Monday, October 27, 2008

Imitation

Last week I ran across a web page with a Lexington neighborhoods list that had a striking resemblence to the JustLexington.com Neighborhoods Directory. After a quick inspection, I found it was in fact a copy of the neighborhoods list I have been developing for over a year now. The copied list is part of a weblog created just a few months ago by Laura Jefferson of Acquire Realty.


I inquired with Laura three times asking that she cite the source of her Lexington neighborhoods list. Unfortunately, she would not admit that she had even copied it! I feel this is contrary to her claim of representing her clients with the upmost honesty.

On the bright side, I guess imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.


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Sunday, October 19, 2008

743 homes available in Lexington SC 29072 - October 2008

According to Realtor.com, there are 743 single family homes, condos, and townhomes available for sale today in Lexington, SC 29072. They range from $62,000 to $3,890,000. The median priced home this month is an existing home in Silver Creek for $235,000. It is a one story home with 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, and approximately 2,850 square feet. According to the remarks in the listing, this house "NEEDS MINOR TLC".


Compared to last month's 762 homes available, the 743 available today is an decrease of 19 homes on the market. That is a decrease of 2.5% compared to September. These numbers only reflect the homes for sale by realtor in the Multiple Listing Service - homes for sale by owner in Lexington are not included.

Meanwhile, last month there were 462 lots for sale in Lexington, SC 29072.



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Friday, October 17, 2008

Lexington County School District One 2008 Bond Referendum

Back in June, the Lexington County School District One Board of Trustees approved a recommendation to pursue a five year building plan in the Lexington SC area. According to the district:


"The committee’s recommendation includes five new schools (two elementary schools, one middle school and one high school in the Lexington Attendance Area and one elementary school in the White Knoll Attendance Area), additions/renovations at 16 schools and technology at all schools at a cost of $336 million. The committee also recommended the board pursue a November 2008 bond referendum in order to get voter permission to sell bonds in order to finance the building plan. Individuals who own a home assessed at $100,000 would see a tax increase on the capital side of less than $50."

The 2008 bond referendum will be voted in the upcoming general election on Novemeber 4th. Here is how the bond referendum will show up on the ballot:

LOCAL QUESTION
Shall the Board of Trustees of Lexington County
School District No. 1, South Carolina, be authorized
to issue, either at one time as a single issue or from
time to time as several separate issues, not
exceeding $336,000,000 principal amount general
obligation bonds of Lexington County School
District No. 1, South Carolina, for the purpose of
defraying the cost of: 1.acquiring land for and
designing, constructing, equipping and furnishing
two new elementary schools, one new middle
school and one new high school in the Lexington
attendance area, and one new elementary school
in the White Knoll attendance area; 2.designing,
constructing, equipping and furnishing building
additions at Lexington Technology Center, White
Knoll High School, Gilbert High School, Pelion
Middle School, and Pelion High School;3.designing, constructing,
acquiring, equipping and furnishing upgrades to existing
facilities at Lake Murray Elementary School,
Lexington Elementary School, Midway Elementary
School, Lexington Technology Center, Red Bank
Elementary School, Saxe Gotha Elementary
School, White Knoll Elementary School, White
Knoll Middle School, White Knoll High School,
Gilbert Elementary School, Gilbert Primary School,
Gilbert Middle School, Gilbert High School, Pelion
Elementary School, Pelion Middle School, and
Pelion High School; 4.designing, constructing,
acquiring, equipping and furnishing upgrades and
equipment for the School District's
Shipping/Receiving and Transportation facilities;
and 5.acquiring computers, security systems, and
other information technology-related items;together
with all related costs such as architectural and
engineering fees and costs of issuance of such
bonds?

In favor of the question

Opposed to the question

If you are in favor of the question, darken
the oval next to the words "In favor of the
question";if you are opposed to the
question, darken the oval next to the
words "Opposed to the question".

