Auto MechanicNear West Ashley, SC

West Ashley, the area across the Ashley River from peninsular Charleston, offers a change of pace from some of downtown’s more tourist-centric areas of town. Home to more than 40 percent of the city’s population, the area boasts parks, restaurants, breweries and shopping catered to locals.

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Known to some as the “birthplace of South Carolina,” West Ashley is home to the well-preserved colonial village, Charlestowne Landing. The 184-acre state park off of Old Towne Road offers an opportunity to explore both the city and the state’s modern origins. With walking trails, marsh views and a small zoo, the state park is a site visitors and locals alike can visit multiple times for different experiences.

For the active set, West Ashley is home to Shadowmoss Golf & Country Club and bowling alley Ashley Lanes. Get practice on your swing at Charleston Golf, a combined golf simulator and bar.

Get a breath of fresh air on the 7.8 mile West Ashley Greenway which starts at U.S. Highway 17 and Wappoo Road and ends at Higgins Pier where anglers can cast a line. There’s another opportunity to fish off of Sam Rittenberg Boulevard at Northbridge Park.

For a different scenic walk, meander via boardwalk through marshes and coastal forest at the Stono River County Park in outer West Ashley.

Shopping

Unlike other areas of the city, West Ashley is home to some large-scale retail spaces that make it an ideal place for furniture stores and other specialty shops.

Now that we are into the month of October, the harvest theme has been popping up all around us, as our submissions show.

This week’s winner is Maude Johnson with a photo of a tool historically used in the harvest of Carolina Gold rice. The honorable mentions are Ken Schaub, with an image of a pumpkin harvest, and Elizabeth Bear, with an old photo of an Appalachian farmer.

Next week’s topic is “In the Dark,” which is fitting as the days continue to get shorter and shorter.

The rules: Send your best photo to yourphotos@postandcourier.com by noon Thursday. Include your name, town and where the photo was taken. Add your name and the topic to the file. If you want your photo to be eligible to run in the newspaper, it must be at least 1,500 pixels, not have a commercial watermark and not have been published in another publication.

On Fridays, we first announce the editors’ pick of the week at postandcourier.com/yourphotos and declare a topic for the next week. On Saturdays, we publish an online gallery.

On Sunday, the photo pick of the week will appear in this section, Life.

All photos submitted will be considered for publication in The Post and Courier’s yearly magazine, My Charleston. Some images may be selected for other editorial or noncommercial use.

We reserve the right to not publish any photo for any reason.

Get a weekly list of tips on pop-ups, last minute tickets and little-known experiences hand-selected by our newsroom in your inbox each Thursday.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - The redevelopment of the old Piggly Wiggly site near the Northbridge in West Ashley is continuing to move forward.

The city of Charleston presented three options to community members to hear their feedback on which option they preferred Thursday night.

Stormwater, traffic and noise were among the most common issues people shared at the meeting.

“All the water from the shopping center now comes to the pond in front of my house,” community member Nell Postell said.

City officials presented three options with the main difference being parking.

Option one is the most expensive option– costing the city around $43 million, but it was the most popular vote amongst community members.

It includes underground parking, which officials say could store water in the event of a storm.

“We have flooding problems everywhere, it’s all over the news, well this is how we can address it,” community member Kenneth Marolda said.

Option two includes an above ground parking garage and is about $10 million less expensive than the first proposal. It has the same commercial capacity as the first option but has less civic space.

Finally, option three includes a regular parking lot, decreasing the number of people the venue can hold and the total cost.

Although City of Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg did not specifically say he favors the option with the underground parking, he stressed how important it is to him for the development to include as much civic space as possible.

“I feel the most important thing about this whole project and development is providing a place where families in West Ashley can gather together,” Tecklenburg said.

City officials say part of the city’s portion of this project will be paid for via a special tax district in place.

Because of the site’s location, and because it will be partially funded with taxpayer money, city officials stressed the importance of getting the community on board with the development.

“It’s really important to get public feedback on this because this is the gateway into West Ashley and the city of Charleston,” West Ashley Coordinator Eric Pohlman said.

The plans will next be brought in front of the city council for a vote on June 20.

Copyright 2023 WCSC. All rights reserved.

The City of Charleston Community Development Commission met Thursday to discuss the development of the old Piggly Wiggly lot on Sumar Street in West Ashley.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - The City of Charleston Community Development Commission discussed the development of the old Piggly Wiggly lot on Sumar Street Thursday night for the first time since last month after a city council meeting deferred discussions due to a split vote.

The meeting lasted for three hours as commissioners argued back and forth, with some advocating for green space to be the focus, and others wanting the project to focus on revitalization.

City officials and the public were asked for their input on three different proposals last month, with the first option including underground parking, outdoor areas and a civic building.

