Ginn Co. seeking input on 200 acresPublic to weigh in on what should be built on Promenade By David Slade (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Driving into Charleston across the Ravenel Bridge, it's easy to spot the huge piece of property known as Promenade, a nearly 200-acre chunk of waterfront green space between Morrison Drive and Town Creek. It is by far the largest undeveloped property on the peninsula below Mount Pleasant Street, and starting Monday the public is invited to participate in workshops aimed at helping the Ginn Co. decide what should be built there. "They have looked at maybe 60 different scenarios on the site," said Christopher Morgan, director of Charleston's Planning Division. "That's why they want to have the workshop." Promenade is the name given to the site by the Ginn Co., which spent more than $35 million acquiring the properties included in the development, and initially proposed a golf course, hotel and a marina. Related informationRomney Street Landfill PowerPoint presentation 10MB See the city's information about upcoming workshops and Promenade development plans If you goPublic workshops for the Promenade development: --Monday and Tuesday at the Maritime Center, 10 Wharfside St. Open house from noon to 4 p.m., presentation from 4-5:30 p.m. --Wednesday at the Charleston County Library, 68 Calhoun St. Open house from 9-11:30 a.m., presentation from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For more information, contact the city at 724-3789, or e-mail emelianoffa@ci.charleston.sc.us. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control still calls the properties the Romney Street and Holston landfills. The roughly 70-acre Romney Street landfill was operated as a solid-waste landfill by Charleston County under a lease with The Beach Co., from 1977-89. Previously, it was used as a terminal for the Humble Oil Co. and as a dredge spoil site. Some might remember the Romney Street landfill as the site of the 96 Wave Fest concerts in 1996 and 1997. The 116-acre Holston Landfill was also a Charleston County landfill, from 1973-84, and was earlier owned by CSX railroad corporation. Environmental tests have shown that underneath the soil and grass atop the site, there is up to 19 feet of trash. Charleston County's recycling facility sits at the entrance to the Holston site, and the Ginn Co. has been negotiating to purchase that facility. Ginn Co. bought the Holston site for $18 million from developer Joe Griffith, who had bought it for $3.5 million in 2003 with plans to develop condos and commercial buildings. Mayor Joe Riley called Griffith's purchase of the site "a very exciting opportunity for the community" in 2004. In addition to the two landfills, Ginn Co. has purchased several sites along Morrison Drive, including a site where Medical University of South Carolina used to park its buses. The Promenade property's neighbors include several large cemeteries and the Bayside Gardens and Bayside Manor housing projects. Ginn Co. officials did not respond to repeated requests for an interview this week about the company's current plans. At a 2006 meeting with DHEC, the company displayed plans for the properties that showed a golf course covering most of the site, with a large hotel and shops along Town Creek, where a substantial marina was envisioned. Ginn Co. holdings in the Charleston area include Patriots Point Golf Links, RiverTowne Country Club and the Belvidere Club and Resort. Company owner Bobby Ginn made headlines recently after he bought the tip of Morris Island for $6.5 million, then sold it to the city for $3 million in a preservation deal brokered by The Trust for Public Land. The Ginn Co. is working with DHEC to develop the Promenade site as a "brownfield" former industrial site. Under agreement with the state regulators, Ginn Co. has agreed to evaluate the site for existing contaminants and make sure any work does not cause new problems. In return, the developer avoids any liability for environmental problems that existed before the site was purchased. "The evaluations will help with designs to keep contaminants from entering any buildings," said Adam Myrick of DHEC. Trash in landfills produces flammable methane gas as it decomposes. While brownfield sites present challenges for developers, Promenade is not the largest such project planned in Charleston. The Magnolia project in the Neck Area aims to create a large mixed-use community with thousands of homes on a former Superfund site, along the Ashley River. Reach David Slade at 937-5552 or dslade@post andcourier.com. |
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Comments
This article has 19 comment(s)
Posted by nappyd on July 26, 2008 at 3:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Now who's going to tell the suckers who buy a mcmansion there that they're living on top of a few landfills?
Posted by Native_Ink on July 26, 2008 at 5:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm so glad we might get something other than a golf course and short-term vacation rentals on that site (which was the original plan). Personally, I think the site should be used for affordable housing for the middle-class, but that will never happen. Million dollar condos are probably a given for the area. But if the neighborhood could at least be walkable, have on-street parking and garages instead of parking lots, and have public space on the waterfront- then I'd call it a win for the city.
Posted by Neponset on July 26, 2008 at 6:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Native
I agree - this mine field of problems will cost a lot to develope and build on - only high end units would be justified. My question is - are units of this sort selling at this time?
Posted by Native_Ink on July 26, 2008 at 6:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Neponset- I think Charleston's been overbuilt anyway. Add in the future neighborhoods that have already been planned and approved, and you have way too many condos, houses, hotels, and everything else. This is probably the developer's biggest headache. I'm not sure what he can do, but I really hope whatever is built there is good for us locals (and by that, I primarily mean long-time residents). So much now seems to be built for wealthy transplants. I'd just like it to be a neighborhood where I can bring my family and not feel like an trespasser in my own city.
