A municipal battle royalCharleston, North Charleston square off over site of new Chamber office By Katy Stech (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Two powerful political forces clashed Tuesday, squeezing the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce in the uncomfortable middle. Charleston Mayor Joe Riley and North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey are each pushing for the business organization to locate its new, permanent headquarters in their city. A site that Summey proposed off Remount Road was the front-runner until Riley recently offered the chamber a spot at the yet-to-be-built Magnolia project in the Charleston Neck area. Summey was caught off guard, and on Tuesday morning he stormed out of the chamber's offices — after threatening to form his own chamber of commerce, according to several members of a chamber committee who were present. Summey, through a spokeswoman, declined to comment. Membership rollThe Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce has 2,110 members that accounted for nearly $2.1 million in dues for fiscal year 2008, according to the latest figures available. Here are the top five sources of members by geography: Area -- members -- dues -- percentage of total dues North area* -- 546 -- $565,251 -- 27% Peninsula -- 482 -- $684,097 -- 33% East Cooper -- 417 -- $334,103 -- 16% West Ashley -- 317 -- $217,259 -- 10% Daniel Island -- 95 -- $114,151 -- 5% *Includes North Charleston, Hanahan and Ladson. Dollar, percent figures rounded. The chamber, which represents about 2,100 local businesses, was expected to pick the site of its new offices at its monthly board meeting Tuesday. It decided to defer its recommendations amid the controversy. "It's very uncomfortable to be put in this position between two strong and respected mayors," said Daniel Kassis, who leads the chamber's site search committee. The chamber has been looking for a new headquarters since selling its Charleston office at 81 Mary St. and moving into temporary quarters in the former Baker Hospital in the Neck area of North Charleston about four year ago. The search committee came up with a list of criteria for the new site: It needs about 20,000 square feet of space, ample parking and a location within a few miles of the intersection of U.S. Interstates 26 and 526. Throughout the search the group evaluated almost two dozen sites. Over time, a 3-acre site near Remount Road and I-26 pitched by North Charleston became the front-runner, Kassis said. The chamber's task force was leaning toward that site until two weeks ago, when local developer Robert L. Clement III approached the group with an alternative. Clement is helping develop the Magnolia project, a proposed neighborhood in the Charleston Neck area that will contain a mix of shops, offices, hotels and up to 4,400 homes. He proposed that the chamber buy the top floor of a planned four-story, 80,000-square-foot office building overlooking the Ashley River that will have a rooftop terrace. The city of Charleston is considering purchasing the middle two floors for its own use. "It's really a world-class site," Riley said. The project would cost about $4.3 million, but Clement, who is part of a group that owns the Baker Hospital property, offered to waive the chamber's rent in that building. The savings would amount to about $417,000, the amount the chamber would pay in rent between the time it agrees to the site and the time it moves in, according to Charleston's proposal. Task force members said the cost was similar to the estimate for the Remount Road site. A copy of North Charleston's proposal was not available Tuesday. The chamber originally had hoped to be in its new location by 2010, but that is now up in the air. Its current lease expires in 2009, but it has a three-year option to extend it. The bid by Charleston upset Summey, who abruptly left the chamber's offices Tuesday before the board meeting started. Riley stayed for the entire meeting, even as the chamber board went behind closed doors for more than an hour to discuss the competing proposals. When the meeting was reopened to the public, chamber officials said they would continue searching for a new site. Members of the search committee said afterward that it was unclear what the next move would be. The municipal squabbling between Charleston and North Charleston goes back decades. Both cities sought to build a coliseum and a convention center within their boundaries, but both projects eventually went to North Charleston. And Charleston's surprise annexation of Daniel Island in the early 1990s triggered an incorporation war with North Charleston for property along the Cooper River. Though both mayors are acting on behalf of their city's best interest, the arguments aren't healthy for the Charleston area, said local restaurateur Dick Elliott, who is on the chamber's search committee. "Each one is working hard and diligently and aggressively to advance the interest of their constituency, and they should be applauded for that," Elliott said. "The chamber's challenge right now is not merely to find a building, but to cause the elements of this community to understand that they need to collaborate." |
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Comments
This article has 24 comment(s)
Posted by Reader on April 30, 2008 at 2:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why, one might ask, would Robert Clement waive more than $400,000 in rent just to have the Chamber locate in otherwise prime office space in the Magnolia Development? Might it have anything to do with needing Riley's support to move the Magnolia Development along and Riley's wanting to have the Chamber located in Charleston? Geesh! That is one expensive building permit!
Why not leave the Chamber on the Navy Base - precisely where someone needs to draw the attention of new businesses - instead of Charleston? Oh yeah! It's because Joe can't stand to have anything not focus on Charleston.
This should have just been left to play out the way the Chamber was prepared to go without Joe sticking his nose into this.
On the other hand, I guess it shouldn't come as any surprise to find King Joe stirring the Chamber pot.
