After much anticipation, the 19-member West Ashley Revitalization Commission is in-place and getting the process started. It is tasked with developing a West Ashley Master Plan addressing growth, economic development, traffic congestion, drainage, parks and recreation and other objectives for the entire West Ashley region.
My City Councilman Peter Shahid chairs the commission. Other elected officials on the commission include Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg, City Councilmen Marvin Wagner and James Lewis, St. Andrews Public Service District Commissioner John deStefano, County Councilwoman Colleen Condon (soon to be replaced by Councilman Brantley Moody) and Charleston County School Board member Michael Miller.
Councilman Shahid described the recent meeting at the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston as informational. As an aside, I encourage everyone to take a look at the beautiful Diocese complex on the Ashley River side of Orange Grove Rd. Shahid described it as an example of what is possible in our revitalization efforts.
The November 29 meeting focused on organizing the 10 revitalization subcommittees, which include neighborhood engagement, design and cultural affairs, economic development, housing, parks and recreation, public works and preservation, senior citizen issues, technology and transportation. Two subcommittee chairs have been identified – former TV reporter and current Citadel communications instructor Maria Aselage for neighborhood engagement/communications and business owner Glenn Lewis for economic development.
The commission members were tasked by Chairman Shahid at the introductory meeting to visit as many West Ashley venues as possible and look for positive and negative impressions. Former Charleston City Councilwoman Anne Francis Bleeker spoke about driving to Plugs Appliances on Sam Rittenberg Blvd. and noting the need for landscaping and curb appeal.
Commission member Joseph Grant cited a recent trip to the Citadel Mall movie theater with the mall parking lot mostly empty. He expressed the feeling that a vibrant shopping center should have more customers during the Christmas shopping season. The problems associated with the Citadel Mall is something that I hear about from many West Ashley residents, who want to see better retail tenants there.
Justin Ferira noted that he frequently drives outside of the city limits and expressed that there is no sense of arrival into Charleston. When you cross over the North Bridge into North Charleston, it is clear that you are entering North Charleston. The Gateway concept needs to be embraced when people enter West Ashley with welcome signs and beautiful landscaping welcoming them to Charleston.
City planner Jacob Lindsey announced that consulting firm Dover, Kohl and Partners will likely guide the revitalization process, which would include numerous public meetings. The firm’s findings will be sent to the revitalization commission. The commission’s recommendations will be reviewed by the City Planning Department. The final decisions on revitalization will be voted on by Charleston City Council.
over, Kohl and Partners out of Coral Gables, Fla. has consulted on several local projects, including planning for Mt. Pleasant subdivision I’on. It promotes the concept of New Urbanism, in which neighborhoods are designed so that residents can work, live and shop within walking distance. I don’t think that is feasible for all of the new development along Bees Ferry Rd., where people have long commutes and shopping is miles away.
Mayor Tecklenburg spoke about the funding sources for revitalization. He mentioned the Tax Incremental Finance District (TIF) along the Sam Rittenberg Blvd. corridor from Citadel Mall to the North Bridge and road funding projects from the recently approved transportation sales tax increase. Other potential funding sources include the 2% hospitality sales tax at restaurants and the 2% accommodations sales tax at hotels.
Shahid expressed the desire to move the commission meetings to different West Ashley venues with the suggested meeting times being Thursdays starting at 4 or 5 pm. Some of the proposed meeting sites are the Bees Landing Recreation Center, the Town and Country Inn, Charles Towne Landing, Citadel Mall and Addlestone Hebrew Academy. The next full committee meeting will be scheduled for January.
Please state below the column that I am the editor-in-chief of LowcountrySource.com and that my e-mail address is John@LowcountrySource.com.

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