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.

As reported in the Post and Courier yesterday the developer is sueing the city for denying approval at 295 Calhoun St. The developer claims the city is not on legal grounds for the denial. At the second project review before the BAR back in the summer the developer had their attorney speak and review the legal grounds in which the BAR must abide by so I'm not surprised the developer filed suit. I predict the developer will prevail but perhaps there will be concessions by both parties.

Thanks for posting. I'm going try to watch via YouTube livestream on Dec 12. Might be interesting.

Roper Hospital in downtown CHS announced yesterday that they will be re-locating to North Charleston, in the area of the old N CHS City Hall and will cost around $1B, Roper St. Francis plans $1B new medical campus in N. Charleston (live5news.com) Permitting and constructing is expected to take up to 5 years. Will be interesting to how the downtown site will be re-purposed.

The 3 apartment buildings in Morrison Yard Phase 3 received conceptual approval at this past week's BAR meeting.

As suspected the BAR denied 295 Calhoun in a 3-2 vote. It was obvious that minds were already made up going into the BAR meeting yesterday. It's unfortunate as the developers have spent significant money on architectural and engineering fees to no avail. If I'm a developer wanting to build something in the city of Charleston I would hire a local architectural firm who has an established relationship with the city building staff and the BAR.

A proposed 7/8 floor apartment building at 295 Calhoun St. goes before the BAR later today for conceptual approval. This is the 3rd or 4th time the project has gone before the BAR There's a lot of controversy around this project with the Charleston Preservation Society leading the resistance. The project is across the street from Roper Hospital with Long Lake immediately south of the project. No, in my opinion and with many others the architecture is not exciting but what I do like is the developer is offering the build a board walk along Long Lake's northern shoreline and pathways around the lake in addition to building a linear park from Calhoun to the boardwalk for public access. I suspect the BAR will again defer the project this afternoon. I have a feeling the developer will be sueing the city as there is no sound reason for denial. Rendering begin at the top of the PDF: PowerPoint Presentation (charleston-sc.gov) There's also another south of Calhoun apartment project under review today on East Bay Street included in the PDF above.

Morrison Yard Phase 3 consisting of 3 apartment buildings come back to the BAR this week (NOV 9 meeting) for conceptual approval. Architectural rendering start on page 89: PowerPoint Presentation (charleston-sc.gov)

Here's the ports authority's website for the Union Pier project. Not much content at this time. The Future of Union Pier (unionpiersc.com)

Proposed 134 unit micro apartment development at 214-216 Spring St received conceptual approval from the BAR at last week's meeting, BAR presentation starts on page 117: https://charleston-sc.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10262022-7811

The SC Ports Authority decided earlier this year to close the passenger terminal at Union Pier downtown and have announced the entire Union Pier would be re-developed. There's been a series of community meetings the past several weeks. Carnival passenger cruise operations will cease in 2024. Here's a local Chas news media update concerning the project: Proposed future of the Union Pier includes green spaces, waterfronts, and more | WCIV (abcnews4.com)