State of ‘West Ashley’

Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr. had much to say about West Ashley in his annual State of the City address he delivered last Thursday night. Here are some highlights:
On commercial resurgence: “West of the Ashley has seen a remarkable revitalization of commercial districts. South Windermere, one of the first shopping centers in South Carolina, has been beautifully renovated and is robust in its activity as is the equally one-time pioneering St. Andrews Shopping Center. And across the street from St. Andrews is the Avondale Point that likewise is experiencing a renaissance.”
On economic redevelopment: “A committee of city staff, along with me and West Ashley City Councilmembers, will be working on the … revitalization of the West Ashley business districts. We have retained a national consultant …The Citadel Mall is under new ownership … We believe that the Citadel Mall and its adjacent retail neighborhoods have an extremely bright and exciting future and we will be energetically working with them as we have in other sections of our city.”
On construction: “The St. Andrews/ Forest Acres drainage project is nearing design completion and will be out for bids this fall. These four drainage construction projects have a total cost of $112 million and are funded and under, or soon will be under, construction this year.”
On public safety: “And, the West Ashley community (policing) Stand Up Charleston program could be a national model… City Council authorized the construction of two new fire stations … [one] at the Carolina Bay neighborhood. “
On parks: “Under construction West of the Ashley is the new Northbridge Park.  This park will give access to the Ashley River … This park beautifies what had been a scruffy, forlorn area adjacent to the North Ashley River Bridge. This park began with an idea of an 11^th grader, Miranda Caruth… In the Maryville community…Higgins Pier will soon be under construction at the end of the West Ashley Bikeway. …Not far from Higgins Pier, as the crow flies, there are 2.6 acres on the water’s edge that form a part of the Charlestowne Landing viewshed. This property was slated to be developed. … With the creation of a park, the view from the birthplace of our state is protected and there is yet another wonderful opportunity for residents of our city West of the Ashley or visitors to view the remarkable Ashley River vista.”