By the way, it's a shame you won't be able to spend a peaceful afternoon in Magnolia Cemetery and look over at Ravenel Bridge with nothing but trees and water in the way anyway. It's scenes like that which made Charleston so special.
Posted by Neponset on July 26, 2008 at 7:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Native
I agree. I get the impression that the Yankee stream of cash is drying up as stuff is not selling in the north east - its hard to break old habits, but developers need to find something else to do.
I suspect that this area will be gated, considering where it is located.
Posted by shoelaces on July 26, 2008 at 8:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Who the hell would want to live where a landfill once existed? Suonds like a lot of cleaning up would need to take place in order for it to be deemed safe and liveable.
Are condos selling? No. The Tides in Mt. P, Bee Street Lofts in Chas, the Bristol at Brittlebank (old Wave Fest stomping grounds) all have very few occupants. Unless they can build something affordable over there I would be surprised to see anyone live there either.
There are too many negatives with the industrial facilities surrounding this acreage. Not to mention the surrounding neighborhoods. Although Lil' Joe has done a nice job running his people out of Charleston. I would much like to see this space stay green...fat chance!!! There isn't any money to be made that way.
Posted by a_set_love on July 26, 2008 at 9:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Step 1 - After you dig down at least 100 feet and remove all 200 acres of the dig to a suitable disposal area.
Step 2 - No, not Bees Ferry Road, a more suitable burn area, like Sullivan's Island or Mt Pleasant.
Step 3 - You could probably turn the resulting hole in the ground into something useful, like another marina to help stop overcrowding at the high end marinas of the City Of Charleston.
Step 4 - Or make the hole in the ground a retaining pit for the coal being dumped over there
Posted by HighDef on July 26, 2008 at 9:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm a (red Sox) yankee transplant but I just moved away from charleston b/c it is getting too nuevo riche for my liking, in Mississippi now. All locals b#@ch about is the way it used to be and everyone wants to hate on the developers and the Mayor...get a life ! The Mayor is the smartest guy in town. The developers are greedy but if your laws allow certain zoning then they're entitled to build on their own property right ?
The union came to charleston long before the cash carrying NYC investors and guess what, we won the civil war ! Allow us to help you... disenfranchised southerners...please you need so much help .
North 1 South 0
Posted by blah_blah_blah on July 26, 2008 at 12:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
build nothing
Posted by zoomru on July 26, 2008 at 1:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
DAVID "the slayer" SLADE.....
STOP THE PRESSES !!!
OH My GOD !!!
This article is the first REAL article that has been printed in years!!!
This article might ...just might win a MEDAL !!!
There is enough DYNAMITE in this article to LEVEL..CITY HALL!!!
Fire in the HOLE !!!!!!!!
DAVID and Charles and IVAN .....I will take it from HERE!!!
Posted by zoomru on July 26, 2008 at 2:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
GINN Company...........I ought to knock YOU out of the PARK: but I have a SOLUTION for YOUR .."BIG LANDFILL PROBLEM" !!!
1) YOU WILL....RENAME this property .....immediately!!
2) A Promenade.....? Do NOT ....FOOL South Carolina Tax Payers! It is time for you to act like YOU live here!!!
3) YOU will study!! That's right! Study the machines at www.startech.net and learn and realize the "WINDFALL" that has been bestowed upon YOU!!
4) You will ....CALL and ORGANIZE a meeting with Mayor Joe and SUMMEY and County COuncil, DHEC and above ALL...the CEO of MONTENAY incinerator that is your neighbor!. You will USE your "LANDFILL" as a launching pad to transform OUR entire LOWCOUNTRY ....FOREVER!! You will partner with the CITY, COUNTY, Montenay, SCE&G, and ....CITIZENS to transform this area you call a promenade into the GARDEN OF EDEN! The machines that YOU ...yes YOU are going to help purchase with the TEAM; will be used to PLASMAFY all that buried "TRASH" into ENERGY to be SOLD back through the POWER GRID.
5) MAYOR RILEY.....this is your SALVATION from the SOFA SUPER STORE !!!!!
6) Mayor Summey......this is your GINN ..."GOOSE" !! Don't break this EGG!!
7) County Councilman Tim SCOTT...so you want to go to Columbia?? THIS IS YOUR TICKET!! ARE YOU GOING TO PUNCH IT??
8) Montenay?!!...THIS is your GINN "Sugar DADDY"!! Do you realize what your neighbor NEEDS?? You mean to tell me that you are going to take the heat for this area all by yourself?? I highly suggest you pull out the old GOLF BAG and get out to the practice tee because this will take a few rounds to get the kinks "WORKED OUT" with this TEAM!!
