Myrtle Beach New Home Community NEWS |
The new Ashton Woods community of Blue Heron Retreat is located very close to the Robert Edge Parkway – a key North Myrtle Beach road that extends from SC Highway 90 west to US Highway 17 at Main Street in North Myrtle Beach.
Access from Blue Heron Retreat to Robert Edge Parkway could be greatly simplified for residents of this North Myrtle Beach new home community once the Horry County RIDE 4 projects are underway.
One of the RIDE 4 Projects will be to “construct a new connection from Sandridge Road to Robert Edge Parkway at traffic signal including multimodal facilities”. The project details haven’t been fully ironed out yet, but the additional connection into Robert Edge Parkway will be huge for Blue Heron Retreat residents for travel about the area. The multimodal facilities have not yet been fully ironed out either, but its likely there may be features like dedicated bike lanes, pedestrian walkways, etc.
This attached graphic is a rough sketch of this new connection.
Background on Horry County Road Improvement and Development Effort (RIDE)
In Horry County, 'RIDE' stands for “Road Improvement and Development Effort”. The RIDE program uses primarily local funding sources to make necessary improvements to local roads and transportation infrastructure. These improvements serve those who live and work in Horry County, as well as seasonal visitors.
The first Horry County RIDE program began in 1996 and lasted until 2018. It used funding from the hospitality fee to complete 23 major projects, which included the SC 22 Conway Bypass, SC Highway 31, SC Highway 544 widening, Fantasy Harbor bridge and interchanges, and parts of Robert Grissom Parkway.
RIDE 2 was approved by voters in 2006 and began in 2007. It initiated a one-cent sales tax dedicated to roads. RIDE 2 brought 15 projects, which included the continuation of Highway 31, the construction of International Drive, the widening of Highway 707 and Glenns Bay Road, and a number of other road improvements.
RIDE 3 was approved by voters in 2016 and officially began in 2017, continuing the existing one-cent sales tax program with 20 more projects. Some RIDE 3 projects are already at or near completion, including the Palmetto Pointe Boulevard extension, Carolina Forest Boulevard widening, and Highway 501 frontage roads.
RIDE 3 will expire in April of 2025. At that time, barring any further action, the one-cent sales tax funding collection will end and effectively cap the money available for the remaining projects on the RIDE 3 program list.
During the general election on Nov. 5, 2024, a voter referendum took place that approved the proposed RIDE 4 program.
Proposed RIDE 4 projects are located in unincorporated Horry County, within city and town limits, and along major highways and intersections.
Since approved by the voters, the RIDE 4 transportation tax will replace the existing one-cent sales tax (i.e. RIDE 3) with a one-cent transportation sales tax.
Over 25 years, the program would generate an estimated $6 billion in revenue to fund the list of predetermined infrastructure projects and project sets.
The complete list of RIDE 4 proposed projects can be found on the County website at https://www.horrycountysc.gov/ride-4/
Blue Heron Retreat Status Update
With regards to new home construction progress in Blue Heron Retreat, land development is continuing at a rapid pace.
Preliminary plans from Ashton Woods in Blue Heron Retreat are showing approximately 74 single family homes - named the Blue Heron Retreat: Oasis Series. Within the Blue Heron Retreat: Oasis Series of single family homes, preliminary plans from Ashton Woods are showing 65 these single family homes to be situated along the Intracoastal Waterway. Preliminary plans from Ashton Woods are also showing an additional 210 villas (Blue Heron Retreat: Villas) – some with pond views. Future community amenities in Blue Heron Retreat by Ashton Woods will be a swimming pool, pickleball courts and a day dock on the Intracoastal Waterway.
Ashton Woods has not yet announced the exact floor plans, timing or pricing of the single-family homes or villas at Blue Heron Retreat but does anticipate sales starting around April 2025.
Homes for Sale in Blue Heron Retreat
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