Option one was the most popular with 72% of the community in favor of the design, yet approval failed in a split decision vote by the city council.

“I just want to say I’m a little surprised and disappointed that it seems like the politicians are just not listening to the residents of West Ashley,” community member Sharon Gardner says.

Thursday’s meeting was set with plans of potential action for the project, but after hours of heated discussion, the only decision made was to develop another proposal with a design only including civic building and green space.

“I think we need to develop another option,” Charleston City Councilmember, William Dudley Gregorie, says. “We need to develop another option that is green space, and municipal space, and let the people of West Ashley take a look at that.”

The motion was made even after dozens of members of the public continued to push for option one.

“Having something in our community to allow us to gather is very important,” West Ashley resident William Tinkler says. “I’ve talked with many people in the last couple of months, and I can tell that people in West Ashley, they want action; they want something done now.”

Although the meeting was held by the Charleston Community Development Commission, almost every member of the Charleston City Council joined, saying no project in the city’s history has had this large of a public response.

“Approach this effort in this project through the lens of West Ashley revitalization,” councilmember Ross Appel says. “We need to find a way to jumpstart the economy of West Ashley; because let’s face it, West Ashley does lag behind other parts of the city and other parts of the region.”

Unless one voting member changes their mind, at this rate the decision will simply remain split.

Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg himself is on the side of economic growth.

“If we approve it, we would be able to move forward and get something going, that includes the multi-uses that respectfully many hundreds of our citizens weigh in upon over the last few years,” Tecklenburg says. “It’s a good option; it will revitalize the West Ashley, it’s a good way to go”

A community member who has been involved in the process says this is the nineteenth meeting on the development in the last six years.

Robert Mitchell, Perry Waring, William Dudley Gregorie and Caroline Parker were in favor of Thursday’s motion to develop another proposal with design only including civic building and green space. Mayor John Tecklenburg, Ross Appel and Jason Sakran were opposed.

Copyright 2023 WCSC. All rights reserved.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Big plans are approved for an affordable housing complex in West Ashley. The news sparked excitement among some neighbors, but concerns about traffic and the location as well.

The city’s housing department, council members and neighbors agree, affordable housing is a need in West Ashley. But the development does come with a lot of planning and factors to consider when approving a plan.

City of Charleston District 2 Councilmember Kevin Shealy says he initially did not support a 2020 zone change of the property from general business to diverse residential.

“At that time and in 2020, there was a there was an office building sitting there and it’s actually a good location for an office building because people may not have to drive downtown to go to work. They can work and live in the same place which fits in with the West Ashley Revitalization,” Shealy says.

In March of 2023, the planning commission approved initial design plans for the complex. Shealy says he is an advocate for affordable housing, but wants to make sure it’s being put in practical places.

Jerry Gray, who has lived in the area for about 15 years, thinks incoming affordable housing is good news.

“Charleston can be the land of opportunity for a lot of people. And it’s also a window of opportunity for people who want to start out. So having some level of affordable housing where people can start out, start building an American Dream is critical for any neighborhood,” Gray says.

While he says he’s excited about the complex and the opportunities it can bring, he admits that traffic does cross his mind when a project like this is approved.

“Highway 61, we want to keep it as a scenic road. So yeah, traffic would be a problem and a consideration but again, there’s work around for that,” Gray says.

Shealy says he also worries about traffic for people who live in his district. He explains that the South Carolina Department of Transportation grades state roads on a scale from A to F.

“Ashley River Road during peak times grade is an E, and it’s very close to an F. And it probably will be one day unless we can do something about those roads. Hopefully we get some help from the state, state or county and maybe they can help with traffic flowing,” Shealy says.

Gray referenced how widening Glenn McConnell Parkway and the development of Bees Ferry Road has created a connector between areas and will solve some of the traffic woes.

“So those things can be overcome with good planning,” Gray believes.

Shealy says he wants to see hard workers in Charleston like firefighters, police officers and teachers live and enjoy the same area where they work.

“We need affordable housing in the right locations. Live work and play. That’s kind of what the West Ashley revitalization idea said. But that’s also a reason for us to make sure we have commercial properties out in West Ashley out in the western part of West Ashley so that everybody’s not driving to downtown, causing these traffic congestions,” Shealy says.

Shealy says while he initially did not approve of the housing complex, now that it’s on its way, he is dedicated to making sure it fits into the neighborhood.

Gray says he is excited to see more people enjoying the area and hopes the city does its due diligence incorporating plans for runoff, traffic and other aspects of development in the plans.

To learn more about the details of the complex, click here.

Copyright 2023 WCSC. All rights reserved.

A narrow strip of land on either side of Ashley Hall Road near Raoul Wallenberg Boulevard doesn’t look like much to drivers passing by. But it extends for acres into what is currently inaccessible marsh and forest.