Posted by Thomas1776 on April 30, 2008 at 5:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Riley is clearly a power freak who will end up going down in flames in the end. People everywhere are sick and tired of little Napoleon with his nerdy looking gay boy glasses.
Posted by gococks1985 on April 30, 2008 at 6:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I couldn't agree with you more Thomas1776!! This stunt just goes to show all of you that are Riley supporters what a power freak he really is. This move was completely sneaky and underhanded. I hope that he rots in hell myself. As always, this is my opinion.
Posted by karmann on April 30, 2008 at 7:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Isn't it nice to have a mayor who is willing to throw a tantrum in the way that Mayor Summey did. Thank you for the way in which you represented North Charleston. Another reason that I didn't vote for him.
Posted by Early on April 30, 2008 at 7:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce is in a nice position hopefully they will take advantage of it.
It is the "Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce"
I think N. Charleston needs to clean up it's crime and social problems first.
Posted by theronce on April 30, 2008 at 8:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Is this planning on the fly? Move out of one location into a temporary office not knowing where the permanent location would be? Then not make a move from the temporary location in four years? Sounds like this problem is partially one of their own lack of planning and action. Is this indicative of its effectiveness for the member businesses?
Posted by wpc3iop on April 30, 2008 at 8:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why would anyone, especially the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, want to locate to locate in North Charleston with all the crime, pimps, and drugs?
Posted by icbmman on April 30, 2008 at 8:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
And the anti-Rileyites come out again. These responses are like collective thoughts from a 5 year old who's upset that his daddy won't buy him any video games.
Take a look at which areas pay more of the dues for the chamber. You have the entire north area paying only 27% of total membership dues in the chamber while businesses downtown, West Ashley, and Daniel Island, ALL in the city of Charleston, make up a total of 48%. I think if the north city wants location of the chamber HQ, it needs to have more members from its own area contribute.
This is the Chas metro area, period. So, it only makes sense that the primary city in the area becomes the chamber HQ location. The problem is not just Riley; Summey is also a power-hungry individual who seems determined to make his crime-infested suburb the primary city in the area. I'm sure he'd like to have the county seat moved to his city.
That being said, these are the kinds of problems you have when there are 2 major competing cities in a metro area. This is why Chas should've started annexing north area land instead of idiot city councilmen rejecting the idea because they weren't "known" in that section of town. This is also another indicator of why both of these cities need to merge/consolidate into one city of Chas. Consolidating bureaucracies simplifies services, reduces government waste, and eliminates immature bickering and quibbling between government officials.
Here's a question to consider: why is Summey upset with the chamber location when he has the fricking SC WORLD TRADE CENTER being located in his city (when it should be in Chas as well)??
Posted by skip7878 on April 30, 2008 at 9:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why don't Charleston and North Charleston consolidate...make one city with one mayor?
Posted by icbmman on April 30, 2008 at 9:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Exactly, skip. I've been saying that for years. I think people would be amazed by the increase in efficiency, the decrease in property taxes, and the ease of locating projects like this.
Posted by ColdBeer on April 30, 2008 at 9:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Both cities have drastically different goals, different appeals and different problems. They should each have their own Chamber of Commerce. The word "Metro" should not be in either name as no real metro exists in the Low Country. That's not a bad thing, just a fact. I haven't been impressed with either of these Mayors, but, IMO, riley is pathetic.
Posted by vicupstate on April 30, 2008 at 10:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It would have been better if Charleston/Clements had put this proposal up sooner, but it is inevitable that these types of 'competitions' are going to occur.
Riley didn't storm out of the room when Summey/N. Chas. offered a permanant location for the Hunley Mueseum.
Clements' offer is generous, and is a substantial amount of money to a non-profit organization like the Chamber. Plus, the building sounds impressive. First impressions matter when trying to recruit new companies and industry.
Plus, it is VERY central to the region, as well as both cities. One would normally expect the Chamber to be in DT Charleston, which it was until recently.
It does sound as if Charleston is subsidizing this office building to some extent. Does Charleston really need additional office space, and at the far reaches of it's limits? I'm sure there is the intention to help the project get 'out of the gate', but there needs to be justification for it too. Perhaps there is, but that needs to be specified.
The bottom line is, in the future Riley/Charleston should be more open/communicative in the interest of regional cooperation. However, the Chamber should decide its location based on what is in it's own best interests.
Posted by pompusmaximus on April 30, 2008 at 10:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm not sure why everybody on here is bashing Riley for doing his job as mayor. If Riley saved 3 kids from a burning building, you morons would probably complain about how he didn't save the dog too.
Anyway, The magnolia mixed use development will be a masterpiece of planning and architecture. To be located in a brand new building with a terrace overlooking the river AND with free rent is something I would NEVER pass up.
Posted by burton on April 30, 2008 at 11:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why don't both cities cosolidate? LOL. That's like asking two churches of the same denomination located one block from each other to cosolidate. Preacher egos and them not wanting to give up power! LOL. Same case here.
