Sage Creek News

Sage Creek’s “Saturday in the Park 2” draws a record crowd to Aiken County’s newest community! view photo gallery

Sage Creek development hosts potential residents
Though still undergoing construction, Sage Creek's up-and-coming community development was filled with people on Saturday as many turned out for the Balloons on Sage Creek event which served as an opportunity for visitors to tour the development's model homes. more

New developments show off diversity of county's future
I got my first good look at Trolley Run Station and Sage Creek this week.
Indeed, the view was dramatic. Turning into the entrance of Trolley Run Station from the bypass near USC Aiken almost gives one the feeling of being in the mountains... more

School Board OKs New Byrd Elementary Facility
A contingent of about 20 Byrd Elementary School teachers let out cheers Tuesday, moments after the Aiken County Board of Education gave the green light to the construction of a new elementary facility in Graniteville... more

FineDeering: Investing in the Community
About 5,000 homes won't be the only buildings under construction in two of Aiken County's newest residential developments. Officials with the FineDeering Development Group announced Thursday that they had donated 20 acres for the construction of the Wyatt Family Y... more

FineDeering, Sage Creek, and Trolley Run Station: The Latest Technology
BellSouth (NYSE: BLS) and FineDeering Development Group today announced an exclusive agreement to market BellSouth as the preferred provider of communications and entertainment services for homeowners in the Sage Creek and Trolley Run Station master-planned communities... more

Sage Creek: The Planning Stage
FineDeering Development Group has announced plans to build two significant communities between Vaucluse Road and Bettis Academy Road... more

Sage Creek development hosts potential residents
From the Sun, Feb 25, 2007 edition of the Aiken Standard
By April Bailey Staff Writer

Though still undergoing construction, Sage Creek's up-and-coming community development was filled with people on Saturday as many turned out for the Balloons on Sage Creek event which served as an opportunity for visitors to tour the development's model homes.

Guests of the event were also provided with food, entertainment, games and drawings. Those touring the homes were given the opportunity to register for free hot air balloon rides, which were later canceled because of Saturday's windy weather.

"We just wanted to make people aware of an incredible new neighborhood, different from anything that you will see in the CSRA," said Russ Krueger, CEO of Ocozzio, a business improvement company representing Sage Creek's developers, FineDeering development group.

"What we want people to experience today is to just have a good time and enjoy the activities," he said.

Krueger said that among Sage Creek's unique qualities is its versatility, offering a range of moderately-priced to more expensive homes, for both single or larger families. The development is divided into seven separate neighborhoods.

Also on hand was Cory Burns, assistant principal at Byrd Elementary. Burns said the new school, which is set to be complete in December, will be within walking distance to Sage Creek.

"The school being so close is one of the attractions to the neighborhood," said Burns. According to Burns, the new school will be a little under 90,000 square feet and will be equipped to support the latest technology.

According to Krueger, there are already several people living in Sage Creek. He said the development has sold 17 homes in a month.

He said the next Sage Creek event will be Saturday in the Park on April 28. It will feature a celebrity volleyball game, food, games and entertainment.

"We're going to have events all summer long," said Krueger.

For more information on Sage Creek, contact Patsy Martin of the FineDeering Development group at (803) 649-5117.

Contact April Bailey at abailey@aikenstandard.com

New developments show off diversity of county's future
From the Sun, Oct 8, 2006 edition of the Aiken Standard

I got my first good look at Trolley Run Station and Sage Creek this week.
Indeed, the view was dramatic. Turning into the entrance of Trolley Run Station from the bypass near USC Aiken almost gives one the feeling of being in the mountains.

We often forget how much the elevation changes in that area.

Richard Fine and Bob Deering were kind enough to give us a guided tour of the two new developments that will eventually add thousands of housing units to our community.

The developments are sure to alter the growth patterns of both Aiken and Graniteville.

Yes, Richard and Bob are the gentlemen who make up FineDeering.
Much controversy surrounded them earlier when they asked to make use of an existing state TIF law that would have pumped money into infrastructure for the developments. Many in the community felt this wasn't necessary, and FineDeering later withdrew its request.

True to their word, though, they have continued with their plans. And they have not changed their desire to provide first class developments with pricing more modest than what is becoming the norm in our area.

Trolley Run Station is located adjacent to Aiken. Sage Creek is near Graniteville.
Trolley Run Station will have more acreage than Hitchcock Woods.

It is not within Aiken city limits but fulfills a desire that the City has had for more than a decade: development away from Aiken's Southside.

