REFERENCE SECTION

Updated by Steve Smith, Past Board President

Keowee Key HISTORIC TIMELINE

1972 The first lot in the community was sold.

1973 The blue heron was adopted as our logo and was put into a “landing angle” on the original logo to symbolize settling. The “Lake Keowee Association, Inc.” (“LKA”) was established to serve the social needs of members. Ground was broken for the first property owner’s clubhouse, restaurant, swimming pool and future marina near the Marina Villas tennis courts.

1974 The name “Keowee Key” was officially adopted. Construction was halted due to economic uncertainty.

1975 The first home built in Keowee Key was a rustic tri-level vacation home on Gulfstream and the first year-round residents moved in on Nov. 1, 1975.

1976 Dick Ford took ownership of the new Realtec company and went to develop and market Keowee Key. Unofficially nine holes of the golf course were opened. There was no need for a tee times; you just showed up to play when you wanted to.

1977 Fifteen lots were sold at an average price of $10,667 and there were 12 full-time residents. The first maintenance supervisor was hired.

1978 The first Golf Pro was hired in 1978. Sales began to rebound. 1979 The Club opened with a gala event with over 230 residents. Golf became the social focus of the community. The nautical theme for Keowee Key street names was adopted. Numerous exercise groups started (one of which was called the Oconee Belles) Clubs and a Bible study group were formed. The community garden was begun with a first harvest of peanuts.

1980 The Clubhouse and Captain’s Walk Villas were completed. The average sale price of a lot was $22,725 and the population was approximately 80. Realtec began advertising a discovery program for Keowee Key in the Wall Street Journal. The initial ad generated 500 responses. The first Member-Guest Tournament was held with seven twosomes.

1981 The Keowee Key Men’s Golf Association was formed. The MemberGuest Tournament attracted 48 teams. Ladies Nine Hole Golf was organized.

1982 The Community Garden was enlarged to include 59 plots.

1983 The developer, began using direct mail to market the community. The population was up to 370 and the average sale price of a lot had increased to $48,098. Marina Villas, Harbor Lights and the Captain’s Walk pool were constructed. The Lake Keowee Association (LKA) was reorganized as non-profit, tax-Exempt Corporation, to purchase, own and operate the Club and Golf Course. All owners were assessed $850 for this purchase. A mixed bowling league the “Key Rollers” was started and still continues.

1984 The Men’s Nine Hole Golf League was created. The number of activities continued to increase. A Civic and Social Committee was created to coordinate and facilitate activities within Keowee Key. The Community Garden won first place in the Southeast Division of the National Community Garden Contest. The first Tennis championship was in the fall of 1984. The tournament entry fee was a can of new tennis balls.

1985 Sales hit new record levels. Members become aware of Certainteed’s plan to sell the Golf Course and Club House and began to make plans to purchase them.

1986 The sales of Keowee Key home sites reached a new peak with the average lot selling for $71,262. Construction of Phase 2, known as the North Side began. Safe Harbor, the Tall Ship condos, the Leisure Trail, Fitness Center and Yacht Club (located at what is now Sunrise Point) came into existence. Cable TV service was added. The Population was up to 870 and close to 1,400 lots had been sold.

1987 The Golf Course and Clubhouse were sold by Certain-teed to the Lake Keowee Association (LKA)

Keowee Key HISTORIC TIMELINE

for $1.65 million. This guaranteed access to the Golf course and Club to every property owner. LKA began to assume an active role in planning for the future of Keowee Key.

1988 The Tennis Association was formally organized. All five directors of the LKA Board were resident property owners, elected by the LKA membership.

1989 The estimated population of Keowee Key was 1,200.

1990 The LKA began a one-year contract with General Development Corporation, an experienced professional golf course and country club management organization, to manage the operation of the Keowee Key Golf and Country Club.

