Long a rural drive, Lincolnville Road has been "discovered" to some extent, serving as a feeder to high-traffic Ladson Road. But the roadway's look is still wooded, even as neighborhoods popped up in recent years. It's no stretch then that Centex Homes would put a woodsy spin on the name of its new neighborhood there, The Forest at Summer Park.

"The streetscape is very pretty, protected by woodlands," said xxxx. Yet the neighborhood is not far from stores and businesses.

"The location is close to I-26," xxx said. "It's a good value for the money."

Centex limited the scope of The Forest at Summer Park, which has just five streets covering 40 acres of property. "It's a small neighborhood of only 132 homes," she said.

The three- to six-bedroom houses range from 1,328 to 2,896 square feet in size. Most of the 11 floor plans have flexible designs so that buyers, for instance, can convert a bedroom into a game room or study. In addition, the plans have two to four "elevations," such as with or without a loft. Homes are priced from $157,900 to $227,900.

Other standard attractions are garages, built-in pest control systems, large closets, smooth ceilings and fully landscaped yards. The homes have natural gas fireplaces, water heaters and ranges. Available extras include screened porches, deluxe master bathrooms and stainless steel kitchenappliances. Some homes come with brick accents on the exteriors and tray ceilings in bedrooms.

The community, in Charleston County near the Dorchester County line, has a number of cul-de-sacs where the one- and two-story houses back up to ponds. "There's not a lot of through traffic out here," xxxx said.

Buyers come from a variety of demographic groups.

"We have anything from starter home (purchasers), downsizing (couples), retirement, families," xxxx said.

While The Forest doesn't have physical amenities other than sidewalks, the adjoining Summer Park community has a swimming pool. The Forest at Summer Park Homeowners Association dues covering maintenance and care of common areas are $355 a month.

Models are the Ellington, Jackson, Chesapeake, Lakeland, Yorkshire, Harrison, McMillan, Anderson, Lexington, Richmond and Seneca. The Anderson and the Seneca are new floor plans for the Charleston area. Some models have master bedrooms upstairs, some downstairs.

Sales and marketing of The Forest at Summer Park began in April, but business was slow early on. "In the past couple of weeks, sales picked up," xxx said this past fall. The influx included friends telling friends and repeat Centex buyers. "One family referred another family member and a co-worker," she said. "People found us."

To get to The Forest at Summer Park from downtown Charleston, take Interstate 26 west to the U.S. Highway 78 exit (203A). Follow Highway 78 to Ladson Road and turn left. Continue on Ladson Road to Lincolnville Road just across a set of railroad tracks. Turn right on Lincolnville Road. Go two miles and the entrance to The Forest at Summer Park is on the left. The neighborhood is about .4 of a mile off Lincolnville Road.

Neighborhood
The Forest at Summer Park

Location
Charleston County

Total homes
132

Home sizes
1,328 to 2,896 square feet

Home prices
$157,900 to $227,900

Typical features
--Kitchen range, dishwasher, 30-inch oak cabinets
--Front, rear lawns landscaped w/ 70 percent sod, 30 percent plant beds
--Built-in pest control system
--At least three bedrooms
--Garages
--Smooth ceilings
--Cable outlets in all bedrooms, living room

Property taxes
$1,618 on a $190,000 home

Area attractions
Downtown Summerville, Exchange Park Fairgrounds, town of Lincolnville, Charleston International Airport, North Charleston Coliseum, North Charleston Performing Arts Center, Summerville Medical Center, Charleston Southern University, Interstate 26.

Distance to downtown Charleston
23 miles

Schools
Ladson Elementary -
Grades K-5; phone, 764-2225; enrollment, 488; certified staff, 36; PACT results, 21.6 percent of fifth-graders scored proficient or advanced on English/Language Arts, 21.5 percent on math, 19 percent on science and 12.7 percent on social studies.

Alice Birney Middle -
Grade 6-8; phone, 764-2212; enrollment, 684; certified staff, 64; PACT results, 12.6 percent of eighth-graders scored proficient or advanced on English/Language Arts, 9.9 percent on math, 3.3 percent on science and 4.8 percent on social studies.

R.B. Stall High -
Grades 9-12; phone, 762-2754; enrollment, 919; certified staff, 91; SAT results, 377 verbal and 389 math. The 766 combined score is lower than the state average (985) and the national average (1021).

Housing Trends
Above Ladson Road and below Bacons Bridge Road:

Number of sales in the fourth quarter of 2006: 244 (down from 274 in the fourth quarter of 2005).

Average sales price: $190,400 (up from $182,500).

Median sales price: $172,000 (up from $168,000).

Reach Jim Parker at 937-5542 or at jparker@postandcourier.com