Baxter School To Open In 2001
August 9, 2000

Fort Mill School District Four will open its newest elementary school inside the Village of Baxter neighborhood in fall 2001 - a year earlier than originally scheduled.

"The new elementary school is one of those amenities that help define what Baxter is all about," said Don Killoren, CEO of Clear Springs Development Company, which is building the traditional neighborhood in Fort Mill.

"With a school located inside the village, residents will be able to enjoy the benefits of a true pedestrian village," Killoren said. "No matter where you live in Baxter, it will only be a short walk or bike ride to school, the library or other points throughout the neighborhood."
Originally slated for opening in fall 2002, Fort Mill School District Four voted recently to speed up construction on the Baxter school site. The district is working on a new student reassignment plan, and board members wanted all new district schools to open by 2001 so parents and students would not face back-to-back reassignments.

The school is being built on 19 acres of land donated to the school district by the Close family. In addition, the school will be located near Baxter's planned Town Center, as well as near 12-acre Allison Park, the Fort Mill Branch of the York County Library and other nearby neighborhoods.

"The school inside Baxter will be located only a short walk or bike ride from all points inside the neighborhood," Killoren said. "In addition, the school is being built close to an open space that is planned for future ball fields and playgrounds."

The school also will have access to the same leading-edge telecommunications capabilities enjoyed by Baxter residents, including advanced wiring systems and high-speed Internet connections.
School construction by general contractor Edison Ford Inc. is underway along the newly opened section of Sutton Road North, which runs through the heart of Baxter. When the Baxter site is finished, Fort Mill will have three K-5 schools with a capacity for 900 students each.

The 1,000-acre Village of Baxter, located 20 minutes from uptown Charlotte in the southwest quadrant of S.C. Highway 160 and Interstate 77, is a traditional neighborhood offering single-family homes and townhouses, as well as commercial sites and more than 400 acres of open spaces.

Modeled after small towns of the Southeast, Baxter's traditional architecture reflects the style and character of the upcountry South Carolina region. Features such as front porches and abundant sidewalks orient activity to the front of homes, promoting a pedestrian-friendly community.

For more information on Baxter, call (803) 802-TOWN or toll free (877) 570-HOME. The Baxter Information Center is located at the neighborhood's main entrance off Highway 160 and Interstate 77 at Exit 85.