GAINSWave® Treatment in James Island, SC

JAMES ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) - People who live on James Island are rallying together and encouraging an email campaign against a development off of Folly Road and Grimball Road Extension.

The development would build 68 townhomes, 5 workforce units and commercial space. It would also allow for filling in 0.23 acres of freshwater non-tidal forested wetlands.

Greg Payton lives on Donnie Road, right off of Grimball Extension. His family has lived in the home and community for more than 100 years. The proposed development would back up to his home. He says he is worried about a lot of things, including stormwater runoff and traffic.

“They want to fill in the wetlands, and they’re going to have to cut down some trees, so if it rains, where is the water going to go? It’s going to come on our families, it’s going to be in our backyards and we’re going to be flooded under,” Payton says.

He also has concerns about how the amount of people moving in would affect traffic and the livability of his neighborhood.

“I say each unit is two cars, that’s 140, where are they going?” Payton asks “People have to go to work in the morning, how long will it take for people to come down Grimball Road Extension?”

He says he wants to attend a public hearing about the plans.

“We want to make sure that if they are going to build something, that they do it correctly,” Payton says.

The applicant developers are requesting to fill a little less than a quarter of an acre of wetlands. That filling would not have “a substantial adverse impact,” according to an Army Corps of Engineers initial study. The study found the filling would have ‘no effect’ on any federally endangered or threatened species.

The applicant is asking to fill .2 acres to construct a commercial parking lot and the other .03 to install a stormwater drainage structure, according to a June 24th, 2022, Army Corps of Engineers’ notice.

The report says the applicant will preserve the remaining .75 acres of wetlands to compensate for any impacts.

The Army Corps of Engineers is taking comments on the project through Monday, July 11. Operators of the ‘Save James Island’ Facebook page are encouraging people who are opposed to sending an email reading in part:

“I oppose the filling of any wetlands (no matter how ‘small’)…this historic area is plagued by flooding and drainage issues, and the preservation of natural wetlands and trees are our best and least-costly defense. Pleas hold a public hearing so the Army Corps of Engineers has ALL of the information, including the voice of the people who live here.”

The applicant appeared before Charleston City Technical Review Committee in April and is working to resolve some of the comments before coming back with a revised plan for the development.

Copyright 2022 WCSC. All rights reserved.

Charleston is a picturesque, amazing, and historic city that is filled with unique shopping and dining experiences. It immerses guests in nature, offering them incredible and eye-catching sights and an abundance of outdoor activities at their doorstep. From colorful houses to charming architecture, excellent cuisines, and impressive plantations, this place offers a vibe worth experiencing. Here are things that make Charleston popular.

The Charleston Museum

Visitors can check out artifacts and antiques at Charleston Museum. The museum was established in 1773 and was utilized as a slave auction gallery. Here, visitors can see stone items, traditional costumes & shoes, Civil War-era weapons, ornaments, armors, and genuine dinosaur skeletons. History buffs can also learn more about the dark history of the area.

Joe Riley Waterfront Park

Charleston is a city of unbeatable beauty and has a lot to offer visitors. Its beauty attracts foreigners and natives alike. Among the most frequented attractions in the city is the Joe Riley Waterfront Park. Situated a stone’s throw from the Charleston city market, the park offers visitors amazing views of the Cooper River Bridge and Charleston Harbor. At the center of the park, visitors will be impressed by the highly recognized attractions, a splash fountain and the popular pineapple fountain. These awe-inspiring attractions are spectacular to watch when lit up at night.

Cathedral Of Saint John The Baptist

Charleston is home to many big and beautiful churches. While dozens of US city skylines comprise more skyscrapers, this is different from Charleston. Its impressive skyline is dominated by church spires. Charleston’s Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist is one of the most highly sought-after attractions. Visitors will definitely be inspired by its fascinating history. The cathedral was first established in 1854. However, it got destroyed by fire after six years. It took almost five decades for the completion of the present cathedral.

