Sullivan’s Island is a great
place to live. The Island still maintains its quaint beach charm of yesteryear.
While on the Island, you can't help feel the great history that surrounds
you. I marvel about Sullivan's rich history and how life must have been
like in the
late 1800’s. During the early years of Sullivan’s Island, Charlestonians
would take the Charleston harbor ferry over to Sullivan’s Island. This pilgrimage
would be the start to their summer vacations or
special holidays.
On Sullivan’s Island the cross streets are called
“stations” not streets, you will find surfers and windsurfers alike enjoying the Atlantic
Ocean waves at Station 26. This is the place where the locals go to
catch the
best waves.
Sullivan’s Island mostly Victorian style homes maintain their character from
long ago. Many of the current owners are family members from past
generations who vacationed here on the Island centuries ago. On Sullivan’s Island, you will
find smaller homes on bigger lots. This is a big contrast to its
sister Island, the Isle of Palms. The separation point between Sullivan’s
Island and Isle of Palms is Breech Inlet. Here you will also find the
Boathouse restaurant.
Sullivan Island's long time residents are becoming
more and more concerned about their ability to remain property owners.
They are finding it
harder and harder to afford their home’s property taxes. In addition
to the higher property taxes, the preservation
and maintenance costs associated with owning an older homes is also higher . As a result,
you will find more out-of-town buyers moving to Sullivan’s Island. These new property owners are
updating and expanding their “functionally obsolete” homes and bring
them into the twenty-first century. Although, your changes to the outside of
a home will require prior approval from Sullivan's Island Design and
Review Board. The DRB also monitors the new zoning ordinance in order to
preserve the historic buildings on Sullivan's Island. The Design and
Review Board also approves height, size,
and exterior limitations of all new construction and home additions.
Sullivan’s Island lighthouse and Fort Moultrie are national
park landmarks.
Although, a resident from 1860 wouldn't see Sullivan's Island looking
much different than a resident in 2006 sees it now. All you really need to do is
visualize dirt roads and you can travel back through time. There are a
total of two hundred and ninety Island homes classified as
historical and the majority of these homes are found inside the designated historical areas
of Sullivan's Island Historic District, Moultrieville Historic District, and
Atlanticville Historic District.
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