Closer communities with more green in between.

The path to a better world begins in our own backyard. Everyone loves strong economic development. It’s good for communities, and good for the people in those communities. But this growth comes with a price. As cities and towns increase and prosper, they need schools, offices, retail, and roads for residents. Providing these things usually means sacrificing natural areas. Sure, a few trees might be saved when clearing land for new development, but most will be gone. Forever. Replaced with asphalt and concrete. It’s an unnatural pattern that continues to repeat itself all across America. It’s a pattern we want to change.

Anyone who lives in the upstate of SC would agree—it’s beautiful here. It’s beautiful because of our natural resources. From our creeks and rivers to our forests and meadows, we’re lucky to call this part of the country home. It just feels good here. Natural. But change is coming. Our region is growing. Fast. And when cities like Charlotte grow, more asphalt is laid, and more natural areas vanish.

With Kettlesong we're out to prove there's a better way. A way that protects what is beautiful and wild in our part of the country and provides a place to call home. Rather than waiting to be overrun by sprawl, what if we created compact home places where people are connected to nature? We think Kettlesong can be that place. Surrounded by preserved forest and farmland, with schools, stores and neighbors all within walking distance. You can still drive your car but it may just feel -- unnecessary. We imagine more hamlets and townships tucked into the woods of York and Chester counties, woven together with lots of conservation areas of woodlands and family homesteads. This is how we meet the demands of growth while protecting our character and our way of life. But here's the thing- we need to act now!

Kettlesong isn’t the first to do this, it’s happening all over America. Some call it new urbanism or traditional neighborhood design. It’s not an experiment, it’s a proactive and thoughtful approach to stave off suburban sprawl and keep our area beautiful and real.

We’re actively working with local municipalities and conservation groups to establish a regional greenway system that would save natural habitats and cultivate complete pedestrian-oriented communities. Communities with bike trails and running paths, nestled in natural surroundings and connecting us to all the goodness mother nature has to offer. Communities, that are welcoming to business and have schools that you can walk to, all powered with new technologies. Whole communities.

This is a bold approach to guiding future development in a way that both embraces new economic opportunities and celebrates our pristine natural wonderland. We believe that through sensitive land conservation, and connecting people to one another, we can leave this a place better than we found it, for our children, and their children’s children. We live here and we want to keep what we have and make it better. We can do that by committing to a strategy of smart growth.