Why Hilton Head Island...The Best is Yet to Come?

Symposium Series #2
Our latest Symposiums that I created and moderated entitled “Why Hilton Head Island…The Best is Yet to Come” was held on June 3, 2008 at the Hilton Oceanfront Resort and Ocean Tides Spa in Palmetto Dunes. The primary goal of the Symposium was to educate over 450 local realtors, members of the media and invited guests on why Palmetto Dunes Resort and Hilton Head Island is a “special” place to invest for family enjoyment and a solid real estate investment.

RETV an affiliate of WHHI, filmed the Symposium to incorporate into a series of TV broadcasts. Articles will appear in the upcoming issues of Hilton Head Monthly Magazine, Island Real Estate Magazine and Homes of Hilton Head Island. Press coverage and recent artlcles appeared in The Island Packet.

The Focus

1. The presentations were very well received as sometimes we forget how lucky we are to live in this “paradise”.
2. The redevelopment and capital improvements segment was a definite eye opener for many who were not aware of all the recent and upcoming improvements to the Town of Hilton Head Island, Palmetto Dunes Resort and Sea Pines Resort.
3. The presentations which addressed marketing touched a nerve. We obviously need to reach out to affluent visitors by redirecting marketing dollars to the Northeast, Florida, Canada and Europe. It is amazing the number of calls we have received indicating that we were “right on target.”
4. It is imperative that the rental management companies be more forceful and insist on enhancing and upgrading properties they manage.
5. Many of the callers expressed the need for a concentrated effort to inform the Town of Hilton Head Island on the importance of revisiting the Land Management Ordinance and the need to be more flexible taking into consideration the redevelopment and capital improvements throughout Hilton Head Island.

The Benefits

• A better understanding of the improved “quality of life” for all Hilton Head Island residents and guests as the Town of Hilton Head Island, resorts and individual owners are all striving to improve their amenities and infrastructure, which will have a positive impact on all property values throughout the Island.
• In attracting affluent visitors, more money will be spent to support the restaurants, retail, golf, tennis and resort operations. This will give added revenue to all our local business owners.
• The Town of Hilton Head Island will benefit tremendously as there will be increased revenue enabling them to continually work on improving our community.

What Makes Hilton Head Island Distinctive?

• LAND PLANNING: Considered by notable land planners to be the best land planned residential oceanfront resort community in the country
• CLIMATE: Semi-tropical with four seasons and mild winters
• BEACH: As an oceanfront community, we have an overabundance of water and 12 miles of white, sandy beaches
• DRIVE-TO MARKET: Easily accessible drive-to market within a 15-hour radius of more than 100,000,000 potential visitors
• AIRPORTS:Hilton Head Island Airport and Hilton Head/Savannah International Airport
• BOATING:Four area harbours and marinas available for public access to the Intracoastal Waterway.
• GOLF: World renowned for its 23 golf courses
• TENNIS: In excess of 300 tennis courts
• SHOPPING: Diverse and unique
• DINING: Over 250 dining establishments
• CONVENIENCE: A multitude of choices within 15 minutes driving time to schools, urgent care and hospital, banks, medical care, groceries, libraries, theatres, churches, outdoor festivals, home repair, shopping, and Gullah and historical attractions
• ARTS CENTER OF COASTAL CAROLINA: A world-class facility in the Shelter Cove area offering the finest in musical, visual and performing arts
• ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE: The Island blends its natural beauty and wildlife thereby preserving the natural feel

PALMETTO DUNES RESORT
Recent Improvements

• Robert Trent Jones Golf Course – restoration – 2002
• Assumption of Palmetto Dunes Outfitters, 2004 – surf camp, kayaks, fishing, bikes, equipment rental and activity programs
• Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront brand with a new marketing plan
• Catering and event operations provided under the “Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront” brand name
• Centralized reservations and activity planning
• Golf Course improvements
• Arthur Hills Golf Course irrigation system improvements
• George Fazio Golf Course outdoor grill and patio sitting area
• Shelter Cove enhanced lighting
• Welcome Center and George Fazio Golf Clubhouse parking areas
• Welcome Center renovation
• Arthur Hills Golf Course sea wall replacement and renovation
• South Shore Commons luxury condominiums completed

Future Improvements

• Arthur Hills and George Fazio Golf Courses
• Plans for Beach Club conversion of Dunes House
• Began planning process for Palmetto Dunes Resort property enrichment program with Wood + Partners, Inc., a land planning and landscape architecture firm and evaluating resort core opportunitities
• Renovation and replacement of aged facilities
• Near completion of the North Gate Securit Building

SEA PINES RESORT
Recent Improvements

• Riverstone Group purchase of Sea Pines Associates March 05’
• Restoration of Harbour Town Golf Links
• Construction and re-opening of Heron Point by Pete Dye
• Sea Pines purchase of commercial properties in Harbour Town – improvements to Harbour Town Commercial Properties i.e. the Quarterdeck and Topside at the Quarterdeck
• Harbourside Cafe
• Beach Club parking area
• Sea Pines Fitness Center expansion
• Sea Pines Welcome Center lobby
• The Shops at Sea Pines Center renovation

Future Improvements

• Harbour Town: Tennis, Fitness Center, Clubhouse and Pool
• Ocean Golf Course
• Lawton Stables
• Plantation Club parcel to include a new, 100 room hotel
• Conference space at Plantation Club
• Heron Point and Ocean Golf Course clubhouses
• Replacement of the Beach Club
• New resort spa – location TBD
• 50 + new residential units

TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND
Recent Accomplishments
The Land Acquisition Program has significantly reduced density and helped preserve the natural environment of Hilton Head Island through the following:

• 102 parcels purchased totaling 1,149 acres
• Total expenditures of $120,500,000
• Reduction of 4.15 million sq. ft. of commercial development
• Reduction of 1,365 hotel and motel rooms
• Reduction of 3,226 multi-family and timeshare units
• Reduction of 26,246 PM peak-hour driving trips
• Housing unit projections have been reduced by 35%
• 56,926 housing units projected in the ’85 Comprehensive Plan
• 36,984 housing units projected in the ’04 Comprehensive Plan

Bike Paths

• 53 miles of public bike paths at approximate cost of $10,000,000
• Future plans to build additional paths along public streets at approximate cost of $9,000,000
• More than 50 miles of private bike paths and shared roadways within private developments

Parks and Recreation Facilities

• 21 leisure parks and 7 beach parks
• 6 recreational parks i.e. skate park, ball park with field lighting, roller hockey and basketball arena
• 8 community parks including Honey Horn, a preserved plantation and home to the Coastal Discovery Museum
• Memorial parks including the Shelter Cove Veterans Memorial
• Xeriscape Garden (landscaping that emphasizes water conservation and the use of drought-resistant plants)
• 2 public boat landings

Beach Renourishment

• Self-funded through the “Beach Preservation Fee” (2% from all lodging 90 days or less) Hilton Head Island is one of only a few towns in the country that funds its own beach renourishment.
• Town of Hilton Head Island has completed 3 renourishment projects with a total investment of $37,000,000
• The most recent renourishment project (2006-2007) spanned 7 miles of beach
• 2,127,000 cubic yards of sand was pumped onto the beaches of Hilton Head Island
• Sand fencing placed along 3 miles of beach
• Vegetation planted along the dunes in four areas
• The next beach renouishment is planned within the next six to nine years based on results of the 2007 project