With the amount of the rapid development and burgeoning municipal growth in Bluffton and the surrounding area, there’s a particularly bright spot of city planning that reads like a “restoring faith in humanity” storybook. Osprey Village is an inspired and innovative dream-in-progress, just off highway 170 in Hardeeville—a fully planned inclusive neighborhood, designed to empower adults with developmental disabilities, that sprouted from a group of advocates and family members with loved ones in need of resources.
Part of a 2008 non-profit corporation associated with the East Argent development, the Osprey vision is to create an environment that provides meaningful employment, social opportunities, and affordable housing, within an inclusive community, maximizing the freedom and independence of adults with developmental disabilities.
A mother’s hope
Perhaps one of the clearest and dearest examples of this vision is found in the story of Ericha Doubles and her mother Sue. At 50 years old, managing developmental disability and having survived a stroke that left her paraplegic, Ericha leads an incredibly active life—working, volunteering, working out, and going out with friends. Unable to drive, she relies on Uber and her mother for transportation. But her mother, Sue, is her source for much more than the occasional lift, and that’s where Sue’s dream comes in.
At this point, both Ericha and Sue must consider the most realistic option for Ericha. Having acquired her driven lifestyle from her mother, there’s reason to believe Ericha won’t be slowing down anytime soon.
Sue, retired and widowed, is a driven, 80-year-old former teacher who is singularly responsible for majority of Ericha’s care. She is also one of the key players in the creation and pending development of Osprey Village. Early on, Sue told a friend, “We’re doing this … for our children,” and her commitment hasn’t waned as she and a group of similarly motivated partners created Osprey which stands for, “Our Special People Reaching Out to Elders and Youth.”
Not wanting to see her daughter displaced somewhere unfamiliar, Sue said, “I want to be alive to transition her into her new home and spend time with her at her house—to inspire Ericha to think of Osprey Village as her home.”
In Beaufort and Jasper counties, there are few to no options for Ericha or for Sue. But Osprey Village is on the road to changing that by offering a range of affordable options both to purchase and rent. Townhomes, apartments, condos, and cottages, including multi-family housing, will all be designed in true Southern architectural style within a tailored neighborhood, customizing shopping, amenities, job, and community recreation services for special needs utilization.
Neighbor helping neighbor
Uniquely, Osprey Village is not meant to be a secluded property contained within itself, but a sustainable environment that enables future residents to remain an integrated and active part of the surrounding community. Catering to a variety of health and personal needs, Osprey Village will provide residents the benefit of a wide range of individualized care, services, and training opportunities. Resource programs will be provided to aid residents in essential life goals including employment assistance and organized social activities. Identified as a “neighbor helping neighbor” setting, Osprey is ideal for elevating those who deserve it most to a place of personal respect, equity, and opportunities that set them up for success.
Mirroring the style and natural beauty of the surrounding Lowcountry landscape and lifestyle, Osprey has kept this look and feel a priority, rolling the beauty and peacefulness of the area’s natural resources into a well-situated, walkable neighborhood that, according to their website, will be close to shopping, health care, entertainment, and employment opportunities.
A model for visionaries everywhere
Planned to span 25 acres near Argent Boulevard and 170, Osprey Village will not only provide onsite care but extended family resources like respite care, providing families needed time to take a break and regain needed strength and focus. Osprey understands that when we all have a chance to reconnect with ourselves, we can come back together better than ever.
“Better than ever” is the goal behind everything Osprey Village offers, and it can’t come soon enough, especially for families like the Doubles. As of fall 2021, projections are to start the first residential services for one to two dozen adults in about two years. To make this happen, Osprey Village has developed a capital campaign, working towards raising the development’s first $14 million and putting out the call for impassioned and compassionate participation. The variety of ways to get involved, contribute, participate, or even simply patronize their thrift store are all detailed on their website OspreyVillage.org.
The dreamers behind Osprey know how to inspire generosity and impact through their intentional collection of testimonials and vision casting, knowing their aspirations are a game changer for both individuals and the industry of care-related residential and lifestyle resources. “The Osprey Village neighborhood is a service model to visionaries everywhere. You are the bridge to the realization of this dream. It will take millions of dollars and enormous community commitment, but we can make it happen!” Sue said.
Can. Will. Are: The stories of hope and future benefit are already unfolding through inspirational videos, fundraising materials, and pages of coverage like the one you’ve just read. The next page of the story, however, is the one you write. You can pass the info on, contact Osprey Village with your questions or opportunities, ask the pertinent questions that open future doors, and of course donate. You can call to find out more about resources for your loved ones. You can play any one of several life-changing roles in the promise of an independent and hopeful future for so many through Osprey Village.
The motto in our state of South Carolina is “While I breathe, I hope.” Osprey Village embraces that ideal, just like Sue and Ericha, hoping “as long as there’s breath in our lungs,” and believing, as a community comes together to bring their dream to life.
