Dynamic Dimensions:

A close look at some of Indigo Run’s unique residents

Each day that we spend in Indigo Run, our lives are enriched by the special people who have chosen to call our community home.

The Dynamic Dimensions feature of the IRCOA website is designed to make us all more aware of how many special individuals create the unique dynamic that gives added dimension to life in Indigo Run.

A Structurally Sound Approach to Building a Community

There are many who know David McNair as a builder.  His achievements in that part of his life are definitely remarkable:  the fact that his company, McNair Building Construction, has maintained a solid reputation for quality and service for 25 years in the island’s competitive environment!  When asked about what makes it work, David offered the following answers:  maintaining quality staff, communicating well, looking out for what’s most important to the customer, and keeping abreast of the latest innovations.  But David’s building didn’t and doesn’t end with his business. 

When he arrived on the island 29 years ago, David was determined not only to make Hilton Head his home, but to build a better community by contributing significantly in as many areas as his time allowed.  He started his company in1983,  the same year that the town of Hilton Head was incorporated.  He has lived with and worked with every mayor that our town has ever had!  When asked which of his volunteer efforts were the most memorable and satisfying, he included the following, but admitted that “it was hard to choose”:

1.      Working on behalf of the National Association of Homebuilders to help defeat the Traffic Safety Amendment.  The amendment was designed to “turn over the welcome mat” and indicate to visitors and potential new residents that they weren’t really welcome in Hilton Head.  This was the first time the National Association of Homebuilders took an interest in a local issue and pursued it politically at a local level.

2.      Encouraging the critical swing vote from Town Council to send the State of South Carolina a message of “approval” regarding the Cross Island Parkway.  David indicated that there was a lot of maneuvering behind the scenes during a quick campaign to reach a decision on this issue.  In the end, one vote decided passage.  He felt proud to be a part of the efforts that made that vote swing to the affirmative side.  He still gets satisfaction from the fact that the Cross Island Parkway became a reality and continues to provide such valuable service to tourists and residents today. 

3.      His part in the town’s Planning Commission decision to develop Long Range Plans that included impact fees so that we could pay to support the island’s infrastructure.  As I interviewed David, I thought that it was a pretty bold move to support impact fees when his business might profit more if those impact fees were not in place.  He continues to see impact fees as an issue today:  “With the development in Bluffton, there is significantly greater use of the town roads, beach access and other amenities in the town of Hilton Head, yet we receive no financial support from off-island road impact fees charged to new construction in Southern Beaufort County to compensate for that use of our island infrastructure.” 

4.      His work with Hilton Head Heroes, which came about through his involvement with the Gregg Russell Family.  David helped to establish the organization’s website and remodeled HHH’s Sea Pines home to get it ready and make it handicapped accessible.  That home now serves the families who benefit from the program’s vacations for those in need.    David noted that he received a sense of fulfillment in providing a vacation for those who are going through difficult times.  He says “it gives them time to be a family again—and in a lot of cases, it is one of their last times to be together.”

5.      His work on the Indigo Run COA Board for 5 years—especially his involvement in the expansion of Indigo Hall during the past year.  When I discussed David’s involvement with Indigo Run General Manager Terry Leary, she indicated that David was critical to getting the permits approved—and that his company’s contributions at the end of the process enabled the community to get the full package, even when we were reaching the limits of our budget.

6.      The Coalition for Safe Schools Project is another effort that David felt was important—for our teachers, for the children who attend our schools, and for long term maintenance of our school buildings.  David got involved initially because his kids were in public schools at the time.  There were issues with air quality in the schools.  Other children and teachers were sick—and there were recurring battles with improper maintenance of the schools.  The Coalition for Safe Schools took photos of damaged areas, involved the National Institute of Safety and Health, rallied the assistance of teachers and succeeded in getting Beaufort County to spend 5 million dollars to improve the blue building at the middle school.  Some of the other improvements they initiated included the removal of carpeting (whose glue breeds mold), air conditioning maintenance, building drainage issues, roof leaks, and any other construction issues critical to the health and safety of those who use and work in our school buildings.

Though he lived in Hilton Head Plantation for many years, David, his wife Pepi, daughter Laura and son Trey moved to Indigo Run when they found the property of their dreams—a southeastern exposure with deep water access.  At the mention of deep water I recalled that David was an avid fisherman and asked if he would share the location of some of his best fishing spots.  Despite my fishing for a precise answer, he “angled” for a polite yet vague reply:  “I definitely have some prime locations, but it would be difficult to describe where they are—I’d have to take you there!”

Written by Lorraine Fink

If you are an Indigo Run Resident, have a story of your own to share or know of someone who does. Please e-mail Lorraine () or phone (843-342-7497).