CHARLESTON, SC (WCIV) — The Sumar Street site in West Ashley may be facing a major redevelopment plan.
Charleston Mayor William Cogswell unveiled a new proposal for the old Piggly Wiggly property at a public meeting Monday evening.
The total cost of the plan is expected to be $300 million and the city plans to invest $44 million in the new vision.
READ MORE | “Charleston’s Sumar Street faces transformation with new development plan.”
Mayor Cogswell said he is seeking feedback on a new plan to combine the 3-acre Sumar Street site and the 33-acre portion of Ashley Landing.
“I’m excited. I felt like the people in this room were finally excited and ready to put aside any remaining reservations,” Susan Sully said. “I’m very confident we can get this thing going.”
City officials said the goal is to create a gathering place for the West Ashley community.
The plan includes a public park and multi-use bike and pedestrian paths. There will be new housing, 10% of which will be classified as “affordable.” And developers said there will be a focus on incorporating local businesses and restaurants.
READ MORE | “‘Council has decided to ignore West Ashley’: Sumar Street plans go back to the drawing board.”
Neighbors’ biggest concerns are parking and traffic, but Joy Gerardi said the project is long overdue and she just wants to get it done.
“It’s been like this since I’ve lived here. And it would just be nice to have something new in West Ashley because I feel like sometimes we get the short end of the stick,” said Gerardi, who has lived here for 30 years.
A central part of Mayor Cogswell’s new plan is a 400,000-square-foot stormwater detention system, which he said will help provide flood protection throughout West Ashley.
“Right now we’re dealing with 35 hectares of asphalt that really has no retention capacity at all. So when it rains, it all seeps into the residential areas,” the mayor said.
READ MORE | “Charleston City Council votes to return Sumar Street project to Community Development.”
Mayor Cogswell also said that from a financial perspective, it is important for the city to act quickly on new developments.
The city is now in its eighth year of a 25-year Tax Increment Financing District (TIF) program for the Sumar Street site, but the limited development has generated little revenue.
“It really puts a strain on the city’s financial capacity when it comes to doing anything impactful when it comes to public spaces, when it comes to doing things to strengthen infrastructure,” said Mayor Cogswell. “So we need to get moving on this.”
City officials said they would gather feedback at Monday’s public forum.
The proposal could probably be presented to the city council no earlier than mid-September.