Sage Creek is located off Bettis Academy Road, between Graniteville and I-20. Bob said Sage Creek is actually closer to Augusta than is Columbia County, Ga.
When fully built out, these developments will include thousands of housing units. Retail will undoubtedly follow the rooftops.

It's much harder than in the past to be environmentally insensitive when building, but both Trolley Run Station and Sage Creek seem particularly conscious of the surroundings.

About 30 percent of the land will be left as green space. Parks, ponds, ball fields and walking paths are included.

The utilities will be underground. Neighborhood divisions are marked with stacked stone signs. There will be no driveway cuts on the main parkways.
And they are making good use of the topography.

Bob said there is more than a 200-foot difference between the bridge that spans the wetlands and the water tower atop the highest hill in Trolley Run Station.
From the hill one gets a wonderful view of Aiken Regional Medical Centers and the new USC Aiken Convocation Center peeking out above waves of pines.
Sage Creek should have its first residents in February, including Richard and Bob. They are Houstonians who are part-time residents here.

I pointed out to them that they must be patient men.

We in the newspaper business produce at least one product every day of the year. They, in turn, must work out thousands of details to produce a product that won't reach maturity for years.

I think it would be wise for us to be patient with them.

I think you will be pleased with what they are producing.

School Board OKs New Byrd Elementary Facility

From the Wed, Aug 23, 2006 edition of the Aiken Standard
By Rob Novit| Senior Writer

A contingent of about 20 Byrd Elementary School teachers let out cheers Tuesday, moments after the Aiken County Board of Education gave the green light to the construction of a new elementary facility in Graniteville.

The project had been somewhat in limbo since the low bid came in nearly $5 million over the projected $12.75 million budget.

On the recommendation of Deputy Superintendent Dr. Bill Gallman, board members agreed to delay three facility or maintenance projects by one year to 2008-09 and three others to 2009-10 and 2010-11. The district will also use $530,000 from reserve and contingency building fund accounts to add a total of $4.85 million to the Byrd project. The total cost, including construction, site work architectural and engineering fees, furniture and equipment will be $17.6 million.

Ironically, in 2004 the Byrd project was delayed a year to pay for the Mossy Creek Elementary School construction bid that came in over budget. That fact wasn't lost on Byrd teacher Jan Bromley.

"We've waited so long for this," she said. "We're in such desperate need. I have taught in a crackerbox kindergarten class for 25 years. I'm looking forward to what we can do in a state-of-the-art facility."

The board tabled discussion on bids for a Millbrook Elementary School addition that came in late Tuesday afternoon at Gallman's request. As he expected, the low bid came in at least $1 million over the projected $4.1 million cost, or more if alternates are considered. He will bring in a recommendation on that project at the next meeting.

When bids were opened for a major Oakwood-Windsor Elementary School renovation in 2004, Gallman said, the bottom line was about $90 a square foot.

"It's about $173 for Byrd," he said. "We're in a new era. It's not like these buildings are designed differently."

To make the Byrd construction project happen, an addition/renovation program at North Augusta Middle School will be delayed a year. A roofing project at that school or Oakwood-Windsor will be pushed back, as will painting projects at East Aiken Elementary School, Aiken High School, Belvedere Elementary School and the Aiken County Career projects.

Gallman said these delays are minor and won't impact the affected schools. While board member John Brown said he could accept the recommendations, he wondered if the district could continue this trend.

"We're delaying projects," Brown said. "How long is it going to be before we neglect things and let other buildings run down? It may get to the point where it will cost more in the future to do the things we're doing now."

FineDeering: Investing in the Community

From the Friday, March 17, 2006 printed edition of the Augusta Chronicle
Group donates land for YMCA
By Betsy Gilliland | South Carolina Bureau

About 5,000 homes won't be the only buildings under construction in two of Aiken County's newest residential developments. Officials with the FineDeering Development Group announced Thursday that they had donated 20 acres for the construction of the Wyatt Family Y. The land is located off South Carolina Highway 118, near the University of South Carolina Aiken.

Robert Deering, co-chairman of FineDeering Development Group, announces the donation of 20 acres in Aiken for the building of a YMCA. Dan McConnell, the president and CEO of the Metropolitan Augusta YMCA, also was at the announcement.

The property lies in the planned Trolley Run Station neighborhood, one of two subdivisions that FineDeering plans to develop. The other, called Sage Creek, is being constructed off Bettis Academy Road on the other side of Graniteville.

