Charles Towne opens entrance for cyclists, walkers

Bicyclists and dog-walkers now have their own entrance to Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site. The new entrance is on the walkway between the new parking lot and visitors center at the park, which has been a popular pet-walking and bike-riding destination for local residents since it first opened in 1970. A bicycle rack and safe pet tie-off stand is provided at the new entrance so visitors can go into the center to pay the daily admission fee or use their Park Passport, the $50 annual pass that provides admission to all 47 of South Carolina’s state parks. Most of the 664-acre park on the Ashley River across from downtown Charleston is available to bicyclists and pets. However, the Animal Forest is off limits to both, and bikes are not allowed on the interpretive history walking trail. Charles Towne Landing is at 1500 Old Towne Road near Exit 216-A off Interstate 26 and is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, $3.25 for South Carolina seniors, and $3 for children ages 6 to 15.

as provided by Charleston Regional Business Journal By Daily Journal Staff

AirTran service takes off in Charleston

An AirTran Airways plane touched down at the Charleston International Airport Thursday, launching the low-fare carrier’s entrance into the region. AirTran Airways announced earlier this year it would add new service to Charleston after receiving an overwhelming response to an online survey the company conducted late last year called, “Where do you want low fares next?” Charleston became the 55th destination in AirTran's expanding route network. “Having AirTran provide service to the Charleston area means greater access for travelers from across the country. This will make it much easier for them to experience Charleston's rich history, amazing restaurants and shops, and our world-class golf courses and beaches,” said Rick Mosteller, chairman of the Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. The Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau actively markets the Charleston area in many of the areas served by AirTran, including the Midwest and Northeast. The introduction of new air service to Charleston from these areas is expected to attract growing numbers of affluent travelers. AirTran fills the void left from low-cost carrier Independence Air, which began servicing Charleston International Airport on June 16, 2004. In November 2005, FLYi filed for Chapter 11 protection and ceased operations in January 2006. The airline offers nonstop flight options between Charleston International Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. AirTran will offer four daily roundtrip flights between Charleston International Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport by June 7. Travelers departing from Charleston can connect to 52 cities nationwide via Atlanta.

as provided by Charleston Regional Business Journal By Daily Journal Staff

Charleston County announces evacuation pick-up points

Hoping to avoid a Lowcountry replay of the scores of stranded citizens seen in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, Charleston County and municipal officials this morning announced the designation of 75 evacuation pick-up points for residents who don’t have transportation in the event of a mandatory evacuation. Blue signs that state “Hurricane Evacuation Bus Stop” will be posted throughout the county beginning this week, at all 75 pick-up point locations. The move by Charleston County’s Emergency Preparedness Division represents an enhancement of its longstanding policy to provide emergency transportation from designated pick-up points, and is an acknowledgement of the region’s rapid growth in recent years. As a result of the patterns of that growth, some previous pick-up locations have been changed. “The goal is for residents who don’t have transportation to identify these pick-up points prior to an emergency and to know where they should go if they need a ride to a shelter,” said Cathy Haynes, Charleston County's Emergency Preparedness Division director. The evacuation pick-up points are in locations that are well-known to citizens who live near them. They are located at churches, grocery stores and schools, and many of them are co-located with CARTA bus stop locations. The pick-up points were chosen for their ability to provide a safe location for people to congregate away from traffic and for having a parking lot or area for buses to pull off the road and safely load passengers without blocking evacuation traffic routes. A new pick-up point list has been sent to more than 1,000 Charleston County nonprofit organizations, government agencies, places of worship and neighborhood associations. The evacuation pick-up point signs are being posted in a coordinated effort between Charleston County and the city of Charleston.

as provided by Charleston Regional Business Journal By Dan McCue , Staff Writer

Ship shape fun

Pirates, wooden boats, sailing, rowing, maritime art, music and food will be all over the Charleston Harbor this weekend as part of the Charleston Maritime festival. The festival, which is today through Sunday, is part of the launch celebration of the Spirit of South Carolina tall ship and the start of the Charleston to Bermuda yacht race. Many events are available at no charge and are located at the Maritime Center Complex, Ansonborough Field and the Union Pier Passenger Terminal. Check out the daytime music from noon to 5 p.m. daily on the stage in the old Spirit of South Carolina Shipyard. The Nashville funk band, Here Come the Mummies, plays from 6-10 p.m. Saturday. Cost for the concert is $10.  The tall ships will be open for tours and Maritime Festival grounds will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday. No charge for entrance to the festival grounds, but a boarding pass is needed to tour the tall ships. Passes are $10; no charge for children 10 and under.  (Photo/Courtesy S.C. Maritime Foundation)

as provided by Charleston Regional Business Journal

Council OK's agreement for Central Mount Pleasant

Mount Pleasant Town Council passed final reading of a development agreement that would create a mixed-use plan in the heart of Mount Pleasant. The town last week had agreed to defer final reading on the Central Mount Pleasant project until today at the developers’ request for more time to complete the development agreement.