The city of Charleston plans to convert that land into a nearly 60-acre park thanks to help from the Charleston County Greenbelt fund and a donation of property from real estate firm The Beach Co.

“It’s nestled right in,” Charleston Parks Director Jason Kronsberg said about the property’s location in central West Ashley.

Charleston City Council on May 23 voted to accept just under $400,000 in county greenbelt funds so that the city can purchase just over 5 acres of the land. The Beach Co. has agreed to donate over 50 acres of surrounding property that the firm owns on both sides of Ashley Hall Road.

The area was identified in high need of parks in the Charleston Parks Master plan completed in 2021.

“What is exciting about the location is that it is surrounded by commercial properties, apartments and residential areas,” said City Councilman Peter Shahid. “You don’t see that opportunity often in West Ashley.”

When combined, the properties will be turned into a “passive park,” Kronsberg said.

Due to restrictions on the use of greenbelt funds, as well as the ecological sensitivity of the land, the park will need to be developed with minimal impact to the natural environment. That means no massive parking lot, swimming pool, recreation center, amphitheater or the like.

Instead, Kronsberg said he pictures nature trails, a crabbing dock, a kayak launch and picnic areas as the main attractions. All of those details need to be worked out and will be determined with the help of public feedback.

Using the land as a park will also help manage storm water in the area. Previous proposals for the property have called for up to 70 apartments on the site, which the current zoning code allows. But after the city underwent the Dutch Dialogues flood research program, low-lying marsh areas were identified as high-priority areas to limit development.

MOUNT PLEASANT — Two students at Mamie P. Whitesides Elementary School suffered medical emergencies over the last few weeks, prompting the school district to suspend in-person learning on Oct. 19 and 20.

Concerns about air quality within the school have fueled rampant speculation from worried parents and staff, but Andy Pruitt, spokesman for the Charleston County School District said the district staff doesn’t believe the medical emergencies are connected to air quality tests that have been ongoing since February. He would not say what caused the health issues with the two pre-kindergarten students, citing medical privacy.

Additional tests on Oct. 19 indicated that school’s air quality is safe, and students are expected to return to their classrooms Oct. 23, according to a message from the school’s principal, Michelle Conner.

“While we remain unsure if the medical emergencies are connected in any way, the medical emergencies coupled with indoor air quality concerns in some areas this year, as well as ongoing HVAC repairs, caused district officials to move to eLearning which allowed for CCSD to conduct assessments of the physical environment,” Conner said in an Oct. 19 note to parents.

Pruitt provided The Post and Courier with Conner’s communications to parents about the ongoing concerns with mold and gas levels inside the school.

The medical emergencies, which occurred on Sept. 29 and Oct. 18, triggered EMS responses and “a brief hold” at the school, according to the communications sent to parents after the emergencies.

Both children are from the same pre-K class, Pruitt said. One was taken to a nearby hospital; another was treated on campus, he added.

In her messages to Whitesides families, Conner did not detail the reason for the medical issues, but said after each episode that the students were “doing well.”

Tests conducted by the district’s facilities team and Mount Pleasant Fire Department and Hazmat teams show safe air quality, Conner said. Samples taken last week by an environmental services company also found “a lack of presence of harmful levels of mold,” she continued.

Zero or negligible amounts of carbon monoxide were detected, but the carbon dioxide levels were within recommended levels for classrooms, the principal reported.

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can kill. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can include: headache, weakness, dizziness and nausea or vomiting, according to the Mayo Clinic. Carbon dioxide, or CO2, is a naturally occurring gas in the earth’s atmosphere, but at higher levels it can cause rapid breathing, confusion, increased cardiac output, elevated blood pressure and irregular heartbeat, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Air quality testing, which included testing for carbon dioxide, started in February of this year after a teacher complained to school officials, Pruitt said, though he didn’t provide the results of those earlier tests.

Results from Oct. 11, nearly two weeks after the first medical incident, and Oct. 13 indicated that CO2 was “higher than what is typically seen in indoor settings” in some locations in the school, Conner told parents on Oct. 17. But she added that the readings were “well within OSHA standards for safe indoor air quality.”

Conner also told parents that an Oct. 16 inspection of the school’s HVAC system found the units that introduce outside air into the building were not operating at full capacity, which could cause the elevated levels of carbon dioxide

“Again, although the levels are above what is seen in similar environments they are well below the level that is considered unhealthy indoor air quality,” Conner said.

Parts were ordered to repair the HVAC units, and CO2 monitoring devices were installed throughout the school, Conner said in the Oct. 17 note.

That message came the day before the second child suffered a medical emergency, according to the communications provided by the school district.

After the second health emergency on Oct. 18, Connor said that “out of an abundance of caution” the district ordered remote learning for students and remote work for staff.