Charleston City Council has been bitterly divided over three proposals about the future of a former Piggly Wiggly site in West Ashley that is owned by the city. Earlier this week, council members voted 8-4 to approve the development of a fourth proposal for the Sumar Street street property that would include only civic buildings and green space. Previously, council considered but never approved various plans that involved mixed-use buildings with retail and a slew of parking options, from garages to surface lots.
“This is a start. It’s not the end, it’s the beginning,” said Councilman Peter Shahid, whose district includes the site — a wedge of property at the intersection of Sam Rittenberg Boulevard and Old Towne Road.
However, many reportedly left the meeting unclear on the involvement of Landmark Enterprises, the current development partner for the project. No one on the council expressed a desire to end the city’s agreement with Landmark and even voted in the spring to renew its contract with the company to extend the expiration date and include new design requests.
In City Paper news:
CP MUSIC: Hed Hi Studio announces fall art show lineup. Hed Hi Studio on King Street has earned a reputation for hosting some of the most exciting and contemporary art shows in town and recently announced its full calendar lineup for the fall.
CP NEWS: High Rise dry bar highlights legal cannabis seltzers. South Carolina’s first-ever cannabis dry bar has landed on James Island, changing the world of hemp-derived products and the non-alcoholic beverage space by offering mocktails made with legal cannabis seltzers.
In other news around the state:
Scott’s likability may be fueling rise in GOP polling. U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., is still in the single digits in a recent poll of Republicans, but his likability and focus on a more positive campaign may be fueling more attention by Republican voters, according to this story.
S.C. forecasters watch 3 areas in tropics for possible storms. Forecasters at the National Weather Service in South Carolina are keeping their eyes on three areas in the tropics for potential storms in the days ahead.
Charleston sheriff announces reelection bid. Charleston County Sheriff Kristin Graziano announced her reelection campaign Wednesday. The Deputy Director of Public Safety for Folly Beach, Deputy Chief Rocky Burke and former Mount Pleasant Police Department Chief Carl Ritchie are also running for the position.
FOIA report shows Lanxess Chemical Plant has a history of spills. A Freedom of Information Act request from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control revealed that the Lanxess Chemical Plant in Charleston has had 25 chemical spills in 32 years.
Paid parental leave now guaranteed for all S.C. public school teachers, staff. South Carolina now guarantees every public school teacher will get at least six weeks of paid leave when they welcome a child. On Wednesday, S.C., Gov. Henry McMaster joined teachers and other state leaders in Rock Hill on Wednesday to celebrate the new law with a bill signing ceremony.
Dorchester Co. creates more incentives for bus drivers
Dorchester School District Two officials unveiled new financial incentives for bus drivers for the upcoming school year, including increased minimum bus driver pay, sign-on bonuses and more.
- To get dozens of South Carolina news stories every business day, contact the folks at SC Clips.
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