James Island

James Island is one of the most serene, romantic, and wildly scenic destinations in Charleston. Nestled between Downtown Charleston and Folly Beach, this luxurious hideaway is a walkable destination from the city. Its proximity to some views of the relaxing shore is exactly why so many visitors come to the island. After spending time on the island, visitors can proceed to Fort Sumter, as it is tucked away on an island just off the east coast of James Island.

Southern Food & Seafood

Visitors will not have truly experienced Charleston without tasting its authentic local food. The city is a mouth-watering haven for foodies. The best way visitors can proclaim their love for this amazing city is by visiting the numerous locally owned restaurants to savor scrumptious cuisines. Some of these restaurants include 82 Queen and Poogan’s Porch.

Old Exchange And Provost Dungeon

Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon were built way before the independence of the United States. This historic building is usually used as the main landmark in Charleston. It is also used to host significant events in South Carolina. It has also been utilized as a commercial exchange, custom house, post office, city hall, and military headquarters, among functions.

Dock Street Theater

Dock Street Theater boasts of being the first ever building identified for use as a playhouse in the initial thirteen colonies, which proclaimed independence. Although the original structure was set in 1809, it was converted into a theater in 1935. Created with visitors in mind, Dock Street Theater is an ideal place for visitors to spend their free time. The theater is a melting pot for history, and that’s why it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Historic Charleston City Market

Charleston City Market is among the few places that don’t need a lot of convincing people to consider. The market began as a meat and vegetable market, but as time passed, more and more business joints mushroomed. From popular sweetgrass baskets to local paintings and souvenirs, this place is indeed a shopping powerhouse. The market boasts more than 150 retailers that deal with clothes, books, jewelry, and cosmetics.

South Carolina Aquarium

South Carolina Aquarium is a worthy stop if looking for aquariums in the US. Visitors can learn about real animals that they have never envisioned they’d meet in real life. The aquarium features a myriad of marine life species. Visitors will catch a glimpse of otherworldly invertebrates, sharks, and a wide range of colorful fish. Visitors will also be pleasantly amazed by the numerous interactive exhibitions and a 4D cinema show with vibrating seats.

Plantations Of Charleston

Charleston has numerous plantations, such as Middleton Place, Drayton Hall, Charleston Tea Plantation, Magnolia Plantation & Garden, and Boone Hall Plantation. There is something magical about these Plantations. Visitors who love nature can visit these plantations and have an entirely different experience in each of them. For instance, The Magnolia Plantation & Garden is a true gem with diverse wildlife. It also has a zoo and a nature tram that transports visitors around.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - A shiny new basketball gym, an indoor-outdoor building construction classroom, a commercial kitchen and an entire wing reserved for health education are just some of the features of the two new buildings at James Island Charter High School. The $25 million development is the last major project in the Charleston County School District’s Phase Four Capital Programs plan approved and paid for by a referendum in 2016.

The new buildings consist of a Career Technology Education center and a new competitive gym. Inside the CTE building, students will find classes aimed at allowing them to achieve a Completers Status by developing hands-on skills. The Completers Status opens the door for students to get a leg up in college or to simply enter the workforce straight out of high school. Principal Timothy Thorn says it’s all about giving students options and opportunities.

“The thing behind Career Technology Education is that you can get a completers status and go into the workforce and earn a living wage,” Thorn said. “You don’t need to go to college to make a lot of money or to do well early on. You can always increase your credentials over time as well. You can go into the workforce, begin to provide for yourself, have some success and then maybe find the path you want to go down. Either way, it provides a vehicle for kids to earn skills and credentials to help them be successful in life.”

Students can study culinary arts in a commercial kitchen or building construction in an indoor-outdoor facility filled with the same machines found on an actual worksite. Of course, there are state-of-the-art computer labs for classes aimed at teaching students coding, programming and engineering as well.

Perhaps most impressive are the rooms dedicated to health sciences. Before entering classrooms, students walk past a nurse station designed to simulate the triage area of a hospital. Across the hall, half a dozen medical beds line a wall in a room that mirrors what you’d expect to see at any medical school. It’s the same equipment used by medical students, down to the patient dummies. Here students learn the basics of care and medical administration.