Central Mount Pleasant is a 110-acre project proposed by Mount Pleasant-based McAlister Development Co. and joint venture partner Greystar Real Estate Partners. The development would include a master-planned downtown area with mixed residential uses, shops and restaurants, a new Whitesides Elementary School along with parks, lakes and canals.

The planned development is on a tract between Hungryneck Boulevard and Rifle Range Road and would have about 719 residential units, including apartments and single-family homes, with about 34 acres reserved for commercial use. The development agreement included annexation of 100 acres along Hungryneck Boulevard south of the Isle of Palms connector.

Keane & Co. is the urban planning consultant for the project, which is based on New Urbanism concepts that create walkable communities with less impact on roads and residential space above retail and office space.

The development would include an extension of Hungryneck Boulevard, which Mount Pleasant had budgeted for two years ago. According to an amendment to the development agreement, the town will save $1.6 million by letting the developer build the road and will contribute $4 million to the road extension.

Councilman Billy Swails and Mayor Harry Hallman voted against the development agreement. Paul Gawrych abstained because of a conflict of interest.

By Kathleen Dayton and Lindsay Street , Staff Writers - Charleston Regional Business Journal

Millennium Music to remain downtown

After two years of uncertainty and conflicting messages concerning the development on the corner of King and Calhoun streets, operators of Millennium Music were told they could expect to keep the location for the duration of the six-year lease. Over a two-year period, Millennium made several changes to its store concept to facilitate the move, including selling the Mount Pleasant store and closing the downtown bookstore. Now that the store will remain for the time being, Millennium announced plans to expand with additional download kiosks and re-introducing an iPod loading service.

as provided by Charleston Regional Business Journal

Democrats to Hold Presidential Debate in Charleston in July

CHARLESTON -- Haven’t caught presidential debate fever yet?

You’ll get your chance this summer when Charleston hosts a nationally televised debate among the Democratic candidates vying for the White House. The sparing session is scheduled for July 23 and will be broadcast live on CNN.

The debate, which is being cosponsored by the region’s newest major corporate citizen, Google, is the first such event being held in the port city in modern memory. It will also be the first debate to be hosted on Google’s YouTube.

On Tuesday, Columbia played host to a Fox News debate featuring the Republican candidates for president, and two weeks ago, the full Democratic field came together for their first-in-the-South debate in Orangeburg.

Although a venue has yet to be chosen for the event, political insiders said Tuesday morning, they believe the most likely location is the Galliard Municipal Auditorium.

What’s in store in terms of the potential economic impact of the event? A clue could be drawn from what transpired in Columbia earlier this week.

Columbia Mayor Robert D. Coble, a Democrat, said he didn’t expect that city’s debate to have a direct economic impact on par with a USC home football game—a number he pegged at between $6 million and $8 million—but nonetheless suggested it could come close.

The reason is that presidential debates don’t occur in a political vacuum, they’re always accompanied by a whole host of supporting and secondary events.

“Here in Columbia,” Coble said, “the hotels are full, the restaurants are doing well. But most importantly, this is an opportunity to reintroduce the city to many people who may not have been here since the last presidential contest four years ago.”

The announcement of the debate was made jointly Wednesday by the S.C. Democratic Party and the Democratic National Committee. In addition to the Charleston event, the national party also sanctioned five other debates prior to next year’s primaries.

Those debates will be in Des Moines, Iowa, Hanover, N.H., Philadelphia, Las Vegas and Los Angeles.

South Carolina’s Democratic primary is scheduled for Jan. 29.

as provided by Charleston Regional Business Journal - Dan McCue

Wando engineering students win national competition

Seniors at Wando High School have won the ExploraVision competition, a national research and technology competition sponsored by Toshiba and the National Science Teachers Association, Wando High School officials announced Wednesday.

Wando students Jonathan Heywood, Patrick Rivers and Danny Mullin received the competition’s top honors for their research on kidney failure treatment. The trio, under the guidance of engineering coach Deborah Kennedy and mentor Kevin Bunting, proposed a future treatment for kidney failure they say can be implemented within the next 20 years.

