We have much to be proud of in Ivy
Hall, which has only gotten better with time. I know because I've seen it
with my own eyes. Grace and I moved here in June of 1996 just after we
were married. Our two-story home on Seaborn Drive was one of about 30 in
the first phase. We felt we were in the country. If my memory serves me
correctly, the first traffic light on U.S. Highway 17 heading to
Charleston was at Mathis Ferry Road. My how things have changed! The
center of town is much closer to us now. The neighborhood has since been
built out with 252 homes. We continue to attract a diverse group of
homeowners, mostly young families and retirees. On any given evening, our
sidewalks are filled with walkers, joggers and kids. Neighbors watch out
for each other. Trees and other plants have blossomed nicely over the
years, adding to the overall attractiveness. Some of the best public
schools in the metropolitan area are a mile up the highway. No wonder
homes sell so quickly here.
One of the biggest complaints at
the annual meeting (held July 2003) was a perceived lack of communication
between board members and homeowners. So I've made it a priority to open
up the communication channels. This newsletter, the first in about two
years, is one step in that direction. We plan to publish once a quarter,
however we may step up the frequency down the road. We also are working
on updating our website, www.ivyhall.org. Soon,
residents will be able to read current newsletters and other kinds of
updates online.
Another way I see to improve
communications throughout the neighborhood is to have more planned
community events such as covered-dish picnics, children's game days and
holiday-themed activities, to name a few. Such functions will give
residents a chance to mingle with their neighbors in a fun, family
friendly setting. Please let us know if you'd like to help with such an
activity or if you have some other event ideas.
Residents are encouraged to contact
us with comments or questions. PLEASE don't wait until the annual meeting
next July to lodge a complaint. We're here to help now. If your inquiry
pertains to Ivy Hall's covenants and restrictions or if you would like to
report a violation, please contact Dina Bevis at Great Beach
Management Inc. Based on the Isle of Palms, Great Beach assists the board
in making sure residents comply with our covenants and restrictions.
Dina may be reached from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday at 886-8845 or
via e-mail at
dbevis@greatbeachmanagement.com.
For general inquiries, write to our
P.O. box or send us an e-mail at
info@ivyhall.org. Of course, you may also call me at 881-5475. Please
limit calls to between 8-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 11 a.m.-noon on
Saturdays. If I'm not home, leave a message. I will get back to you as
soon as possible.
Thanks for allowing me to introduce
myself. I am honored to have the opportunity to serve this wonderful
community.
See you around the neighborhood!
Bob Lang
[return to
top]
IMPROVEMENTS PLANNED FOR ENTRANCE DRIVE, COMMON AREA
Exciting changes are coming to Ivy
Hall.
As part of a contract made by the
previous board with the developer of the new neighborhood set to go up
near our entrance, Laurel Grove, we will be seeing landscaping
improvements along Lexington Drive as well as getting some recreational
enhancements in our main common area. Such enhancements include a
children's playground, a lined soccer field, several picnic tables, and
more.
Procurement and installation of
these additions will be paid for entirely by the developer. However, Ivy
Hall and the new neighborhood will share maintenance and insurance costs.
Completion of the improvements is
tied to home construction in the new neighborhood. Because building
permit allocation in Mount Pleasant currently is backlogged, it
could be well into 2004 before we actually see these improvements.
In the meantime, Ivy Hall residents
need to be prepared to contend with construction traffic and dirt on
Lexington Drive. The developer says he will do his best to keep the
entrance drive as clean as possible but admits there could be some muddy
days.
Heavy site work is slated to
commence soon. There are 76 homes planned in the development, which also
includes an office/retail portion closer to U.S. Highway 17.
For more information, go to
www.laurel-grove.com.
[return to
top]
ATTENTION NEW RESIDENTS
As nice a place as Ivy Hall is to
live, some residents actually do leave us from time to time. That creates
opportunities for new families to move in.