Posted by ColdBeer on April 30, 2008 at 11:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Posted by pompusmaximus on April 30, 2008 at 10:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm not sure why everybody on here is bashing Riley for doing his job as mayor. If Riley saved 3 kids from a burning building, you morons would probably complain about how he didn't save the dog too.
Riley would NEVER enter a burning building to save anyone. He would send the City firefighters in. He'd send them in with outdated equipment and equipment that has banned in almost every other fire department in the country. He'd send them in with a "leader" that couldn't lead his way out of a wet paper bag with a fully pressurized fire hose (of any diameter). He'd send them in to die. Then he would buy the building and make a memorial to the firefighters AND the dog he didn't save.
VERY poor choice of an example pompusmaximus.
Posted by Rebel_Yell on April 30, 2008 at 12:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Riley is the reason you yanks moved down here. And he's the reason you James Islanders have labor jobs downtown. He is to be credited with cleaning up Charleston and moving it ahead when it was falling apart in the 70s. This is just regular competition for a business between competing cities -- what's the big deal? The city of commerce should go where it's best opportunity to grow is located--whether that be in N Chuck or not. Long live Riley
Posted by pompusmaximus on April 30, 2008 at 1:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Cold Beer, live up to your name and chill out; it's a figure of speech. How about if Riley pushed three kids out the way, seconds before a bus almost hit them. You people would probably say that he pushed them too hard. My point is that people on this forum find any excuse to bash Riley and it's getting old.
Anyway, Riley and Summey are just doing their jobs as mayors and bringing in more economic development. You can't bash them for doing what they were elected to do in the first place. I personally feel that Charleston's site sounds better than what North Charleston is proposing. North Charleston's site would probably look like an office park from Anywhere, USA. Although, North Charleston has way more illegal aliens and the chamber can't get enough of them.
Posted by carolinadude on April 30, 2008 at 2:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
On a side tangeant, are you folks aware that the chamber lobby is largely responsible for SC not having an immigration reform bill. The chamber lobby combined with the farm bureau has practically bought the sc general assembly. Consequently i will not vote for an incumbent, period.
Posted by JohnS on April 30, 2008 at 2:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The tie breaker. It's has to be in North Charleston since the phony documented Latino workers the chamber protects and loves so much are all located in North Charleston.
Posted by icbmman on April 30, 2008 at 2:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I know many of you are taking the cynical route here with the illegal immigrant issue, but let's be serious for a minute. Summey has shown time and again that he is extremely power-hungry--IMO, more than Riley--and his actions prove it. Summey practically is offering his crime-ridden suburb as a sanctuary city for illegals anyway; because doing that secures more illegal votes for him and maintains his power base. Knowing these facts in combination with the city's high crime rate should deter the chamber from wanting to locate their HQ in the north city. IN ADDITION, city of Chas members make up a much higher percentage of membership dues for the chamber than north area members, so the location should automatically go to Chas and its Magnolia proposal.
I really think skip's and my idea for the cities to consolidate/merge would eliminate this childish bickering and pissing contest. Interestingly enough, Summey has had his way with several projects, and none of them are actually flourishing...I wish the chamber would consider that before even contemplating the Remount Road proposal.
Posted by zoomru on April 30, 2008 at 4:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sounds like someone counted their chicks before they hatched. LOGICALLY ...it should be located near a hub for THE future planned elevated mass transit system. PERIOD! And if theses boys planning the NECK AREA don't work that into the vision. Then when it does happen, look what planners are going to have egg on their face!! Even with all these "visitors" that are staying, do we want 26 and 526 ten to 12 lanes wide??? I HOPE THEY ARE PLANNING!! ARE WE GOING TO CHOKE OURSELVES???
Posted by carolinapanther on April 30, 2008 at 7:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think both mayors are very passionate about the cities that they represent, and that is why we voted them as mayor. Its always good when there is competition, it brings the best out of someone. Other than Summey storming out of the meeting, I think both mayors are doing a good job representing their cities.
Posted by now_ready1 on April 30, 2008 at 9:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sure ICBM man, with the newer, bigger and greater City Of North Charleston consolidated, Mayor Summey could bring even more jobs and business to the city.
I'm sure something could be done with the old downtown Charlestown area. Perhaps something like Williamsburg, VA. or Walleyland.
Posted by icbmman on May 1, 2008 at 9:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The anti-Riley troll now_ready1 comes out from hiding to make an obtuse comment...no, retard, the cities would consolidate to the city of CHARLESTON, which was here far longer than the ghetto suburb that Summey likes to promote.
Carolinapanther, this is an issue where I disagree with you. Competition is fine in the private sector, but competition amongst bureaucracies is a different animal altogether. Governments competing with each other only does one thing: cost taxpayers more. Project delays, jurisdiction disputes, and poor planning are what government competition can abundantly provide, as we have seen ourselves with the location of the coliseum and convention center, the Hunley museum, annexation lawsuits, chamber HQ location, etc. Geographically, it doesn't make sense for these 2 cities to be separate entities, anyway.