Team Formed for Upcoming Sweetwater Development

CHARLESTON, SC  The Kassinger Development Group (KDG) based in Charleston, South Carolina develops and owns upscale, environmentally friendly and energy efficient multifamily communities within the Southeastern United States.  The Charleston team has been formed to manage Sweetwater, a mixed – use community located off of Clements Ferry Road in Berkeley County, Charleston, SC.  This distinctive 46 acre coastal site is at the former estate of the Detyens’ shipyard family.

Sweetwater will begin construction in the Fall 2014 to include garden style apartment homes, Charleston Single style homes, an Inn for guests and events, a restaurant, sundries and snack shop, as well as fantastic on and off the water amenities.

Kassinger Development Group has decades of experience and is excited to have this team focused on the Sweetwater development.  “The breadth and depth of talent and expertise joining the team exceed our expectations.” Said, Wade H. Thompson, Partner, Kassinger Development Group. “The expansion of the team is crucial to resource and scale our business to support the Sweetwater project and beyond.”

The Sweetwater Project Management team is overseeing the development in its various stages, to include coordinating with the architects, engineers, budgets, and interact with the overall group.

Carl Carlson IV, formerly with the law firm Higgins Benjamin PLLC, will oversee the project from pre-development to completion.  Carl graduated from UNC Chapel Hill and the Charleston School of Law.

Creighton Kassinger has been the project coordinator on several Kassinger Development Group properties.  He graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in political science and third world development.  After graduating he worked with Estates Management Company.  Recently, Creighton has focused on the KDG development The Retreat at West Creek in Richmond, VA.

Jay Bernstein joined the Kassinger Development Group to oversee all financial functions for Sweetwater and other company developments.  Prior to this partnership, Jay worked as a development consultant focusing on affordable and market rate multi-family properties.

Jay is a graduate of The University of Georgia and has extensive experience with project financing including agency and life company lending, tax credit financing, private equity placements, TCAP financing, TIF financing, and construction lending.

The Kassinger Development Group Marketing team is working on creating the community brand, pre-leasing apartment relationships, details and functionality of the Inn, Restaurant and Store, the website and other marketing materials.

Tyler Kassinger is involved in all Kassinger Development Group multi-family projects. Prior to joining the KDG, Tyler had close to 10 years of real estate experience in property management, construction, maintenance, commercial retail leasing and marketing from his work at Centex Construction, Merryland, Edens & Avant and Greystar. Tyler graduated from the University of Georgia with a science degree in applied economics.

Deborah Kaufman joins the Kassinger Development Group on the Marketing team to focus on Sweetwater and future projects.  Prior to joining, Deborah worked as a marketing, development, event and PR consultant for various sector non-profits, restaurants and other industries.  She was also an analyst in the Private Wealth group at Goldman Sachs. Deborah is a graduate of Hunter College with a focus on political science and economics.

Sweetwater Construction is working on pre-development, construction and design aesthetics.

John Turner, President of Sweetwater Construction began his career in Jackson, MS as a Design/Build General Contractor responsible for numerous commercial construction projects and will direct the day-to-day operations of the apartments at Sweetwater.

Jason Hile joins as a project manager for Sweetwater Construction after years as a general contractor for his company, Viking Contractors, Inc.  Jason has a main focus on high end interior trim and building custom homes, many of which are in the I’On neighborhood.  Jason will use his craftsmanship on the apartments, Inn and Store.

Kassinger Development Group will use Sweetwater Construction to design and build the apartment homes, Inn, Store and other amenities to energy star standards. Pegasus Residential will manage the apartment property. KDG has partnered with Eastwood Homes for the construction of the Charleston Single style homes.

Along with the Sweetwater project, KDG has several new projects in pre-development phases in various Southeastern States.  Within the last several years, Kassinger Development Group completed Weirbridge Village and Audubon Place in Asheville, N.C., and The Retreat at West Creek in Richmond, VA.  The Retreat at Hunt Hill in Asheville, NC is set to open in 2015.