National Flood Insurance Program lapses & home buyers face a major hurdle as many wait for congress to reauthorize coverage. “This has crippled the real estate industry,” said Ruthie Smythe of Charleston-based Lane and Smythe Real Estate. “It has shut down any closings and any new policies. The fact that they have left us hanging here for two weeks is just horrendous. We are just starting to see some glimmers of hope and this is what they are doing to us.” Reach Warren Wiseat 937-5524 P&C March 31, 2010http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2010/mar/31/homebuyers-face-major-hurdle/

South Of Broad’s version of Van Gogh’s spring blossoms. Happy Birthday Van Gogh, March 30, 1853. “This world was never meant for one as beautiful as you.” (Don McLean’s Starry, Starry, Night)

In a recent article in USA Today, Pat Conroy listed a few things that make Charleston unique. A few of the things he mentioned were the Dock Street Theater, The Battery, and Blue Bicycle Books. The Dock Street Theater first opened in 1809 and will soon reopen for performances once the 3 year, $19 million renovation is completed this month. Blue Bicycle Books is one of Conroy’s favorite places to peruse books in Charleston. The shop is located in an area of Upper King Street that is currently under heavy revitalization. The Battery is very special to Conroy because he believes that The Battery is what makes South of Broad such a unique place, “you look toward the Cooper River and then look right and see some of the most beautiful mansions in America. Because it takes you up high, you get a view of Charleston, and of what makes South of Broad special, ” says Conroy.

Click here to read the full article.

Where are these beautiful tulips?

25 Smith St

Click here for more information about this listing.

The Hibernian Society of Charleston will hold their annual St Patrick’s Day celebration with a parade. Beginning at 10:45 am, two pipe bands, antique cars and a promenade will leave the Lodge Alley Inn and march along East Bay to Broad, north on Meeting St to the Hibernian Society Hall. Wear green & come out and celebrate!

http://mls.laneandsmythe.com/mls/mls-search-details.cfm?mlsnumber=1007106&mlsid=3&wsid=1

Saturday, March 13th, come out for an old fashioned street party with bar, music, local food, and street performers.  Sponsored by the Charleston Parks Conservancy in support of our local parks  It takes place on Ashley Ave by Colonial Lake from 5-9 pm.

Click here for details.

I live downtown with my husband and children ages 7 and 5. On Sunday I showed a house that I have listed at 65 Gibbes St. to a couple with two children from Santa Barbara, CA. The neighborhood and house were extremely interesting to them. Of course they asked many questions about the house, etc. But a burning question was   where do families send their children to school? I told them there were many options for a public or a private school education.

Unfortunately, the majority of downtown public schools are “failling” per academic standards. Many downtown residents are unaware that there are public school options.The federal government is required to offer public school transfer options and supplementary instruction to children trapped in a school ranked as failing. To learn more about this please click here to visit the Charleston County School District Website.

Below I have short listed the Public schools that have a magnet program or are a charter school.

Buist Academy (Downtown) K-8 grade

Mitchell Elementary with a Montessori element (Downtown) K2-5th grade

Mt. Pleasant Academy (Mt. PLeasant) 1-8 grade

Rivers Math and Science Middle School (Downtown) 6-8 grade

Ashley River School of the Arts (West Ashley) K-5 grade

Saint Andrews Math and Science (West Ashley)  K-5

Academic Magnet High School (North Charleston) 9-12 grade

School of the Arts High School (North Chalreston) 9-12 grade

Private Schools
Ashley Hall School (Downtown) “Miss McBee opened the doors to Ashley Hall believing that our society needed educated women who were independent, ethically responsible, and prepared to meet the challenges of society with confidence. She choose the use of classical education to prepare young women for thier ever changing landscape. Much of what Miss McBee believed to be of value in 1901, still holds true today.”  

Addlestone Hebrew Academy (West Ashley) “Addlestone Hebrew Academy is a community day school that provides an exceptional education in a secular adnJudaic studies. Our students achieve standards of academic excellence in a dynamic enviornment that embodies that richness in Jewish life. Our school provides conditions in which children are motivated to learn. Our class sizes are small and our excellent teachers provide the individual attention which is critical to the development of children.”  www.addlestone.org

Blessed Sacrament School (West Ashley)”The mission of Blessed Sacrament School is to provide a high quality academoic program in a genuinely Catholic enviornement that affords students the opportunity to develop morally, spiritually, aesthitically, emotionally, and intellectually.”  www.scbss.org

Bishop England High School (Daniel Island) “Excellent school with strong sense of community and academic excellence.”  www.behs.com

Charleston Catholic School (Downtown)”Each child is challenged to discover his or her own academic excellence through creativity, inquiry, adn critical thinking. The opportunity to integrate imagination and discovery is offered in the Fine Arts programs. Physical education and a strong extracurricular athletic departmewnt help to contribut to the child’s total development”  sites.slicker.com/charlestoncatholic

Charleston Day School (Downtown) ” The mission of Charelston Day School is to foster scholarship, integrity, respect, and responsibility to our students.”  www.charlestondayschool.org

First Baptist School (Downtown) A K3-12 independent school, First Baptist is best known for three things; our nurturing Christian enviornment, our affordable rates, and our highly successful students.”  www.fbschool.org

Mason Prepatory School (Downtown) Mason Prepatory School is committed to the education of the whole child in preperation for secondary education, to the development of the child into a productive citizen, and to the cultivation of respect, integrity, and personal responsibility within a nurturing enviornement.” www.masonprep.org

Porter Gaud School  (West Ashley) “Porter-Gaud is an Episcopal, coeducational, independent college prepatory day school. We ackowledge the sovereignty of God, recognize the worth of the individual, adn seek to cultivate a school community that endows citizens witha foundation of moral and ethical charachter and intellect. Perter Gaud fosters a challenging academic enviornement that honors excellence in teaching and learning, respects differences, expects honesty and applauds achievement.”  www.portergaud.edu

The largest and most elaborate of Charleston’s antebellum religious buildings was dedicated in 1907. Today the long awaited steeple was installed. Glenn Keyes architect…..absolutely beautiful! Great job and congratulations to everyone involved.