intended to “focus on neighborhood, families and community.” 

“To create such a resident-focused community, the density will be to focus and attract residents out of their homes to socialize,” according to the developer’s proposal filed with the Columbia County Planning Department.

The two parcels comprising the acreage are owned by University Health Services Inc., doing business as University Health Care System. Brandon Wilde is administrated by LCS, a senior living company based in Des Moines, Iowa.

The larger parcel of 34.2 acres is valued at $706,854, and the smaller 5.25-acre parcel at $137,273, according to Columbia County tax assessments.

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The entrance to Owens Village will be from Owens Road. The neighborhood’s greenspace will be landscaped into five parks of varying sizes. 

The single-family homes also will vary substantially in size. While residential developments more typically are comprised of homes with similar square footage, Owens Village will offer five styles of homes from 913 square feet up to 1,772 square feet. 

Also, 109 of the 174 homes will sit on “alley-loaded” lots, giving those residents access to rear-entry garages. 

“Establishing a master plan is flexible in unit size but not unit type,” the project proposal said. “The master plan will focus on access to greenspace for each resident. To do this the neighborhood will have sidewalks on both sides of the streets along lot frontages.” 

The clamor to buy homes in Columbia County has many contractors pressing forward with new construction.

"The intent of the planned residential guideline for this project is to offer the sufficient flexibility to respond to changes in demand in the immediate market …" according to the proposal. 

The Owens Village proposal is scheduled to be considered by the Columbia County Planning Commission at its Nov. 4 meeting.