ZUMAN2

BAR deferred waiting for review of engineer's report on condition of existing building. There is organized opposition to demo'ing the building including the Charleston Preservation Society.

Several months ago the SAPSD started monitoring annexation petitions from homeowners and after the petition went to city council where the SAPSD contacted homeowners and talked them into deferring or canceling the annexation petitions. Not a huge deal but I'm sure it's frustrating for city staff and council. It will be interesting to see what Mayor-elect William Cogswell policy will be, in general, toward annexations.

No significant annexations in 2023 but more annexations than the past few years with the addition of a full-time annexation coordinator, SAPSD is starting to try to slow things down though buy unlikely to have much impact.

YTD passenger traffic count at CHS thru 6/30/23 is 2.9M. OPERATIONS SUMMARY (scrvt.com)

Here's the latest proposed Union Pier PUD agreement which the Planning Commission will review this afternoon at its meeting. https://charleston-sc.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06072023-8349 The development in recap: > 220,000 Sq Ft Retail Shopping > 50,000 Sq Ft Casual Restaurant > 270,000 Sq Ft Office > 1,650 Dwelling units > 600 Hotel Rooms There's also several new parks and a marina which may or may not get developed. With 2023 being a Charleston mayoral election year, I anticipate that the PUD will not receive final approval until early 2024.

This article was in the Post & Courier yesterday (Mar 4) concerning House Bill 3236. https://www.postandcourier.com/mount-pleasant/proposed-sc-bill-spreads-fear-of-being-annexed-in-historic-black-communities/article_db335134-b788-11ed-95ff-e3b9dc596777.html In summary the article, which was not in-depth, gave an overview to 3236 and interviewed a couple of opponents who voice concern that the bill would allow the forced annexations of historic African-American communities in the Mount Pleasant area. The article did not discuss the bill's impact in SC outside of the Charleston area. I'm not sure who provides trash and fire protection to these A-A areas today. There is no public service district in the East Cooper area.

I thought the litigation was over a few years ago between Charleston and N Charleston over the Whitfield/Runnymade Plantation but in fact an appeals court recently ruled in favor of N Charleston per an article in the Post & Courier today. Charleston's lawsuit was rooted in N Charleston's jumping over a 100 foot wide strip of land that is in the city of Charleston allowing N Charleston to annex the Whitfield tract. Charleston now plans to appeal to the SC Supreme Court because state law "clearly forbids this kind of land jumping and allowing it to stand would set a terrible precedent" city of Charleston spokemans Jack O'Toole said, So it probably be another few years before the issue is finally resolved.

The SC Joint Bond Review voted to provide an additional $22M toward the projected $144M cost to build a new CHS access road. Construction could begin mid-2024. The new road will provide direct access to CHS from I-526 separating airport and commuter traffic from Boeing's campus. The entry way to CHS from Internal Boulevard will be eliminated. Airport Connector Road

I did another search this morning and found this: 2023-2024 Bill 3236: Local Government - Annexations - South Carolina Legislature Online (scstatehouse.gov) This bill - Bill 3236 - would allow municipalities to annex an area that is completed surrounded by a municipality. I don't know if this is the same language that the bill has been filed in the past before the SC State legislature or not but it seems like common sense. Maybe that why is won't pass.

Does anyone know about any active legislation to liberalize SC annexation laws? I heard a Charleston city council member say today that there is so trying to confirm/ get specifics.

CHS' final 2022 passenger count was 5.32M. Airport officials are hoping to hit 6M by EOY 2023. (paywall) https://www.postandcourier.com/busin...1abbc5134.html

I went back again yesterday and watched the 12/12/22 YouTube video of the Union Pier information meeting. I didn't know that Lowe Real Estate had hired Jacob Lindsey to be the point man of the project. Lindsey had previously served as the City of Charleston's planning director; left the city about 3 years ago to take a planning position with Boulder, CO; and now back in Charleston. This is a major coup for Lowe as Lindsey knows how to navigate through the review and approval process. This is a very exciting project, a game changer for the Charleston's eastern peninsula. But as it's noted in this informational meeting. it's going to be very expensive to convert the tract from ports use to private/public use. The next project update from Lowe will be this spring.

Here's a news release about the senior living facility being planned for Upper King St and part of the Courier Square redevelopment project. It's still moving through the BAR approval process but I believe it's getting close to final approval. The architectural reminds me of The Charleston Place but it actually borrows its design to Charleston Orphan House. It will be called The Peninsula of Charleston and will have 140 residences and residents will be to purchase. Liberty Senior Living Announces The Peninsula of Charleston - CRBJ Biz Wire

295 Calhoun in on BAR's 1/11/23 agenda. This is very odd. I'm wondering what backoffice deal was made between the City and developer.

I don't think this is necessarily new as I seem to remember hearing about this earlier this year but a 152 unit "hospitality" project is planned for 200-210 Spring St . It's a hotel but more like an extended-stay hotel with target clients being family/friends of hospital patients in the Medical District. At least that's what I recall hearing earlier this year. Project will be reviewed at this week's BAR meeting. Project starts on page 18 of BAR agenda: PowerPoint Presentation (charleston-sc.gov) Interesting exterior design. Will be shocked if BAR approves but who knows.