ExploraVision is a competition in which K-12 students create and explore a vision of future technology. Competitions are held for different grade divisions. Heywood, Rivers and Mullin finished first in the grades 10-12 division and will each receive a $10,000 savings bond, plus a free trip to Washington, D.C., for the ExploraVision awards ceremony in June.

My Trip to Magnolia Plantation:

Last week a good friend of mine had family in town from Virginia.  Among the must see sights in Charleston, Magnolia Plantation was on the agenda.  I, being a resident of Charleston, had never been to "one of the Top 25 Most Visited Houses in America" before and I jumped at the chance to accompany them.

We arrived on a beautiful morning to a friendly staff and reasonable admission rates.  Parking was free and not terribly difficult.  The 3 guided tour options were Nature Boat Ride, Magnolia Plantation House and Nature Train.  We opted for the first two and skipped the train to take a walk in The Audubon Swamp Garden. 

The Boat tour was very comfortable.  The open pontoon boat glided along the canals and we were given a concise but not riveting description of the history of the 150 acre rice field.  During the hour long tour we saw many different species of birds and a few alligators!  It was very enjoyable.

The Plantation house is impressive.  The elevated wrap around porch was not only an classic architectural gem, but a source of constant breeze.  I imagined having mint juleps and watching the sunset.  We were a large group waiting for the house tour, so we were split up and shuffled through different rooms at opposite ends of the home.  Velvet ropes protected 9 generations of antiques while we were given a glimpse of the Dray ton family's history in their classic southern home.

Walking around the grounds we were welcomed by stunning gardens and picturesque views.  The grazing Shetland ponies were irresistible.  Constant "yelps" were hard to ignore from the peacocks with spring fever.  All in all it was a perfect day in Charleston at a historic site that is a true must see!

By: Thea Riley, AgentOwned Realty Co.

Beef O’Brady’s - Coming to Mount Pleasant, SC

Restaurant expected to open in August at Belle Hall Shopping Center, off of Longpoint Road in Mount Pleasant, SC. The 3,600-square-foot restaurant will be located next to Stein Mart and will be outfitted with 30 high-definition televisions. The restaurant is expected to employ about 30 full-and part-time workers. Owners Mark and Cathy Reamer said they hope to open three more Beef O’Brady’s in the Charleston area in the next two years. Beef O’Brady’s launched its first Charleston area location in March 2006 in Summerville. Headquartered in Tampa, Fla., the Beef O’Brady’s chain has expanded to 220 independently owned franchises in 19 states and recently opened locations in the Myrtle Beach area. New restaurants in North Myrtle Beach and Conway are in the planning stages, said Tim Humes, the company’s director of franchise and real estate. “South Carolina and North Carolina are going to be big areas for us,” Humes said. The Beef O’ Brady’s chain typically locates in neighborhood shopping centers anchored by supermarkets and in areas near high schools. The restaurant has a family-casual concept with an emphasis on sports and the chain typically supports school sports teams and community fundraising. The pub-style restaurant menu features chicken wings, burgers, sandwiches and salads, and the only alcoholic beverages sold are beer and wine. "I am looking forward to trying this new establishment.  Keep an eye out for a New Restaurant Review"

There are several restaurants in Belle Hall shopping center:

Dog and Duck bar & grill, McAllisters, 6-Tables, Sunrays deli, Wendy's, Starbucks, Cold Stone Creamery, Turtles, Charleston Bagel and Moe's Southwest Grill

MeadWestvaco proposal would blend development, conservation

MeadWestvaco wants a national park-sized area of forests near Charleston developed into what it calls an environmentally friendly community.

MeadWestvaco executives said they want to provide a model development in the 72,000-acre area, east of the Edisto River, that combats sprawl in the booming Charleston area.

Some of the land would be developed. Other parts — the size now unknown — would be preserved. The idea is to cluster new homes, schools, shops and other amenities together.

The company didn’t say how much of its remaining 320,000 S.C. acres would be sold, developed or preserved. However, it said some of that land would be sold over the coming decades.

What happens to the 72,000-acre tract is important because of its size — three times bigger than Congaree National Park in Lower Richland — and its location near the rapidly growing coast. The area is a buffer between Charleston and the acclaimed ACE Basin nature preserve.

MeadWestvaco previously has sold S.C. timberland for development, moves that were criticized for not involving the public.