"I hope you can almost close your eyes and almost think about the fact there are going to be lots of kids playing here down the road," said Dan McConnell, the president and CEO of the Metropolitan Augusta YMCA.
Construction on the $7 million Wyatt Family Y, which is scheduled to open in 2011, should begin in the summer of 2009. The facility will be named in honor of Aiken businessman Weldon Wyatt, who is a FineDeering partner in the construction projects.

FineDeering and Mr. Wyatt started discussions about the venture last year.
"One of our first inquiries was, 'Where's the YMCA?'" said Robert Deering, co-chairman of the Houston-based development company. "The absence of the Y looked, not like a problem to us, but an opportunity."

The 50,000-square-foot Family Y will include indoor and outdoor pools, a water park, group exercise rooms, two gymnasiums, an indoor children's fitness center and playground, an indoor track and a lobby.

Programs and services will include swim lessons, fitness classes and equipment, youth sports and summer camps.

The facility will be built near almost 1,000 homes in the Trolley Run neighborhood.

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FineDeering, Sage Creek, and Trolley Run Station: The Latest Technology

From PRNewswire March 16, 2006
BellSouth Community Technologies Announces Agreement With FineDeering Development Group, Marketing agreement connects homeowners with BellSouth's market-leading communications and entertainment services

BellSouth (NYSE: BLS) and FineDeering Development Group today announced an exclusive agreement to market BellSouth as the preferred provider of communications and entertainment services for homeowners in the Sage Creek and Trolley Run Station master-planned communities. These new FineDeering developments are located in Aiken, S.C.

"BellSouth's agreement with FineDeering will provide homeowners in Sage Creek and Trolley Run Station with a one-stop shop for all of their communications and entertainment services," said Phil Jacobs, president - Community Technologies for BellSouth. "We are committed to creating a superior customer experience for both FineDeering and its homeowners. BellSouth's high-value services provide consumers with the quality, flexibility and value they demand."

Under this agreement, home-buyers in Sage Creek, a 635-acre community with 1,400 planned homes, and Trolley Run Station, with 3,600 planned home sites on 1,800 acres, will be advised by FineDeering sales professionals about the comprehensive bundle of communications and entertainment services available through BellSouth, including local, long distance, BellSouth® FastAccess® DSL, Cingular Wireless® and DIRECTV® service.

"FineDeering is excited about our relationship with BellSouth," said Richard Fine, co-chairman - FineDeering Development Group. "This agreement will give homeowners in our new Sage Creek and Trolley Run Station master- planned communities the ability to easily and conveniently equip their homes with the latest in state-of-the-art communications and entertainment services from BellSouth."

As part of this relationship, BellSouth Community Technologies will provide FineDeering with a single point of contact throughout the property development lifecycle to simplify and expedite the planning and deployment of the latest technologies in the new communities.

FineDeering Development Group was formed to develop residential communities in Aiken, S.C. Richard Fine and Robert Deering have worked together for the past twenty years on varied real estate projects. Through their working relationship with Weldon Wyatt, they enjoyed first hand Aiken's charm and endearing heritage. In order to be part of Aiken County’s exciting future, FineDeering Development Group acquired two properties for development.

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Sage Creek: The Planning Stage
From: Forming and Re-forming Aiken, The Aiken Standard
June 6, 2005
By Scott Hunter

FineDeering Development Group has announced plans to build two significant communities between Vaucluse Road and Bettis Academy Road. Sage Creek and Trolley Run Station are expected to eventually include 5,000 homes.
Claritas Inc. estimated in 2004 that there were 23,319 occupied households in Zip Codes 29801 and 29803. The FineDeering projections represent 21 percent of that total.

Retailers are anticipating the buying power of these new residents. Atlanta Bread Company and Nextel are brand new on Whiskey Road. O'Charley's restaurant is under construction as part of the Shoppes at Whiskey. Other stores are expected in The Shoppes at Brookhaven and at Whiskey Station. Stein Mart will presumably occupy the former Kmart building in Hitchcock Plaza.
FineDeering's master plan for Sage Creek and Trolley Run Station calls for the developments to include parks, walking paths, bike trails and commercial areas "patterned after downtown Aiken."

Richard Fine, one of the development's partners, was quoted as saying, "We think Aiken has a lot of unique charm to it. It has the best of both worlds. It has the warmth of a small town and the sophisticated charm of a large metropolitan area."

Those are fine words, and this intent should be mirrored by all developers.

SOURCE: Aiken Standard

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