Daniel Island
Encyclopedia
Daniel Island is a 4000 acres (16.2 km²) island located in the City of Charleston, South Carolina
. It is located in Berkely County and situated between the Cooper
and Wando River
s . It is being developed as a master planned community
complete with residential neighborhoods, parks, trails, recreational amenities and a downtown that is home to shops, restaurants, schools, churches and offices for businesses.
Formerly owned by the Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation
and used primarily for farming, cattle ranching, and as a private hunting retreat, the island remained undeveloped until the early 1990s when the newly constructed I-526
expressway was completed. At this time, the Guggenheim Foundation sponsored the development of a master plan that would guide the island’s development as a natural extension of this suburb of the city of Charleston. Development of the first residential properties began in 1996, and in 1997 the island was purchased by the Daniel Island Company, a developer of master planned communities. Hundreds of acres of parks have been created. Two professional sports facilities – the Family Circle Tennis Center
and Blackbaud Stadium
– are located on the island, along with a private country club, the Daniel Island Club, with golf courses by Tom Fazio
and Rees Jones
. The club hosts the Nationwide Tour Championship, the final event of the Nationwide Tour
. There are also two churches and three schools on the island. The community and its developers have been nationally recognized for responsible planning and "smart growth
" practices with numerous awards and accolades. It was a 2007 recipient of an "Award for Excellence" from the Urban Land Institute
.
There are three schools located on Daniel Island: the DI Academy (pre-K), Daniel Island School (K-8) and Bishop England High School
(9-12). The Daniel Island School was constructed in 2006.
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
. It is located in Berkely County and situated between the Cooper
Cooper River (South Carolina)
The Cooper River is a mainly tidal river in the U.S. state of South Carolina. These cities are located along the river, Mt. Pleasant, Charleston, North Charleston, Goose Creek and Hanahan. Short and wide, it is joined first by the blackwater East Branch, then farther downstream, the tidal Wando River...
and Wando River
Wando River
The Wando River is a tidewater river in the coastal area of South Carolina. It begins in the town of Awendaw and empties into the Cooper River at Charleston Harbor. Its drainage area is . -External links:...
s . It is being developed as a master planned community
Planned community
A planned community, or planned city, is any community that was carefully planned from its inception and is typically constructed in a previously undeveloped area. This contrasts with settlements that evolve in a more ad hoc fashion. Land use conflicts are less frequent in planned communities since...
complete with residential neighborhoods, parks, trails, recreational amenities and a downtown that is home to shops, restaurants, schools, churches and offices for businesses.
Formerly owned by the Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation
Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation
The Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation was established by Harry Guggenheim to support research on violence, aggression, and dominance.The foundation writes: "He was convinced that solid, thoughtful, scholarly and scientific research, experimentation, and analysis would in the end accomplish more...
and used primarily for farming, cattle ranching, and as a private hunting retreat, the island remained undeveloped until the early 1990s when the newly constructed I-526
Interstate 526
Interstate 526 or the Mark Clark Expressway is a beltway, Interstate Highway of Interstate 26 in Berkeley and Charleston counties in South Carolina, USA.-Route description:...
expressway was completed. At this time, the Guggenheim Foundation sponsored the development of a master plan that would guide the island’s development as a natural extension of this suburb of the city of Charleston. Development of the first residential properties began in 1996, and in 1997 the island was purchased by the Daniel Island Company, a developer of master planned communities. Hundreds of acres of parks have been created. Two professional sports facilities – the Family Circle Tennis Center
Family Circle Tennis Center
Family Circle Tennis Center is a tennis center on Daniel Island in Charleston, South Carolina. Built in 2001, the center has 17 courts, including the 10,200-seat Family Circle Magazine Stadium. It annually hosts the WTA Tour's Family Circle Cup. The Hootie & the Blowfish album Live in Charleston...
and Blackbaud Stadium
Blackbaud Stadium
Blackbaud Stadium is a soccer-specific stadium located on Daniel Island in Charleston, South Carolina, that opened in 1999. Charleston Battery call Blackbaud Stadium home...
– are located on the island, along with a private country club, the Daniel Island Club, with golf courses by Tom Fazio
Tom Fazio
Thomas Fazio, ASGCA is a golf course architect.Fazio graduated in 1962 from Lansdale Catholic High School and was inducted into its "Hall of Fame" in 2007. He began his career in golf course design with his family's firm in suburban Philadelphia, which he left in the 1960s; he established his own...
and Rees Jones
Rees Jones
Rees Jones is an American golf course architect.He was born in Montclair, New Jersey the son of legendary golf course designer Robert Trent Jones and the younger brother of golf course designer Robert Trent Jones, Jr...
. The club hosts the Nationwide Tour Championship, the final event of the Nationwide Tour
Nationwide Tour
The Nationwide Tour is the developmental tour for the U.S.-based PGA Tour, and features professional golfers who have either failed to score well enough at that level's Qualifying School to earn their PGA Tour card, or who have done so but then failed to win enough money to stay at that level...
. There are also two churches and three schools on the island. The community and its developers have been nationally recognized for responsible planning and "smart growth
Smart growth
Smart growth is an urban planning and transportation theory that concentrates growth in compact walkable urban centers to avoid sprawl and advocates compact, transit-oriented, walkable, bicycle-friendly land use, including neighborhood schools, complete streets, and mixed-use development with a...
" practices with numerous awards and accolades. It was a 2007 recipient of an "Award for Excellence" from the Urban Land Institute
Urban Land Institute
The Urban Land Institute, or ULI, is a non-profit research and education organization with offices in Washington, D.C., Hong Kong, and London...
.
There are three schools located on Daniel Island: the DI Academy (pre-K), Daniel Island School (K-8) and Bishop England High School
Bishop England High School
Bishop England High School is the largest diocesan Catholic four-year high school in South Carolina. Until 1998, the school was located on Calhoun Street in downtown Charleston.It is now located on Daniel Island in the city of Charleston...
(9-12). The Daniel Island School was constructed in 2006.