“We’re ecstatic. The facilities are gorgeous and state of the art,” Thorn said. “It’s very exciting and I can’t wait to get the kids in there.”

Next door, the gym has more than enough capacity to hold the entire student body and has everything you’d expect to see in a high school gym. The gym is branded head to toe in school colors and even the new weight room houses dumbbells with the image of the school’s mascot – a trojan warrior – painted on the sides. While the building is designed for athletics, it also doubles as a classroom.

“Every space has its purpose and supports our academic mission and hopefully helps kids find their paths going forward,” Thorn said.

Students studying sports medicine, for example, have classrooms adjacent to the gym, while even the student store located next to the trophy case has an educational opportunity for business students.

“The school store for example. It’s about learning how to do inventory, run a store, the debits and the credits and taking care of the cashier and patrons and serving the public, so learning all those aspects of life skills and employment skills are critical,” Thorn said.

Students will be able to start using building buildings when they return to school in August.

Copyright 2022 WCSC. All rights reserved.

A new fitness center soon will open in part of a former James Island grocery store, just a few doors down from a competing gym.

Planet Fitness plans to add a seventh Lowcountry location in the former Bi-Lo supermarket space at 860 Folly Road. On the opposite end of the shopping center is O2 Fitness.

Demolition of the former grocer’s interior is underway, and the gym plans to occupy 25,000 square feet of the 64,538-square-foot building on the east side, according to Mark Hoffman, director of development for New Jersey-based Garden Communities, which has owned the 4.5-acre retail center since 1994.

The new workout site is expected to open by October, Hoffman said. A lease has not been signed for the remainder of the building.

“I have two prospects that have expressed interest,” Hoffman said.

He declined to name them, but said both are retailers and the remaining 40,000 square feet will likely be occupied by one tenant to avoid any additional new wall separations.

“It will be a nice complement to what’s there now,” Hoffman said.

It’s unlikely to be another grocery store.

“I’m not talking to one now,” Hoffman said.

He believes a new tenant could sign a lease as early as the fall.

“Once one starts moving along, the others want to jump in,” Hoffman said.

The opposite end of the shopping center, where O2 Fitness and PetSmart operate, are owned separately by an affiliate of Gramling Brothers Real Estate & Development of Charleston.

Planet Fitness has other Charleston-area locations in Goose Creek, Mount Pleasant, North Charleston, Summerville and West Ashley.

The Bi-Lo store was one of the last two in the Charleston area to close in April 2021 after parent company Southeastern Grocers of Jacksonville decided to shelve the brand. The other store that closed on Sam Rittenberg Boulevard in West Ashley is now Palmetto State Armory.

What’s cooking?

A new business is headed to a former restaurant in East Cooper.

Lacey’s Take Away plans to open in part of the former Liberty Tap Room & Grill at 1028 Johnnie Dodds Blvd. Lacey Lauterio and Mark MacGillivray will operate the healthy grab-and-go concept. Beer and wine also be available.

MacGillivray said the new venue could be operational in two or three months and will be open daily.

The former restaurant site sold in July 2021. Renovation work is now underway.

Mark Volkmann, CEO of MassageBook, a massage-industry version of the online restaurant-booking site OpenTable, bought the 10,051-square-foot building overlooking a small pond next to Chick-fil-A for $3.2 million.

At the time of the purchase, Volkmann said he planned to convert a portion of the former main dining space and bar near the water to office space and leave the kitchen and other restaurant space available for a culinary tenant.

The vacant restaurant is near Anna Knapp Boulevard and the Publix-anchored Queensborough Shopping Center. It’s has been mostly idle since the spring of 2019, after operating for 10 years as Liberty Tap Room. Previously, the building was home to TBonz Gill & Grill for 13 years.

On the way

A fast-growing pizza chain plans to add a 12th location in the Lowcountry by the fall.

