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Does anyone know the status of the Harmony Township subdivision is Georgetown? Google Maps is outdated and a web search found a lawsuit between the developer and the city. My husband and I are thinking of making a quick trip down to check out this area as a potential retirement spot. We like that there is a marina with this subdivision but the price on the lots seem too good to be true. Any info?
Also, what area is the best to live in order to avoid the smell from the paper mill?
I'm not sure anybody knows the real status of Harmony. The developers finally went into bankruptcy as a result of the 2007 recession, but they were struggling even before then, with infrastructure never fully completed. There has been no recent press regarding the lawsuits, which involved numerous parties, including Georgetown County. It's been about a year since I've driven through Harmony, but IMO the Google Maps are pretty representative of the community. A number of the homes are occupied, but overall, it did not convey a growing community appearance. At one time, the lawsuits were claiming that resold lots were selling for about $0.10 on the dollar. It may offer a great opportunity, but I saw nothing to make me want to move there. It's worth a ride through there before getting too excited.
If the aroma of the paper mill bothers you, Harmony would not be a good choice since it's less than two miles away as the crow flies. I'm not sure there's a "best area" to avoid the aroma, unless it's within a few blocks of the ocean. Even that would not eliminate it until a sea breeze kicked in later in the day. I personally do not find it objectionable, but we live 12-15 miles from the paper mill, and it is frequently noticeable, particularly on humid, still mornings. It reminds me of pluff mud, a trademark of the Lowcountry. If you wish to avoid it entirely, I would rule out Georgetown and Pawleys Island.
Pawleys Dude how can you tell the difference between pluff mud and paper mill? We live four miles from the beach at Isle of Palms, but also have the paper mill under 10 miles away. I am sure we get both aromas over here occasionally, but not sure which is which. Any way to tell the difference?
how can you tell the difference between pluff mud and paper mill?
It's hard for me to tell strictly by smell. Both aromas are sulfur-based, although for different reasons. I've heard them described as "rotten-egg", but for me it more resembles a boiled egg. Location is probably the best way to distinguish them. When the paper mill is noticeable in our area, it's usually fairly well wide spread. To enjoy pluff mud's aroma, I usually need to be in or very near the marsh on low tide or a falling tide, when the mud is able to "breathe". It's rarely noticeable away from the marsh unless you are directly downwind, and even then I've never noticed more than maybe a 1/4 mile(?) away. Other than that, I guess the paper mills tends to be a little more in-your-face noticeable, while the pluff mud just gently sneaks up on you, maybe?
Thanks Pawleys Dude. I think you are right. It's that paper mill,
although I can always make believe it's the pluff mud. It definately gets stronger the closer you get to the mill, which is why I am glad we aren't too close! We only notice it a few times a month.
UPDATE: We spent last weekend in Georgetown and we were pleasantly surprised! I was expecting a dirty little industrial town and that wasn't the impression we got. It was quaint and charming. We still haven't smelled the papermill. We drove through Harmony Township and it was obvious the subdivision was going to be beautiful and the on site marina is exactly the lifestyle we hope for in retirement, but . . . too risky right now not knowing what the future will hold for this development. We are in our early 50's. Keeping Georgetown on the short list of retirement areas.
We spent last weekend in Georgetown and we were pleasantly surprised! I was expecting a dirty little industrial town and that wasn't the impression we got. It was quaint and charming.
I agree with you. Over the past 20 years, we have often discussed moving to Georgetown, and many days wonder why we haven't. To some degree, it is lacking in shopping opportunities, but we make at least ten visits to Georgetown for each one we make to Myrtle Beach, and usually come back wondering why we wasted a day or evening in MB. I only hope Georgetown is strong enough to retain its character and avoid the MB sprawl that is now crawling over Murrells Inlet and Pawleys.
Stick around long enough and you'll discover the paper mill. You'll find on here quite a few supercilious nostrils whose sensibilities have been offended by the aroma, but IMO it ain't no big deal.
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Both aromas are sulfur-based, although for different reasons. I've heard them described as "rotten-egg", but for me it more resembles a boiled egg. Location is probably the best way to distinguish them. When the paper mill is noticeable in our area, it's usually fairly well wide spread. To enjoy pluff mud's aroma, I usually need to be in or very near the marsh on low tide or a falling tide, when the mud is able to "breathe". It's rarely noticeable away from the marsh unless you are directly downwind, and even then I've never noticed more than maybe a 1/4 mile(?) away. Other than that, I guess the paper mills tends to be a little more in-your-face noticeable, while the pluff mud just gently sneaks up on you, maybe? 
