Developer to sell South Carolina land for permanent conservation
Pulte Home Company will sell the 229-acre White Tract to the Open Space Institute to protect wildlife habitats.
Developer Pulte Home Company has agreed to sell the 229-acre White Tract in Awendaw, South Carolina, for permanent conservation, according to a Times of India report. The property sits adjacent to the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge in Charleston County.
The agreement, announced on November 6, 2026, involves the Open Space Institute purchasing the land. This settlement follows 20 years of opposition to a 2006 proposal that planned approximately 208 single-family homes on the property.
Conservation groups, including the Coastal Conservation League, Charleston Waterkeeper, and Friends of Coastal South Carolina, had challenged the development. They expressed concerns that septic systems for the proposed homes could impact groundwater and surrounding waterways.
Grace Gasper, executive director of Friends of Coastal South Carolina, noted the land's importance for migratory birds and sea turtle nesting. The area serves as a vital stopover for birds travelling between the Arctic and South America.
Under the settlement, the South Carolina Environmental Law Project (SCELP) will dismiss pending legal challenges once the land is protected. Pulte Home Company also agreed to implement environmental enhancements at its Farms at Longleaf and Rock Six communities.
The transaction has not yet been completed, and the parties have not announced an official closing date for the sale.