The December 8, 2018 annual Ocean Ridge Plantation homeowners’ meeting proved to be very informative and exciting for Ocean Ridge Plantation residents.
Detailed plans were announced to expand the Ocean Ridge Plantation amenity portfolio to address the needs of the burgeoning coastal community. The plans call for leveraging existing assets and securing a location for a future amenity. The efforts by the homeowners to address current and future needs, will drive higher real estate values.
Nature Park Pavilion Modification
The new plans call for the modifying the existing pavilion located at the Nature Park and enclosing the roughly 3,500 sq/ft space and adding an additional 3,500 sq/ft to the structure.
The new building will provide greater capacity for community meetings, events and activity space for the more than 60 clubs and organizations.
The monies for the new project will come from a loan, however the current plan will not create significant changes to owners’ annual HOA fees. The funding will come from savings from renegotiated contracts and off loading the financial responsibility of vacant lot maintenance to the lot owners.
The project plans for the Nature Pavilion will begin at the beginning of 2019 and completion is expected within 12 to 14 months.
Planning for the Future
In addition to reworking the Nature Pavilion, the board announced that they are in negotiations to purchase an adjacent track of land. The land will provide the location for a future amenity. The board felt it prudent to purchase the property now due to the growth in Brunswick County and the limited real estate opportunities for land appropriate to the community needs.
Amenities Support Higher Values
As a community matures, so do their amenities. To attract new families to Ocean Ridge Plantation it is crucial to offer amenities that are relevant to the dynamic needs of real estate shoppers.
The new projects are a welcome response to the growth in Ocean Ridge Plantation, as well as aim to improve the demand for building lots and single family homes.
Historically, Ocean Ridge Plantation responded to marketplace demands with the addition of amenities funded by the developer. The marginalized developer role has left a vacuum that is being filled by the strong leadership of the homeowner association and their commitment to current and future property owners.
With more than a decade since the construction of a substantial amenity, the community finds itself playing catchup to top performing lifestyle communities, such as St. James Plantation, Brunswick Forest and Compass Pointe.
Things in Ocean Ridge haven’t been static. Efforts have been ongoing to update and modernize existing amenities. The migration to an indoor saltwater pool was in response to both internal demands and changing technologies.
The introduction of horseshoe pits, bocce ball courts and grilling areas at the Nature Park haven were popular additions.
The remodeling of the Plantation Club community center and replacement of exercise equipment are also activities taken to maintain and update the existing assets.
The conversion of tennis courts to support pickleball was also a necessary response to the changing needs of the residents.
Silver Coast Properties, a leading community specialist in southeastern North Carolina, attributes the slower than expected demand in Ocean Ridge Plantation to shoppers choosing communities that offer newer amenities within competing neighborhoods.
Silver Coast Properties has been assisting families in Ocean Ridge Plantation for more than 14 years and acknowledges that concerns from their clients often involves comments surrounding the current amenities and the future amenities.
Ocean Ridge Plantation’s efforts are not unique. Several Brunswick County communities are preparing for or already introduced new amenities in an effort to stay relevant in the eyes of today’s consumers.
Lockwood Folly Country Club , a waterfront golf community located in Holden Beach, North Carolina, completed the construction of their 14,000 facility in 2017. The 30 year old community recognized the need for improved facilities many years ago and implemented a program to shore up funds for the necessary improvements.
Sea Trail Plantation located in Sunset Beach, North Carolina announced at their November annual homeowner meeting that the are setting $250,000 aside, each year for then next 4-5 years. Their goals is to identify a property for a new amenity center location, which is a response to their significant growth.
Ocean Ridge Plantation’s undertaking to broaden their amenity package is an applaudable and necessary initiative. The new amenities will meet the needs of the current population and ensure strong real estate values moving into the future.
As southeastern North Carolina’ premier golf and beach community, the expectations are understandably high. With the strong leadership and support by its proactive residents, the future is very bright for this desirable coastal community.
