West Ashley United — A Force For Good

Facebook is a truly amazing communications tool that is changing the way we receive and share information. During Fall 2015, prior to the Charleston mayoral election, I received an invitation to join the Facebook page West Ashley Mayoral Forum, which focused on how the candidates would impact our area.
While I attended a coffee for mayoral candidate Maurice Washington at Panera Bread in Harrell Square, I met West Ashley Mayoral Forum creator Teresa Mellis Tidestrom. A mother and concerned citizen who resides in Grand Oaks, Tidestrom decided to get involved in politics for the first time.
Following the flooding events in August and October, it became obvious that the explosive growth along the Bees Ferry Rd. corridor, it became obvious that drainage in West Ashley was an enormous problem that had not been adequately addressed by city or county governments.
After West Ashley resident John Tecklenburg was elected Mayor of Charleston, Tidestrom decided to change the name of her Facebook page to West Ashley United. In the few months since then, the page has gone from 97 followers to nearly 600. I encourage Facebook users to visit Facebook.com/WestAshleyUnited and “Like” the page. It encourages input from everyone concerning meetings, events, schools and all issues impacting West Ashley
Tidestrom recently joined Mayor Tecklenburg at the press conference announcing the decision of Whole Foods to build a store at the corner of Farmfield Road and Savannah Highway next to Doscher’s supermarket. She noted that Tecklenburg “has already made a difference for the people of West Ashley.”
Mayor Tecklenburg is very serious about promoting economic development in West Ashley, focusing on improvement in neighborhoods and shopping centers. At the Whole Foods announcement, he said, “There are a lot of other shopping centers that need revitalization and sprucing up.” He cited shopping centers in the Dupont/Wappoo area, Citadel Mall and Sam Rittenberg Boulevard as priority development zones. Curb appeal will help fill the large inventory of vacant retail space.
In addition to improving West Ashley’s economic vitality, Tidestrom wants to focus on schools, zoning, local government, public safety and beautification. She cites the effectiveness of the Midtown Columbus organization in Georgia. Activists there have worked to promote neighborhoods, businesses, schools, parks and recreation opportunities
The flooding events in 2015 remind us that zoning is a very important issue. City and County Councils approved thousands of housing units in wetlands along the Bees Ferry Rd. corridor. Tidestrom agrees with me that elected officials who approved these developments without providing the drainage infrastructure upgrades should be held accountable.
Some West Ashley development projects Tidestrom wants to scrutinize are Long Savannah, which will extend from the Grand Oaks boundary to Savannah Hwy, a proposed apartment complex on five acres of marsh on Church Creek and the West Ashley Circle, which has serious drainage issues. She will ask West Ashley United followers to contact elected officials and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which must issue permits for construction on wetlands.
We all know that schools continue to be a problem in West Ashley, particularly at the middle and high school levels. West Ashley United encouraged a large turnout at a recent Charleston County School Board meeting to advocate for funding a new Stono Park Elementary School, which was on the construction list approved by voters in the 2010 sales tax increase referendum. The School Board had planned to remodel the 66-year-old school rather than rebuild and will make a final decision at its Mar. 21 meeting.
West Ashley United plans to get people involved in recruiting and supporting candidates for the District 10 constituent school board, the three West Ashley seats on the Charleston County Consolidated School Board and the West Ashley seats on the City and County Councils. An active citizenry is the best pathway to a responsive government.
Public safety is another concern West Ashley United will highlight. Tidestrom encourages people to attend coffees with community police teams and Chief Greg Mullen, a West Ashley resident. She wants to have security cameras installed along the West Ashley Greenway.
West Ashley United is a Facebook page promoting citizen involvement to make West Ashley the best place in which to live and work. As creator Tidestrom says, “Residents and businesses need to take ownership of our area. The complaining needs to stop and the action needs to happen!”!
John Steinberger is the former chairman of the Charleston County Republican Party, a leading Fair Tax advocate, and a West Ashley resident. He can be reached at John.steinberger@scfairtax.org.