Further details on how the bond referendum money would be used:

The district proposes to build five new schools at a cost of $264 million:
• One new K–5 elementary school with classroom space for 800 students to relieve overcrowding in the Lexington Attendance Area would open in 2010
• One new K–5 elementary school with classroom space for 800 students to relieve overcrowding in the Lexington Attendance Area would open in 2011
• One new 6–8 middle school with classroom space for 1,000 students to relieve overcrowding in the Lexington Attendance Area at Lexington Middle School and Pleasant Hill Middle School would open in 2012
• One new 9–12 high school with classroom space for 2,000 students, a competition gymnasium and mini-gymnasium, auditorium, and stadium to relieve overcrowding in the Lexington Attendance Area at Lexington High School would open in 2013
• One new K–5 elementary school with classroom space for 800 students to relieve overcrowding in the White Knoll Attendance Area would open in 2014

The district proposes to spend $15 million to expand and upgrade existing technology at all schools including security and to renovate and improve 16 existing schools, transportation offices and maintenance facilities at $57 million:
• Gilbert Elementary — Window Replacement, Mechanical/Electrical
• Gilbert High — Vocational Classrooms (Lab) Addition 12,000 sf, (4 labs plus unscheduled spaces), Athletic Upgrades
• Gilbert Middle — Entry Security, Mechanical/Electrical, Fire Alarm, Site, Misc. Upgrades
• Gilbert Primary — Entry Security, Re-Roofing, Paving Upgrades
• Lake Murray Elementary — Entry Security
• Lexington Elementary — Mechanical Upgrades
• Lexington Technology Center — Lab Additions, Re-Roofing, Mechanical Upgrades, Parking
• Midway Elementary — Entry Security
• Pelion Elementary — Entry Security, Re-Roofing
• Pelion Middle — Pelion Middle Theatre Addition, Re-Roofing, Connector/Site Lighting Upgrades
• Pelion High — Vocational Classrooms (Lab) Addition 12,000 sf, (4 labs plus unscheduled spaces), Athletic Upgrades
• Red Bank Elementary — Entry Security, Re-Roofing, Plumbing, Site Upgrades
• Saxe Gotha Elementary — Entry Security, Re-Roofing, Mech./Electrical, Fire Alarm, Site Upgrades
• White Knoll Elementary — Entry Security, Re-Roofing, Mech./Electrical, Miscellaneous Upgrades
• White Knoll Middle — Entry Security, Re-Roofing, Mech./Electrical, Fire Alarm, Site lighting
• White Knoll High — Entry Security, Canopy, Athletic Upgrades, Vocational Classrooms (Lab) Addition 12,000 sf, (4 labs plus unscheduled spaces)
• Maintenance addition of central shipping and receiving
• Transportation (includes Global Positioning Systems)


Just a few months ago, Lexington School District One purchased approximately 146 acres at Corley Mill Road and Frye Road for the new high school proposed to open in 2013. Could it end up being Corley Mill High?



View Larger Map

JustLexington.com

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Thursday, October 2, 2008

2008 Parade of Homes coming soon

The 2008 Parade of Homes at Saluda River Club is just over two weeks away from being open to the public. Construction, decorating, and landscaping crews are working long days to get the six homes ready for the parade.









The 2008 Parade of Homes will be open to the public October 18 through November 2 from 11:00am to 8:00pm daily. Tickets are $7 each and are available at the event. Advance tickets will be available at Columbia-area Publix grocery stores for $6 each while supplies last.
Other offers include:
  • Two-for-One Tuesdays - Buy one ticket for $7 at the gate, get another ticket free (gate sales only, 2-for-1 offer not valid with VIP or Publix tickets)
  • Mother's Morning Out - The Parade will open at 10 a.m. on both Wednesdays (Oct. 22 and 29)
  • Education Day, Oct. 29 - Area educators and students will tour the Parade of Homes, 11:30 a.m. Contact the HBA office at (803) 256-6238 for information
  • Green Day at the Parade, Oct. 29 - The Green Building Council of Greater Columbia will give a presentation on the green features of the homes in the Parade. Free to attend with paid admission to the Parade.

The Saluda River Club neighborhood is so new that you won't find it on most Internet map services such as Google Maps. However, you can get directions to it by searching on the intersection of Edgehill Court and Corley Mill Road.



JustLexington.com

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