by Emily Smith
As Carolina Forest grows, so to do the building projects established to support that growth.
Multiple new housing developments are being constructed, as is Huger Park— and Carolina Forest Boulevard is being expanded.
Hundreds of acres of cleared land are beginning now to sprout houses as neighborhood plans take shape and families build homes to their specific needs.
Between the Farm and Plantation Lakes subdivisions, another subdivision, The Parks of Carolina Forest, is currently evolving.
These some 500 acres are being developed by Forestar (USA) Realtor Group, which is a majority-owned subsidiary of D.R. Horton. The aforementioned is also the builder, with the potential to construct upwards of 1,000 homes.
The zoning of this land also allows for additional public areas, from sidewalks and an amenities building, to fire pits, a pool, and more.
To increase the available options, more apartment complexes are also being built in our area, like Mosby Carolina Forest just off of International Drive.
Construction started only about a year ago, and the complex began accepting applications to lease in June 2019.
Talks over rezoning The Wizard Golf Course have been brewing again, the second time the topic has popped up in the past thirteen years. This time, the owner of the course has an agreement to sell the property, the only contingent being if the rezoning allows housing to be built.
If it does, The Wizard will sell to an unspecified developer and the 168 acres could become another residential neighborhood.
If Carolina Forest does lose one source of outdoor entertainment, it will still have a new one in the form of Huger Park. Named after a Revolutionary War general, this park will feature trails, picnic areas, and monuments which stand as tribute to its historic background. Completion is subject to funding and weather.
In addition to all of the housing developments in the area, there are a multitude of new businesses spawning on either end of the boulevard.
On the International Drive end, a few restaurants are being added to the area’s inventory, including an already well-known name, J. Peters Grill.
One company setting up shop for the first time in the Grand Strand will be Take 5 Oil Change, located in the Forest Square shopping center. Lapels Dry Cleaning will be opening a third location in a new building on the corner of Village Center Boulevard and River Oaks Drive.
All the new residential and industrial growth means the roads will be busier, which is why everyone is eagerly awaiting the completion of the expansion of Carolina Forest Boulevard from a two-lane road into four-lanes.
The widening officially got its start in June, and the boulevard remains open during construction. Its estimated completion is spring of 2021.
With so much happening in our neck of the woods, keeping abreast of all the latest community news can be a challenge. Be sure to read our section next month for the latest updates on our growing and changing forest.