“We want to be part of the growth solution,” said MeadWestvaco chief executive John Luke Jr.

The project, to be called East Edisto, would include green space and natural areas. The project’s master plan, to be developed after receiving public input, would guide which areas are developed and which are protected.

The 72,000-acre tract straddles the Charleston-Dorchester county line, west of the Hollywood-Ravenel area.

Conservationists have expressed concern MeadWestvaco could sell off the land for development that would ruin the feel of coastal South Carolina.

The 72,000-acre tract now has historic sites, forests and wetlands. Bald eagles, alligators and ducks have been found in the area, as well as rare wood storks.

S.C. Department of Natural Resources director John Frampton said he would rather the company protect all the land from development. But the company’s willingness to seek public input is encouraging, he said.

That’s different from what some other forest products companies have done. “The other companies have just unloaded their property,” Frampton said. “I’m looking forward to sitting down with MeadWestvaco.”

Bob Scott, president of the S.C. Forestry Association, said timber companies have been selling much of the land they no longer need to investment firms that keep the property in trees.

“It used to be people would buy land and get a return on the investment through timber value,” he said. “Now, the return on investment is based on real estate and recreation value.”

MeadWestvaco’s master plan will be devised after it holds public meetings and seeks other comments. That’s important given the different constituents in the rapidly changing area on U.S. 17, south of Charleston. The area has a mixture of longtime landowners, as well as new property owners lured by its peaceful nature and scenic wetlands.

MeadWestvaco said it has hired a San Francisco land planning firm to help with the process.

What comes out of the process at East Edisto likely will be upscale developments enhanced by natural areas, Charleston real estate agent John Templeton said.

Mark Robertson, director of the S.C. Nature Conservancy, said the master plan for the 72,000 acres will guide development for the next three decades.

“It brings a certainty to the future,” he said. “I’m confident they’ll come up with a better plan than piecemealing” development.

However, Robertson said the future of the company’s other 320,000 acres in South Carolina should be looked at closely, too. There are numerous tracts within that property worth protecting from development, he said. “We hope that the conservation community will have the opportunity to protect other lands.”

For now, MeadWestvaco said only that it will keep the remaining 320,000 acres in South Carolina as forestland, while planning some “strategic sales over time.”

The company already has said this year it is selling 300,000 acres in Alabama, Georgia and West Virginia. It will hold on to an additional 800,000 acres in the Southeast; how long is unknown.

Speaking with securities analysts Wednesday, MeadWestvaco CEO Luke hinted his company plans to use its land as a source of cash during lean financial years over the next two decades.

Instead of selling off its land all at once, as other wood products companies have done recently, Luke said he plans to, “execute sales over time to maximize cash flow and value for investors.”

During the next three years, Luke said, the company expects income of $400 million from land sales. The idea is MeadWestvaco possibly could double the sales prices it gets by selling smaller parcels, including land sold to developers and timber investors.

MeadWestvaco’s total land holdings could fetch nearly $1.9 billion over time under current market conditions, according to the calculations Luke gave analysts Wednesday. Those calculations value the company’s S.C. land outside the East Edisto area at about $750 million.

MeadWestvaco’s plan for East Edisto makes a lot of sense, said Mark Vitner, senior economist with Wachovia. “I would guess they’re gearing up for the next housing cycle.”

The Carolinas housing market has slowed, Vitner said. He estimates demand for new houses will rebound in 2009, at the earliest, and gain speed by 2011.

Vitner also said the East Edisto area probably is getting special attention from MeadWestvaco because it is in a sparsely developed area near Charleston.

He expects MeadWestvaco’s development will be popular with people looking for second homes or to retire — similar to Sun City, near Hilton Head Island.

“It’s a beautiful area, and I’m certain it will be full of retirees and sold out,” Vitner said.

Reach Fretwell at (803) 771-8537. Reach Werner at (803) 771-8509. Staff writer Joey Holleman contributed to this story.

ABOUT MEADWESTVACO’S PLANS

Forest products company MeadWestvaco formally announced plans Wednesday to develop some of a 72,000-acre tract that it owns near Charleston.

Q. How do other S.C. preserves compare with the 72,000 acres MeadWestvaco plans to use for development and conservation?

A. The tract is about twice the size of the Jocassee Gorges mountain preserve in the Upstate and about three times as large as Congaree National Park near Columbia.

Q. How much of the 72,000 acres will be developed versus conserved?

A. That’s not known. The company says it won’t know until after hearing from the public and devising a master plan for the property. The general idea is to protect some open space and develop some of the property.