1992 Lake Keowee Property Owners’ Association (“LKPOA”). The community had three separate governing organizations, Lake Keowee Association, Inc. (“LKA”), Lake Keowee Utility Systems, Inc. (“LKUS”) in addition to LKPOA. Each of these organizations was a separate corporation and each had a separate Board of Directors. The developer transferred the Environmental Control Committee (CARE) to LKPOA. However, the developer continued to own all the common areas and amenities except for the Club and Golf Course.

1993 LKPOA built and began operation of the Fire Department. The Members approved the purchase of the water distribution and sewage treatment plant from LKUS. The new entity was the Keowee Key Utility Systems, Inc. (“KKUS”). 1994 LKPOA acquired the Maintenance Operation, the Marina Activities (docks, etc.), Swim and Tennis Operations, Security, the Administration Operation (but not the building), the Leisure Trail and all other common areas from the developer.

1996 The Kourthouse was purchased by the LKPOA and renamed the Fitness and Racquet Center.

1997 The first Community General Manager was hired as an Administrative Manager of LKPOA, LKA and KKUS.

1998 LKA and LKPOA merged and became the Keowee Key Property Owners’ Association (“KKPOA”). Each of the amenities was supported by a separate user fee (the “ala carte” model), but all property owners paid capital assessments. A Facilities Improvement Fund (“FIF”) of $130 per year was established. This was initially used to place a fixed roof on the Kourthouse Pool.

1999 The Bylaws were changed, and all property owners were members of all community amenities effective in 2000. However, the “ala carte” model continued. Plans were developed to renovate the Club and construct an Activity Center (now the Event Center). Funds in the FIF were planned to service the debt of the Club Renovation project.

2000 KKPOA purchased the last of tract of land owned by the Developer, ending the Developer’s presence in Keowee Key. Keowee Key was now completely owned and operated by its membership. Unfortunately, the Club renovation and Activity Center construction project, completed in August 2000, had significant cost overruns, which contributed to a deteriorating financial situation.

2001 The financial decline continued. This was exacerbated by passing of the controller and the resignation of the Community General Manager, creating a significant void in management and financial control of the operations. It became necessary to charge a special assessment of $360 per Improved Property Owner and $175 per Unimproved Property Owner to return the community to solvency.

2002 Amenity usage continued to decline, especially Golf. The Club lost $456,000.

2003 With a renewed emphasis on financial management the community adopted a new Fee and Assessment Policy and an Operating plan. Financial reserves for the amenities were put into place, a dining minimum for the Club was implemented to generate more business and the mission of the Club was changed to make it the social center of the community. The Keowee Fire Department was turned over to a special County fire tax district and some efforts were taken to revitalize the marketing of Keowee Key. However, the decline in amenity usage continued, led by golf.

2004 To help right the ship, the property owners approved the Single Amenity Support Subsidy (SASS). Unlike the ala carte model, SASS is based on the concept that all property owners share a responsibility for supporting all

Keowee Key HISTORIC TIMELINE

aspects of the community. This proved very successful, with the Club generated a small profit for the first time in its history. Usage of the other major amenities increased significantly.

2005 A Major Capital Project Plan was approved which included five projects: Fitness Center renovation, Golf Course greens renovation, Community Storm Drainage replacement, Club Security gate relocation and Leisure Trail renovation. Kevin McCracken became the third community general manager and there appeared to be renewed and growing interest in Keowee Key by prospective homebuyers and the Real Estate community.

2006 Home sales and new home construction increased and by the end of the year some members became concerned about the growth and the potential negative effect on the amenities along with the necessity of funding a community capital reserve fund.

2007 The Members voted to adopt a Managed Growth plan that among other things included a re-emphasis and encouragement of the Exempt Lot program and a modification of the Amenity Lot program. The Members also approved the New Owner Capital Assessment (NOCA). New property owners would pay a fee in order to build the community capital reserves.

2008 The financial crisis caused an abrupt decline in the sale of existing properties, and new construction began to dry up as well. property owners, KKUS installed an automatic monitoring system for the 70 sewer pumps within the community as a mechanism to notify duty personnel in the event of a failure reducing response time to repair.

