Taking to the Waterways Marina Village Emerging on the Georgia Coast

The first phase of the Waterways Marina Village opened in July with a state-of-theart dry-slip boat storage and launch facility, giving local mariners convenient access to the Atlantic Ocean via the Great Ogeechee River. But that’s just the beginning of what’s ahead at Waterways.

by JG Walker

Set to debut in early 2021 is the adjacent Cottenham Exchange, a waterfront community center with swimming pools, fitness/yoga studios, retail shops, and sidewalk cafés.

Doug Davis is the president and chief executive officer of Fletcher Davis, the company that’s developing Waterways. He’s especially happy with the latest additions.

“I remain confident that this development will become the heartbeat of our community. With the dry-stack facility opening, it will be the first glimpse into what is to come with our Marina Village,” says Davis. “This amenity is key for both Waterways residents and those from beyond. I really think it sets us apart from any other community in the Southeast.”

A 2,300-acre coastal Georgia residential community located about 30 miles south of Savannah, Waterways was planned from the beginning to be a welcoming home for nature lovers. Tree preservation and environmental protection were top design priorities. At the same time, an internal network of freshwater lagoons was enhanced to create more than five miles of blueways for kayaking, canoeing, and fishing. Shady paths for hiking and biking meander throughout the community, with stops at the Waterwags Dog Park, the community gardens, and the sprawling Event Lawn along the way. The centrally located Ridgeway Amenity Center features a junior Olympic pool and a complete fitness center, while the community’s Hawk Island Nature Preserve and the new Lakewood Amenity Center are on-site destinations for year-round outdoor adventures.

“As a family, we love to go out and explore nature, whether we’re kayaking or taking a hike,” says Waterways resident Laurie Slaughter. “And, our youngest son loves to fish. It was a great move for us, and honestly, we wish we would have moved to Waterways a lot sooner.”

James Newman and his family have also found that the community fits their lifestyle to a tee. “Waterways takes it to the next level,” he says. “They have something for everybody.”

Five distinctive single-family neighborhoods—Long Creek, Parkway South, The Enclave, Ridgewood Park, and Lakewood—offer Waterways residents an impressive variety of building sites and move-inready homes. Some feature private docks, and all are constructed to the highest energy-saving standards beneath a maritime-forest canopy of live oaks and towering pines. Stylish Village Center townhomes with up to three bedrooms are also available. While about 65 percent of current Waterways residents are retirement age, the rest are working families with kids who attend the top-rated Bryan County schools.

“I think Waterways is unique,” says the development’s Senior Project Manager, Vanessa Cunningham. “It is just an all-around great place to be, no matter who you are or how old you are.”

Popular outdoor day trips in the coastal Georgia area include invigorating hikes on the six-mile McQueen’s Island Trail and the seven-mile Savannah-Ogeechee Canal Trail. Boating excursions from the marina can consist of cruises to the Intracoastal Waterway and the pristine barrier islands of Wassaw and Ossabaw, plus deep-sea fishing in the warm Gulf Stream waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

Located just beyond the Waterways gates is the thriving town of Richmond Hill, a convenient destination for everyday shopping and professional services. Just a short drive to the north is the historic city of Savannah, which offers world-class fine dining, cultural venues, and medical facilities.

Fletcher Davis’ Chief Operating Officer, Ron Lamm Jr., is enthusiastic about the completion of the Marina Village with the opening next year of the Cottenham Exchange. “It’s going to be a very exciting future for Waterways,” he says.