We wholeheartedly welcome newcomers
and strive to help make their move here as pleasant as possible. The
Association tries to present all new households with welcome packages,
but sometimes newcomers slip in unnoticed.
If you are new to the neighborhood
(including renters) and nobody from the Association has welcomed you,
please let us know by contacting Dina Bevis at 886-8845 or e-mailing
the board at
info@ivyhall.org.
[return to
top]
SEEKING PARTICIPANTS
Any residents interested in playing
Bunco, poker, spades, forming a book club, babysitting co-op, playgroup,
scrapbooking, being part of a gardening club, having a Girls Night Out,
Guys Night Out, etc., are asked to call Tracy Bourne at 971-8597.
Tracy, an Ivy Hall resident, has
experience in getting such activities off the ground. Please feel free to
offer other ideas.
[return to
top]
NEW BOARD MEMBERS, OFFICE
POSITIONS
At the first regular Ivy Hall
Homeowners Association Board meeting held after the annual meeting,
elections were conducted to fill the various office positions. Terms are
for one year.
Bob Lang was elected president,
succeeding Stephan Futeral, who was not reelected to the board at the
annual meeting. All the other office positions remain unchanged. Gary
Jaster was reelected as vice-president; Bill Collins was reelected as
treasurer; and Erika Criares was reelected as secretary.
The board welcomes new members
Byron Burdette and William Ray. Burdette is one of Ivy Hall's founding
residents, having moved here during the early days of development. Ray
has agreed to oversee the neighborhood's architectural review committee.
Special thanks go out to Futeral,
an attorney who gave countless hours of his time during the past two
years while serving as the Association's president and legal council.
Among his many accomplishments, Futeral oversaw the initial development
of our Web site, led the board in hiring a management company, and
negotiated on the Association's behalf to get improvements to our
entrance and common area (see
"Improvements" story above for details).
[return to
top]
MORE KUDOS
A special thank you goes to
Ivy Hall resident Kevin Brokes, who at his own expense cut down a large
dead tree in the open space lot off Morningdale Drive in Phase 5. Besides
cutting down the tree, Kevin removed the debris and donated a cement bird
bath. Kevin is owner of East Cooper Landscaping (452-7497).
Special thanks also go to
Eastbridge Presbyterian Church and pastor Sam Joyner for allowing the
Association use the sanctuary for the annual meeting in July. Eastbridge
(849-6111) welcomes all visitors to its Sunday morning service, which
starts at 10:30 a.m.
[return to
top]
ANNUAL MEETING RECAP
Residents representing about 50
households (one-fifth of the neighborhood) attended the 2003 Ivy Hall
Homeowners Association meeting held July 22 at Eastbridge Presbyterian
Church.
In his opening remarks,
then-president Stephan Futeral updated folks on the state of the
neighborhood. He said Ivy Hall looked as attractive as ever and that
property values continue to increase at a healthy pace. He reviewed
events of the past year, including the installation of new street signs
and the hiring of Great Beach Management Inc. to assist in covenant
enforcement. Futeral also talked about the new neighborhood going up near
our entrance and what it will mean for us (see
"Improvements" story above for more details).
Treasurer Bill Collins then
delivered the budget report for 2003 and stated that we likely will run a
deficit of about $3,500. The distributed budget statement showed that
annual expenses had risen nearly across the board and that there were
some new expenses, principally the management company. Ivy Hall will
still have a projected net cash total at year's end of more than $22,000
because of its money market and checking accounts, Collins said.
After the budget report, an
election was held for seven open seats on the nine-member board. Five
incumbent members won reelection: Gary Jaster, Bill Collins, Bob Lang,
Bill Dorfner and Erika Criares. They joined newcomers Byron Burdett and
William Ray. Terms for members Robin Richardson and Jennifer Taylor don't
expire until next year.
During the general discussion
portion of the meeting, the dominant topic was the need to control
speeding through the neighborhood. Residents also expressed a desire for
better communication from board members. Overall, the meeting was more
constructive and had a more positive tone than past annual meetings.