2010 The Keowee Key Board environment initiative began which included both the Green Team and Firewise. The community rejected a proposal to replace the deteriorating South Marina pool and Marina Club House and Skipper Store as any new construction would not have been owned by KKPOA since the property is deeded to Marina Villas.

2011 A new Capital Plan was approved that demolished the existing facilities in the Marina Villa area and replaced them with a picnic shelter. A new complex was approved for the North Marina that included a new Skipper store and office, meeting room and a new outdoor pool. Also approved were the demolition of the old administration building and the construction of a new one, along with four new tennis courts and the introduction of four new pickleball courts.

2012 Community Patrol was outsourced after a competitive bid process. Securitas was selected as the provider.

2013 KKUS submitted a capital plan for the replacing of 25.5 miles of aging and deteriorating water lines on the Southside. The multi-year project was approved by the members. significant water damage due to a failure of the sprinkler system. Rather than repair it, it was renovated to bring it in line with the needs of the community. The 30-year-old Northside and Southside Gate houses were demolished and replaced.

2015 After years of effort by a dedicated member, the South Carolina legislature approved a change to permit HOA’s use of electronic voting, which Keowee Key adopted. Our marketing director was hired and created a series of programs to engage with local realtors and promote Keowee Key at various trade shows. For only the second time in KK history, the Operating Plan (budget) was not approved.

2016 A revised Operating Plan was approved by the membership. A new subcommittee of the board was formed to focus on better communication with the membership. The Board Recap was introduced, to get information about Board actions to the membership more quickly. A new Construction Planning methodology was adopted to ensure more accurate cost estimates for projects. Financing of major projects, (those costing more than $200K) was revamped. A comprehensive program to renovate the Golf Course, Fitness Center, Club House, Southside Pool, Roadside Improvements along main thoroughfares, and add a Southside Walking trail was proposed to the Members. These plans (referred to as the “Major Projects”) were overwhelmingly approved by 80 percent of the membership.

2017 We embarked on the “Major Projects.” This extensive makeover

Keowee Key HISTORIC TIMELINE

required completely closing the Golf Course, FRC, and much of the Club.

2018 The Southside Walking Trail and Southside Pool renovation, FRC renovation and Bistro were completed, on schedule and on budget. The Golf Course, however, was delayed due to unusually heavy rains, postponing the reopening into 2019. New software and a new website were also instituted.

2019 The Club reopened in late July, and the Golf Course followed in mid-September. All the projects were completed within the member approved budget. Communication about the status of the projects from planning to completion was extensively documented through video, and weekly updates to the membership. A study of the FRC campus was completed, with plans made to add 4 more pickleball courts. Additional studies were initiated to increase the size of the Club Parking lot, renovate Chestnut Point by adding Shuffleboard Courts, and Bocce Ball Courts. These were approved by the membership, with work planned to begin in 2020. 2020 The year began with plans for everything to return to normal, following all the disruption caused by years of construction. However, that was not the case with COVID-19 taking its toll on Keowee Key. Tragically, several members lost their lives due to the pandemic. All the amenities were closed while plans were made to cope with new constraints. Fortunately, some of the amenities – notably golf, were able to reopen with accommodations – such as single rider carts. Take-out service from the Bistro and Club was initiated. The long-term impact of the pandemic on Keowee Key was mitigated by programs like the Paycheck Protection Program of the Federal Government which enabled us to retain staff and avoid major financial impact on our bottom line. Despite the pandemic, work was initiated on the Northside Trail, Pickleball Courts and renovation of Chestnut Point.

2021 COVID-19 continued to have a serious impact on our community. However, strategies in 2020 helped mitigate its impact. A Medical Advisory Panel comprised of medical professionals who lived in Keowee Key provided invaluable advice. All the projects initiated in 2020 were completed, within budget. With vaccines being available, life began to return to normal later in the year.

2022 Keowee Key marks its 50th anniversary. Despite the pandemic, real estate sales of existing homes as well as lots is exceptionally strong. New members joining our community have helped to reinvigorate Keowee Key, as we look forward to the next 50 years.