The pioneering accomplishments of the developer of Hilton Head’s Sea Pines Plantation left a legacy that spans decades
Clemson University’s Master of Real Estate Development (MRED) program hosted the 2015 Charles Fraser Lecture Series in March to honor the legacy of Charles Fraser, developer of Sea Pines Plantation on Hilton Head Island, S.C., who devoted his career to environmentally conscious development. The series is part of the Charles Fraser Endowment at Clemson University, and is integral in illustrating the MRED program’s platform of the importance of responsible development and sustainable growth, within the context of economic feasibility and value creation.
Fraser graduated from the University of Georgia and earned his law degree from Yale. He was a pioneer in the concept of master-planned community resort developments and initiated the developments of Sea Pines Plantation on Hilton Head Island and Kiawah Island Resort in South Carolina, as well as Amelia Island Plantation in Florida. His most notable development is Sea Pines, which began in 1956, and became a training ground for developers, architects and land planners. Sea Pines was the first recipient of both the Urban Land Institute’s Citation for Excellence in Large Scale Recreational Community Development and the American Institute of Architects’ Certificate of Excellence in Private Community Planning. In addition, the award-winning resort has hosted the PGA Tournament’s Heritage Classic since 1969, which largely began with Fraser’s involvement. In 2002, Fraser died in a boating accident, but his legacy continues through his developments and this event.
During the annual lecture series, a special guest with a deep connection to Fraser and his developments serves as the keynote speaker. David Rawle, founder and chairman of Rawle Murdy, served as the 2015 special guest speaker and presented his presentation, “Why Charles Fraser Matters.”
Rawle, a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Business School, worked with Charles Fraser over a 27-year period on Sea Pines, Kiawah Island and Palmetto Bluff. Other real estate developments Rawle has worked on include Daniel Island and MeadWestvaco’s large-scale planned communities, East Edisto and Nexton. His lecture, “Why Charles Fraser Matters,” discussed the current relevance and challenges of Charles Fraser’s pioneering accomplishments.
Be curious.
Charles Fraser had a keen interest and curiosity in best practices that were not confined to real estate. Many industries today tend to be insular; educators talk to educators, manufacturers talk to manufacturers, and real estate developers talk to real estate developers, and yet, some of the most valuable best practices for any industry often come from a different industry. Look beyond your industry for ideas and successful practices. What did they do that might work for you?
Context matters.
Real estate to Charles Fraser was not about transactions involving buildings, it was about experiences involving people. Wise developers put as much thought into programming as they put into physical structures. Programming provides memorable human experiences that can become differentiators and a pathway to success. One important way to affect how a place lives is to make your best pieces of property available to everyone.
Do you want to live temporarily or permanently?
The way to live permanently is to make a difference. Make philanthropy an integral part of your company’s culture.
Be environmentally responsible.
Through protective covenants, deed restrictions, design guidelines and a myriad of individual choices and decisions, Charles Fraser helped protect our fragile planet. Too often developers are still compromising, cutting a corner, saving a dollar and leaving environmental responsibility to the next generation. By fully committing yourself to being environmentally responsible, you can quite literally save the planet.
Recruit women.
Women are under-represented in the real estate industry and it is a huge handicap. Eighty percent of all purchase decisions are made by women. The requirements that women look for in a home, office or shopping environment are very different from men’s requirements. Women should be involved at every step in any real estate development process. After all, they are the decision-makers and the customers.
Creativity is a mindset.
Creativity is a mindset that evokes the ideas that produce something different and better. If your ideas aren’t different or better, they’re only a reproduction – or far worse, a poor imitation. Creativity matters because being different and better is your ticket out of sameness and commoditization, and into substantially greater results.
Bottom line
“Remember Charles Fraser for his curiosity, his commitment to do best practices and how places live – not just how they look; his dedication to philanthropy, environmental responsibility and diversity; his recognition of the vital importance of creativity, including building differentiated brands; his zest for life; his sense of humor; his loyal devotion to his family and friends; and his commitment always to making a difference,” Rawle said. “He did not live temporarily. He lives permanently. Charles Fraser matters.”