9) SCE&G....This is your NEW ..."GREEN ENERGY TOUR FACILITY" for the roll out for the rest of the STATE!! Do not let this (PR) Public Relations oppurtunity and "GREEN ENERGY" ...BADGE of HONOR ....pass you by.
10) When the cleanup it completed in 3 years; it wil be the site of:
a) the GINN-Montenay headquarters for "Green POWER Solutions"!!
b) The finest mix of residential, business, multi-use, and research in the peninsula.
c) A fine boardwalk, marina and promenade for boutique shops and VENDORS !!! With FLAGS !!!
d) A dedication memorial to the site of teamwork and "LANDFILL EXTINCTION".. between city, county, citizens......and GINN-Montenay!!!
CEO of GINN........it doesn't matter how much money you MAKE ...it is what you do with IT and how you are REMEMBERED!! Start making out your BUCKET LIST with Riley, Summey, Scott, Sanford, and your "TEAMMATES" !!!
Posted by Neponset on July 26, 2008 at 2:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The..
Interesting
I suspect that a lot of these folks are sitting on lots of inventory and have credit issues. I wish we could get the facts.
I went to visit some friends, who live in a new development, last nite. They got in early and now are one of the two owner in a field (ex tomato) of unsold spec. houses. Their house is in the 700-800K range. Since nothing is selling, some of the spec. houses are now rented.
Posted by zoomru on July 26, 2008 at 2:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
MAYOR RILEY.....
Take your galsses off and wipe them real GOOD!!
Look at US in the EYE... DO NOT FOOL US AGAIN!!
"..Mayor Joe Riley called Griffith's purchase of the site "a very exciting opportunity for the community" in 2004. "
This is an exciting oppurtunity ALRIGHT!!?
Are you going to do the RIGHT THING?? This property is going to be developed; BUT....these people WORKING and LIVING there will not have a "LANDFILL" underneath them!! This is a PR "BONANZA" of monumental proportions!!? Do you even GRASP the Possiblities?? Not only ..are you going to get TAX revenue off developement; but you will get revenue off of the energy sitting there to be PLASMAFYIED!!
Your going to get revenue off of groups coming here to see how YOU and the TEAM are being "GREEN STEWARDS OF THE CITIZENS WELFARE"!!
MAYOR...DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA ????
Posted by zoomru on July 26, 2008 at 3:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
DHEC.........
You Ravenel'ers.....
You mean to tell me that you are going to let people work and live and play on a "LANDFILL"?? Do you LIVE and WORK and PLAY on a LANDFILL??? NO!! If you do....DOES your WIFE KNOW??? You "LOVE CANAL'ers"!!
"..In return, the developer avoids any liability for environmental problems that existed before the site was purchased. "The evaluations will help with designs to keep contaminants from entering any buildings," said Adam Myrick of DHEC. ..."
ADAM MYRICK.....where did you go to school?? MOSCOW?? Sir...do not let DHEC and GINN play YOU for a FOOL!!? Don't tell me that your BOSS edits your contamination REPORTS. Do you live on a "Brownfield" site? NO!! Your.."SMART" like Andre' "the GIANT" Bauer.!! Stop hangin' with ANDRE' down at the "BLUE MARLIN" and start acting like a South Carolina CITIZEN..!! You know full well about the PLASMA machines from www.starteh.net that closes ALL Landfills ..FOREVER!! Your agency needs to start being stewards of OUR environment. There are solutions to OUR problems...YOU know it. How can you and your wife and kids ever come to CHarleston and drive down I-26 and know that YOU approved that developement when you new that there was technology to CLEAN UP ALL landfill and industrial sites!!
This is the PR opputunity for you and DHEC of a LIFETIME!!!
ADAM ...stand UP and be a leader!!
Posted by zoomru on July 26, 2008 at 3:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Andre' "the GIANT" BAUER........
What are you going to STAND..FOR???
YOUR ...TOAST IS BURNING!!
Posted by zoomru on July 26, 2008 at 3:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Citizens of the STATE.......
This is a blantant example of the USE of new technology to OUR advantage. ARE..We are going to allow this developement without the USE of these machines to PROTECT US, Close the Montenay Incinerator, Close Bees Ferry Landfill and generate city and COUNTY TAX REVENUE...too boot??!
Are we going to stand UP?? Are we going to "HOPE" that BARACK or Johnnie "BOY" protects US??
We are South Carolinians!!!
Posted by JC on July 26, 2008 at 7:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Pleassssse...just no more condos.
Posted by Egap on July 26, 2008 at 10:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Perhaps a new developement there could be named "Love Canal South".
Posted by STREETLAW on July 27, 2008 at 12:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well there it is. It seems to be predetermined that something will be built there. Why can't it just be turned into greenspace and left alone?
New York has its Central Park, why not turn it in to Ravenel Park? It would really be pretty with a lot of snow. Of course that gas could be a B**ch.