Last week, Purty Property Co. announced it was bringing a new mixed-use development behind the Shoppes at Flight Deck, located at the busy intersection between West and East Main Street, Old Chapin Road and Columbia Avenue in Lexington.

The development, dubbed Sandpiper Square and set to bring nearly 30 housing units, has been met with mixed reactions.

Jonathan Stambolitis, director of development with Purty and the son of Flight Deck restaurant and shopping center owner Ted Stambolitis, talked about the project in a little more detail with the Chronicle.

“We envision Sandpiper Square to be a destination where Lexington's residents and businesses can thrive together. This development reflects our commitment to sustainable urban growth, social integration, and the economic vitality of the region,” he said.

Stambolitis detailed that the project will sit on 2.07 acres, taking up a currently vacant lot that runs along Snelgrove Road. It is set to contain 29 single-family cottages and two mixed-use units.

 “We envision Sandpiper Square to be a destination where Lexington's residents and businesses can thrive together,” the developer said. “This development reflects our commitment to sustainable urban growth, social integration, and the economic vitality of the region.”

The residential units have “contemporary finishes,” Stambolitis said, along with “traditional Lowcountry style cues,” listing wrap-around porches and French doors as examples. 

“We wanted to maximize the use of the land,” he said, “with about 30% of the space for greenspace.” 

Stambolitis emphasized that he grew up in Lexington and has spent a good amount of his life in the town. He has seen how the town has grown and how traffic has inevitably grown and he and his real estate company wanted to combat the urban sprawl, the developer said.

“It’s a new way to revitalize underused properties while being environmentally friendly. This checks the boxes without creating more traffic,” he says. “We see this as an opportunity for a lasting legacy for the neighborhood and enhanced quality life for the local residents and hopefully to set a benchmark for future developments.”

He went on to say there are no plans for restaurants, which tend to draw more traffic. The development will only have two commercial units, which are not final at this time. 

Stambolitis hinted that the company is looking at using the space for a real estate office, a flex office space and perhaps a coffee shop, but nothing is final at this time.

The residences are planned to be standalone homes with an average square footage of 1,600. There will not be garages, but homes will be able to accommodate two cars each on the neighborhood’s cobblestone-like roads. Stambolitis said it should work well for young professionals, empty nesters and small families.

The public has expressed doubts that the development is what Lexington needs.

The initial May 11 Facebook post announcing details for the development, which was given Town Council approval in late 2021, elicited some intense reactions, with some praising the project while others complained about how it could add traffic to the already congested area.

Stambolitis said they are going to work with the county to enhance the two-lane Old Chapin Road, with plans including extending and widening the deceleration lane at the intersection. The small cemetery on Old Chapin Road won’t be touched, he said.