Marco’s Pizza plans to open in November at 2826 U.S. Highway 52 in the developing Moncks Corner Marketplace near Cypress Gardens Road.

Franchise owner Roshan Ayub will operate the new pizza site. He owns seven locations in the Lowcountry, and franchisee Mark O’Driscoll owns four.

Marco’s plans to continue to expand in the Charleston market.

The shopping center, developed by Branch Properties of Atlanta, will be anchored by Publix supermarket, which has not announced an opening date.

Dog & Duck restaurant also recently leased 2,940 square feet in the new retail center. An October opening is planned.

Gassing up

A new convenience store and gas station is in the works for Mount Pleasant.

Tempe, Ariz.-based Circle K plans to build a new location on Long Point Road at Wando Park Boulevard.

The site originally was purchased in 2007 by The Pantry convenience store chain of Cary, N.C., for $2.1 million, but it never developed the property. In 2015, Quebec based Alimentation Couche-Tard, the parent company of Circle K, acquired The Pantry for $860 million and converted stores to the Circle K brand.

The corner wooded parcel has remained vacant for several years.

Framework

A Mount Pleasant custom framing and art store plans to open a second location on Johns Island.

A Simple Tree will launch a new 1,400-square-foot shop in the developing Hayes Park mixed-used complex under construction on Maybank Highway near Main Road.

Owners Carol Williams and Chris Williams will maintain the longtime East Cooper shop at 1304 Erckmann Drive that includes the sister business, Affordable Art of Charleston Art Gallery off Coleman Boulevard near Toast All Day restaurant.

The 16-acre Hayes Park, by New Leaf Builders, will be a mix of retail, office, restaurants and service-oriented businesses. It also will include a residential mix of 36 single-family attached dwellings and 19 duplexes and townhomes, according to its website.

Two new retailers are now open in Cedar Grove Shopping Center in North Charleston.

Discount store Five Below and cosmetics shop Ulta recently opened on opposite sides of Ross Dress For Less, which welcomed customers earlier in July in the center on Dorchester Road near Riverbluff Parkway.

Home Goods and PetSmart are on the way. Also, inside shelf work has started on the nearby Lidl discount grocery store after several months of inactivity. A spokeswoman recently said to check back in the fall for an opening date.

On the perimeter

A new fencing vendor is now open in the Lowcountry.

Superior Fence & Rail at 7710 Southrail Road in North Charleston is the third franchise location in South Carolina. It’s owned by Pat and Sue Monegan. He previously worked as a manufacturing executive, but he and his wife decided they wanted to try their hand running their own business.

Monegan said he studied several other options, but found an immediate connection with the fencing franchise.

“Once we started to meet and engage with the team at Superior Fence & Rail, it all clicked for us,” Monegan said.

The Jacksonville-based company’s leader believes the couple will find success in the growing Charleston market.

“They have a great business acumen and know how to build a strong team that can take their business to the next level,” said Zach Peyton, president.

Many Charleston-area condominium complexes have been in lawsuits over construction defects, and for some owners and potential buyers that’s meant missing out on super-low mortgage rates.

Linzie Davis is one of those condo owners. In 2021 she expected to finally secure a low-interest mortgage on her condo at The Peninsula on James Island.

Mortgage interest rates were near record lows, and Davis wanted to replace an adjustable-rate mortgage that had been her only option when she bought her home in 2017 due to ongoing litigation.

By 2021, the 300-condo complex on Daniel Ellis Drive had been through two lawsuits over construction defects. Davis thought that was all in the past, and was assured by the complex’s management company that there was no litigation going on. She applied for a 30-year mortgage when average interest rates were around 3 percent, and she locked in her rate in November.

Unbeknownst to Davis, her condo association had filed another lawsuit, and when her lender, SouthState Bank, learned that in January, they declined to process her loan.

“We totally missed the boat,” Davis said. “I had all these emails from (the condo) association saying there was no litigation.”

