West Ashley’s ‘Golden Age’ is upon us… or is it?
In the waning days of August 2018, West Ashley emerged from its cocoon and burst into its new glorious form. Whole Foods Market finally opened along Savannah Highway.
And. It. Is. Glorious.
Gleaming racks of all-natural and organic foodstuffs were unveiled, as was its prepared foods sections, and fresh meats and veggie departments. And with them came a brand-new age in West Ashley.
Freshly-baked, preservative-free bread has replaced the traffic and flooding problems that has bedeviled this part of town. A great selection of wine and craft beers have pushed aside concerns over gentrification, affordable housing, and completing 526.
Just staring at the fresh nut-grinding machines and locals forgot about revitalization concerns along Sam Rittenberg stretching up to Citadel Mall.
OK, admittedly, that was a bit tongue-in-cheek.
Whole Foods will definitely be a huge addition to grocery shopping in West Ashley. But it is probably just a sign that we are “arriving” versus having “arrived.”
Houses in a neat radius around the new store will very likely experience a welcome increase in value. Diners will have another spot for a great salad bar or a warm sandwich. Whole Foods will definitely be a boon to West Ashley, but it shouldn’t be seen as a panacea for what ails the area.
City Councilman Peter Shahid, who represents part of West Ashley and chairs the West Ashley Revitalization Commission, says, “I’m glad it’s opening up; it’s a good sign and a step in the right direction. I want more places like them.”
City planning director Jacob Lindsey says, “Whole Foods provides another option for groceries accessible by car and by the West Ashley Greenway.” Maybe, the demand for healthier options at Whole Foods will mitigate the traffic snarl created by “special days” down the street at Krispy Kreme, says Lindsey jokingly.
Harry Griffin, who represents the soggier end of West Ashley on City Council, sees the opening as “a glimpse of the revitalization efforts … and it’s good knowing that developers are continuing to make Charleston a unique place and bring us more commerce, which will in turn give us more opportunities to make more money to put back into the city in areas that are flood-prone and suffer from a lack of infrastructure.”
But … “There is more work needed to be done with the WARC,” says Shahid, adding that the commission is still holding workshops and hopes to hold another major presentation at Citadel Mall like the one held last year.
Shahid is hopeful the owners of the mall will also make a presentation on their plan to revitalize the enormous facility, a plan that has been shared in pieces behind closed doors.
Additionally, he says that the commission is working on reviewing the implementation phase of the plans it passed in February, and will likely present its entire plan and recommendations to City Council by the end of this year.
City Councilman Bill Moody, who represents West Ashley and whose neighborhood abuts the Whole Foods facility, sees the city fighting a war on “several fronts” in West Ashley.
“Hopefully we will learn something about the direction of completing 526 and will have something to move on by the end of the month, but even then, we are at least five years from traffic relief,” says Moody.
County Councilman Vic Rawl says the county is still working with Gov. Henry McMaster to unlock funding from the state’s infrastructure bank for the completion project, and says the county “is still within the window” to sue the bank for the money.
Moody sees flooding as the biggest issue, behind traffic, facing West Ashley. He sees the problem every day, as one of the area’s outflow ditches runs by his yard and is regularly clogged. But it’s on private property, and the city can’t roll on it.
In Capri Isles, a similar outflow problem exists, but the state slows work because of permitting work and locals not wanting trucks rolling on their properties.
Moody sees improvement and efforts in City Council, where more workers and staff have been hired to deal with West Ashley’s nagging issues, and an increase in stormwater fees will help give engineers the tools to work on more of the flooding issues.
Mayor John Tecklenburg announced last month that City Council passed new drainage ordinances that will triple water retention requirements for new construction, and required new development more will be saddled with a no “net fill,” meaning that 25 percent more be taken out than allowed in, further ensuring water storage and flow in the Church Creek Basin and beyond
Griffin, whose district includes the basin, says while he welcomes Whole Foods, his part of town doesn’t need it, as they are getting two new grocery stores, Harris Teeter and a Publix.
Just remember that when you finally make it through the traffic and the flooded streets and the lines at Whole Food, it may be a taste of things to come — sweet or bitter.
