The design of I’on calls for the creation of six neighborhoods, or boroughs, within the boundaries of the overall development. These six neighborhoods are connected to one another through the vehicular-use system that features main roads with street trees, on-street parking and alley-access to each residences garage.
The design intention of the residential portion of the development aimed to create these neighborhoods in order to encourage each neighborhood to assume its own identity and character.
The architectural character of each of the neighborhoods varies, yet each style is closely linked with the vernacular style of Charleston. The character of each individual neighborhood directly reflects the natural surroundings within which each borough is located.
The neighborhood of Ionsborough is the only neighborhood located in close proximity to the commercial core. This neighborhood features slightly smaller residences than the other portions of the development and reduces the distance of the required setbacks from adjacent properties and the street edge.
The smaller residences and smaller lot sizes in Ionsborough give this neighborhood the highest density out of all six neighborhoods within the overall development.
The commercial core that is located within the Ionsborough neighborhood features a gourmet food store, a hair salon, day spa, florist, art dealer, pub, bakery and professional offices that include the development realtor, architects, a custom home builder and a dentist’s office.
These commercial uses are accessible by foot from Ionsborough, however the residents in outlying neighborhoods of the development mostly rely on bicycle or automobile transportation to access the commercial core.
The Eastlake neighborhood surrounds the largest of the man-made lakes located in the development. The architectural style of the residences in this neighborhood reflects the low-country vernacular style of many of the larger homes of the southeastern coastal regions. While there is no direct visual connection to the commercial core of the development, pedestrian access from the Eastlake borough to the core is more manageable than the outlying neighborhoods.
At the northern edge of East Lake, a community open space features waterfront access and the development amphitheater which provides the community with the opportunity to host a myriad of events throughout the year including arts and crafts festivals, small concerts and outdoor films in the warmer months.
The Ponsbury borough is located to the west of the Eastlake neighborhood and is bordered by the third of the three man-made lakes in the development. This neighborhood also reflects the low-country architectural vernacular with slightly smaller residences than the neighboring boroughs.
Two canals connect the two lakes yet the smaller of the lakes, West Lake, is the only lake with a public boat ramp to facilitate personal watercraft. The neighborhood of Westlake is currently under construction and will feature residences that are in scale with the two remaining neighborhoods located to the north.
Two neighborhoods in the northern portion of the development, Montrose and Shellmore, feature residences located within a wooded setting and feature the largest residences within the entire development. This portion of the development is the farthest removed from the commercial core of I’on and includes a small collection of custom-built, estate-style mansions.
It is the nature of desire not to be satisfied, and most men live only for the gratification of it. -Aristotle
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