Settings Newsletter, August 5, 2008
Everything According to PlanAll four Settings communities on track for even more progress
At The Settings, we pride ourselves on living up to—and surpassing—our promises. As we continue to show great progress in our four communities, we feel it’s important to tell what we’re doing and what you can expect to see when you visit.
The Settings of Mackay Point
It is an exciting time at Mackay Point, we’ve completed the planting of 40 mature live-oaks at the entrance. The next step is to enhance the entrance with detailed landscaping that will give The Settings of Mackay Point a classic Lowcountry feel from the moment you arrive. In addition the roads, water and sewer for a portion of Phase I have been installed allowing our “Featured Builders” to begin breaking ground on our model homes for the "Street of Dreams” throughout the month of August, culminating in a “Showcase of Homes” in late Spring of 2009.
The Settings of West Point Lake
Our Road construction and infrastructure at The Setting of West Point Lake is moving along at a rapid pace. Completion of Phase I infrastructure will be finished very soon. The Curbing for the roads has been completed for all of Phase 1-A. Paving of the roads in Phase 1-A will be completed this month. Our dock permits are already approved, and the first set of boat slips is already in.
The Settings of Black Mountain
We have had a great summer at Black Mountain – beautiful sunsets and perfect construction weather. We now have four homes complete, eight homes under construction and many more in design review. Our Clubhouse parking lot is now in the paving process and will soon be complete. Come by and seen the overlook parks, fish in the re-stocked pond or exercise on the walking trails. Although it’s been complete for some time, the Beanstalk Adventure Playground continues to win great reviews from the folks who matter most—the kids.
The Settings of Lake Rhodhiss
This month, The Settings of Lake Rhodhiss will unveil a brand new area in the property. This recent section of the community contains a few of our favorite homesites – some featuring dramatic panoramic vistas – and others, forested natural views. You’ll have a full assortment to choose from. A limited number of waterfronts will be available. Call for details.
This is an exciting time at all Settings communities, and we know you’ll be impressed when you come out and see them for yourself.
The Settings of Lake Rhodhiss
Construction of our Entrance and Greeter's Cottage is progressing nicely! The stacked stone that is being incorporated into The Settings of Lake Rhodhiss Greeter's Cottage is bringing the traditional lake and mountain lodge feeling of the community to life. The roads for the Street of Dreams are in and construction of home beginning soon.
Putting Down Roots
The Settings of Mackay Point Transplants 55,000-pound giant
It sounds like the set-up for a classic riddle. Q: How does a 26-ton live-oak tree travel 65 miles down the expressway. A: Very slowly.
But when The Settings of Mackay Point found just the right tree for the community entrance, time and distance took a back seat to acquiring a tree that would make an unforgettable impression on visitors and residents alike. It’s a perfect representation of The Settings of Mackay Point. And you don’t miss a chance for perfection just because it may take a little more time.
So, in a nutshell: The newest permanent resident of this waterfront community stands 40 feet tall and spreads out about 40 feet, as well. Its trunk is 27 inches in diameter. Weighing in at about 55,000 pounds, this exquisite live-oak started as a mere sapling in 1954 in Orangeburg, South Carolina, at the Shady Grove Plantation and Nursery.
“The live-oak is a big part of Lowcountry,” says Henry Sauls, construction manager at The Settings of Mackay Point. “It’s a tree with character, and that’s what we wanted to express at our community entrance: character.”
After digging it out of the ground, workmen wrapped the root ball—consolidated from 50 feet to 15 feet—in a cage to keep it together. It was then wrapped in burlap and secured with the same kind of strap used to make seat-belts. The team then called for the 70-ton crane to lift the tree out of its hole, after which the branches were tied, pulled back and fit into a package that would earn the load its traveling permits from the Department of Transportation.
At 9 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, the real adventure began with a convoy leaving the nursery heading to The Settings of Mackay Point. A DOT transport police escort led the way, followed by a flag escort car, then the tree, then another flag escort and another DOT transport police escort bringing up the rear. Things went smoothly until the parade got to the town of St. George on I-95. Road work was being performed, and The Settings team had to stop the transport, and adjust hundreds of orange traffic barrels individually: just a few inches on either side, but a few inches that made all the difference. Moving through this obstacle course was like threading a 26-ton needle.
By the time the convoy got to the Highway 17 exit, hundreds of cars were backed up behind it, most of the drivers being delighted that the slow-moving tree was finally getting off the expressway. Henry points out that the professional truckers who had been backed up gave a few short blasts on their air horns as they passed, out of respect for the difficult job that was being accomplished.
“The regular travelers were not quite so respectful,” says Henry, mentioning a few of the catcalls he heard.
Once off the expressway, more action awaited, and it took the tree 30 minutes to travel the one mile down Mackay Point Road. Power lines were navigated, mailboxes were moved, and one gatepost on property had to be cut down with a chainsaw. But finally, at 2:30 a.m., the tree was “home” and by 4 p.m. the next day, it was officially planted, the entire process taking about 19 hours.
“This tree is living proof of the commitment of The Settings,” says Henry. “We may not do things the easy way, but we always do things the best way.”
Discover your hideaway.
The perfect place for all you can imagine—one hour from Atlanta.
The Settings of West Point Lake
Getting away to the lake should be relaxing, and at The Settings of West Point Lake, it still is. Now is the time to discover a waterfront community an easy hour (60 miles) from Atlanta. The only gated community on the 26,000-acre West Point Lake, The Settings of West Point Lake offers lakefront and nature homesites, all with their own boat slips - the first of which have been completed and are on the water.
Each and every homesite here includes its own private covered boat slip. Instead of the mobs you find on most lakes in the Southeast, The Settings of West Point Lake offers surroundings that are uncrowded, unspoiled and unbelievable.
The construction of our roads is moving along well. The Curbing for the roads has been completed for all of Phase 1-A. Paving of the roads in Phase 1-A, will be completed this month.
Call us today and learn how you can enjoy one of Georgia’s hidden treasures for yourself with one of our Discovery Packages. Call 866-980-5253 for details.
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