The issue is, most banks write mortgage loans and then sell them to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the federally created entities that buy mortgages so that banks will have more money to loan. And Fannie and Freddie won’t buy loans for properties in litigation.

In the six months since Davis’ loan was rejected, mortgage interest rates have nearly doubled. The adjustable rate mortgage Davis currently has is set to change in 2024, with a potential interest rate as high as 9.125 percent, and her monthly payments could soar.

While Davis’ experience — being incorrectly told that there was no litigation involving her condo complex — may be unusual, the inability to get a fixed-rate mortgage is a problem facing anyone who owns or hopes to buy a condo that’s involved in a lawsuit.

For condo owners, it makes sense to sue when buildings are found to have construction-related defects because someone will have to pay to repair them. Lawsuits can take years, though, and while they’re going on, the owners and potential buyers find it difficult, if not impossible, to get a conventional mortgage loan.

“The problem is the existence of the suit,” said Brian Beatty, a top Charleston area real estate agent with a weekend radio show on WTMA-AM. “On one hand, they are doing it for the benefit of the owners, but the inability of financing reduces the potential buyers.”

Beatty had his own condo-in-litigation experience, and it illustrates how prices can plunge and rebound.

He bought a condo at Point James on James Island as an investment before the Great Recession. Construction defects spurred a lawsuit, housing prices tumbled during the recession and Beatty said he watched his $140,000 condo become worth about $40,000.

Later, he said, the litigation was resolved and the housing market recovered, and he was able to sell it this year for $188,000.

Dozens of Charleston-area condo and townhouse developments have been in litigation, some of them more than once. Most cases have involved water intrusion due to improper window and porch construction, sometimes leading to mold and termite issues, or even life-threatening structural problems.

Repeat lawsuits have typically involved disputes over the quality of repairs done to fix the construction defects that spurred the original litigation, as is the case with The Peninsula.

Pelican Pointe, another James Island condo complex, is among those that have gone back to court and is still in litigation.

Owen Tyler, broker-in-charge at The Cassina Group, said there’s no easy way to learn which condo and townhome complexes may be in an active lawsuit without looking up court records. Sellers are required to disclose such litigation, but such disclosures only come after an offer has been made.

Beatty said condo-shoppers should look for real estate agents who have been working in the area long enough to be familiar with the history of condominium complexes.

For potential buyers, condos and townhomes are some of the most affordable options for home ownership — but only if mortgage loans are available.

For condo owners including Davis, litigation has meant having to watch in frustration as super-low mortgage interest rates came and went.

For someone borrowing $200,000 for 30 years, the difference in monthly payments between a 3 percent interest rate and a 6 percent rate is $356 — more than $4,270 extra every year.

At least for condo owners, litigation has a potential upside: the prospect of winning large settlements to pay for repairs that the owners would otherwise have to fund.

At Pelican Pointe, for example, the owners of all 84 condos were asked in 2019 to pay nearly $60,000 each to fund repairs including termite damage that prompted a city-ordered temporary evacuation. A lawsuit related to the termite damage, and a lapsed termite insurance contract, is ongoing.

Charleston County court records show The Peninsula condos were in litigation over construction defects from April 2006 to March 2011, resulting in a more than $10 million settlement.

From November 2014 to April 2018, the condo association and two companies involved in repairs were defendants in a suit brought by several condo owners, which was dismissed with undisclosed terms. And in September the condo association sued companies and insurers involved in the repairs that followed the 2006-2011 litigation.

“It’s kind of a unique situation,” said Charles Hipp, chairman of The Peninsula’s HOA board.

Hipp said he was unwilling to discuss the lawsuit that caught Davis by surprise because he was upset about unspecified aspects of previous reporting about The Peninsula’s problems.

In 2018, The Post and Courier reported that the residents of 19 condos there were ordered to temporarily evacuate just days before Christmas after structural engineers discovered damage that Charleston city officials said posed “an immediate threat to public safety.”

Hipp, whose company sells and rents real estate including condos at The Peninsula, said that despite the latest litigation complicating mortgage availability, condos are selling briskly.