Clear Springs Development Company Donates Land Inside Baxter Village To Fort Mill School District Four
September 23, 1999

Clear Springs Development Company has offered to donate 19 acres of land inside the Village of Baxter to Fort Mill School District Four as the site of a new elementary school. The land, located off North Sutton Road in the southeast quadrant of Baxter, is valued in excess of $2 million.

If the board agrees to accept the donation, construction is expected to begin next year on the new school, which is expected to open in time for the 2001 school year.

"We have a long-term partnership with the school district and we are excited about the potential to assist the district in meeting its growth needs," said James Traynor, president of Clear Springs Development. "A new school will help the district keep pace with the growing number of students who attend school in Fort Mill."

The land donated inside Baxter comes with infrastructure in place, which would result in significant cost savings for the school district. The site is about 500 feet from the newly constructed, four-laned North Sutton Road, which has water, sewer, electricity, cable and natural gas utilities in place.

The site is located within walking distance of the current phase of homebuilding at Baxter. In addition, the school would be within walking distance of 12-acre Allison Park, the Fort Mill Branch of the York County Library and nearby neighborhoods adjacent to Baxter.

"The school site fits well within Baxter's residential neighborhood, future Town Center and planned medical campus," Traynor said. "In addition, the school would be located close to an open space that is planned for future ball fields and playgrounds."

The school also would be located near the existing neighborhoods of Wimbleton Woods, Willowbrook and Grey Rock.

"With 1,500 residential units planned in Baxter over the next 10 years and other existing neighborhoods nearby, there is a need for a school in Baxter," Traynor said. "Nearly 60 percent of residents in Baxter and surrounding neighborhoods will be on the east side of Sutton Road, or on the same side as the school. This will help encourage bicycling and walking as alternative means of transportation to school."

Many streets in Baxter have sidewalks on both sides of the street. In addition, there is a pedestrian tunnel under the four-lane North Sutton Road and an extensive trail system under development that will link the school site with the Fort Mill community.

The school also would have access to the same leading-edge telecommunications capabilities enjoyed by Baxter residents, including advanced wiring systems and high-speed Internet connections.

"The board is to be commended for their vision in planning for the future needs of its schools," Traynor said.

Fort Mill voters approved a $48 million bond package in May to build three new elementary schools. In addition to the Baxter site, the board is considering a proposal from Clear Springs Development for another school site on approximately 40 to 50 acres off U.S. 21 Business adjacent to the Anne Springs Close Greenway.

The site near the Greenway would be sold to the school district at appraised value and is large enough to accommodate both the current need for an elementary school and a future middle school.

The 1000-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 will reflect the style and character of the upcountry South Carolina region. Features such as front porches and abundant sidewalks will 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 Information Center is located at Baxter's main entrance off Highway 160 and Interstate 77 at Exit 85.