‘You are our future’
Developers woo city’s young professionals

By Sarah Winn

Charleston Gazette Staff writer

Developers of a condominium project planned for Kanawha Boulevard want Charleston’s young professionals to jump in to the real-estate investment with them.

“If I were your age, I would look at things like this as an investment project,” said Richard Howard, one of the seven siblings developing the Boulevard at 2412. “We don’t have the influx of transients in this town ... you are our future in this city.”

At a Wednesday meeting of the Charleston Area Alliance’s Young Professionals group’s housing committee, architects for the Boulevard at 2412 project explained how the proposed development could fit into the members’ lifestyle.

“This is not an out-of-town developer,” said Adam Krason, an architect with ZMM. “If they didn’t have the heart, they wouldn’t be doing it.”

The heart is that of the Howard family. The seven siblings have proposed the mixed-use project. The project plan has seven buildings, including an 18-unit apartment building on the north side of Washington Street, a 34-unit main building and four smaller buildings that have other condominiums and professional office space.

Also making its home on the property is the future Kanawha Valley Senior Services activities annex.

The buildings will be two to three stories tall along the Boulevard and also on the north side of Washington Street close to other residences, and up to seven stories high for the main tower in the center of the complex.

There will be a total of 58 apartment/condominium units, but potential owners will be able combine units. Kanawha River views, rooftop gardens, concierge services, meeting space and indoor parking are part of the package.

Condominium sizes start at a minimum of two bedrooms, two baths and 1,000 square feet and can be as large as three bedrooms, 2.5 baths and 2,300 square feet. Prices start at about $200,000, Krason said.

Margo Teeter, a realty agent and Howard sibling, said the final price for the condos is still being negotiated.

Still, pre-sales of the condos are also going well, and she has several appointments already set up, she said.

Determining owner association fees is also in the works, Teeter said.

For units not pre-sold, the Howards will take ownership of the units and rent them out, Richard Howard said.

The young professionals in attendance were pleased with the Howards’ plans.

Although he recently bought a house on Quarrier Street, Jason Blackhurst said he would have considered such a place to live.

“There’s less obligation in ownership,” he said as he sat outside of the Boulevard’s sales office, which is the Howard family home. “No patching a roof or mowing the grass.”

While he is optimistic about the project, Blackhurst said the Howards could face some struggles.
“I think the hardest thing to overcome is going to be the pre-sale,” he said. “It’s hard to sell something you can’t see or can’t walk into.”

For Matt Kingery, the chairman of the group’s housing committee, the mixed-use concept of the project is appealing to young professionals, he said.

“That’s what makes it unique,” he said. “Charleston needs something like this ... it will provide some of the services — like parking — that keep coming up [with young professionals].”

To contact staff writer Sarah K. Winn, call 348-5156