Q. Development will mean people, children and cars. Who will pay for the new roads, schools and water lines they will need?

A. The costs likely will be shared by Westvaco and the public, the company said. No cost estimate was available.

Q. What’s on the 72,000 acres now?

A. Pine forests, the Caw Caw Swamp, historic sites and old rice fields. The land is home to rare wood storks, as well as bald eagles, alligators and numerous species of ducks.

Q. What will happen to the other 320,000 acres Westvaco owns in South Carolina?

A. Westvaco says it will keep much of that property as forestland but will sell some over the next 20 years. The company did not specifically say how much of the S.C. land it will sell.

By SAMMY FRETWELL and BEN WERNER - sfretwell@thestate.comand bwerner@thestate.com

Local Charleston, SC area events for May:

Summerville Homes launches active adult community

Summerville Homes has launched The Pines at Gahagan, an upscale active adult community located on Gahagan Road near Summerville’s historic district. The Pines at Gahagan will be a gated community of 109 homes of approximately 1,800 to 2,755 square feet. Community amenities will include a resort-style clubhouse, fitness center, pub, game and billiards room, hair salon, outdoor pool, lap pool and a gathering room. Summerville Homes president Bill Marx said the company had four years of success at its other retirement community, The Elms Plantation of Charleston, and understands the demands of the 55-plus age group. Summerville Homes is offering $5,000 worth of upgrades at The Pines at Gahagan for homebuyers with ratified contracts through June 30. The Greater Summerville/Dorchester County Chamber of Commerce named Summerville Homes LLC its 2006 business of the year. The company is building in Charleston, North Charleston, Ladson, Summerville, Mount Pleasant, Aiken and Myrtle Beach.

Downtown Daniel Island launches Phase II

Carolina First Bank and Ali Baba Restaurant are the first major tenants to sign with Phase II of Downtown Daniel Island, the 10-acre mixed-use town center project that launched its first phase in 2004.

Owner and developer James Doran Co. announced that Phase II will add three buildings and 30,000 square feet to the project. The bank will occupy about 3,000 square feet in Building 1000, a 5,000-square-foot structure on Island Park Drive.

Buildings 500 and 600 will be located on Seven Farms Drive across from the Family Circle Cup Tennis Center. Ali Baba, an upscale Mediterranean restaurant, will occupy Building 500, which will feature a patio area and 9,098 square feet of office and retail space.

Building 600 will offer 20,912 square feet of office and retail space in a two-story structure next to Guggenheim Park. Developers are in negotiations with a neighborhood-style restaurant that would become a key tenant for the building.

Buildings 500 and 600 should begin construction this summer and should be complete in about eight months. Building 1000 is expected to be complete soon after.

Downtown Daniel Island is a village-style concept offering a total of 170,000 square feet of commercial space upon completion, which is scheduled for later this year.

as provided by Charleston Regional Business Journal

Homeowners' Insurance Legislation

The House LCI Subcommittee on Insurance gave a favorable report on Thursday to H. 3820, the Omnibus Coastal Property Insurance Reform Act of 2007. The bill contains provisions that would: create catastrophe savings accounts, force insurers to give mitigation credits, establish incentives for insurance companies to write additional policies in the wind and hail pool zone, clarify the practices and procedures of the Wind and Hail Underwriting Association, establish a mitigation grant program, expand the cancellation notice period to 60 days, and force insurers to reveal catastrophe models used to the Department of Insurance. Working with the Department of Insurance and the Subcommittee members, SCAR was able to successfully amend several sections of this legislation to make it more meaningful to more homeowners. The bill now moves to the full LCI Committee for consideration next week, and SCAR will continue to work to make insurance reform a reality. The Senate gave third reading this week to S. 499, the South Carolina Coastal Captive Insurance Act. The bill would allow for the formation of captive insurance companies to write primary and excess wind and storm surge property insurance coverage, essentially allowing large commercial projects to self-insure by holding capital reserves in excess of $1 million. Companion legislation to H. 3820 was also introduced in the Senate on Wednesday by Senators Campsen, McConnell, McGill, Rankin, Grooms, Elliott, Ford, Ryberg, Scott and Pinckney.

2007 Charleston Greek Fest

May 11-13, 2007
Greek Orthodox Church
of the Holy Trinity
Charleston, SC
(843) 577-2063

This year's festival program will include:

• Church tours highlighting ecclesiastic history, music, art, and prayer