Pressure washing in James Island, SC

CHARLESTON — The archive room at the county's main library branch will temporarily close and move its materials before the building undergoes renovations.

The South Carolina room — a room that holds a collection of books, maps and other research materials detailing the history of the state with an emphasis on Charleston and the Lowcountry — will be unavailable starting May 1 for roughly eight to 10 weeks as staff move its contents to 1248 Camp Road on James Island.

The archives will be made available by appointment and electronic correspondence only while at the James Island location, said to Doug Reynolds, CCPL associate director of communications and marketing. He wrote in an email that hours of operation for that location will be released once they’re finalized.

The library on Calhoun Street is the last of the county libraries scheduled for upgrades. The work is part of a $108.5 million referendum that called for updates to all Charleston County Public Library branches, which voters passed in 2014.

While the main location is closed for renovations, the county will lease space at 1142 Morrison Drive — the former International Longshoreman’s Association’s union hall building — for two years.

The new location will have the children, teen and adult book collections, as well as public computer space and room for activities like story time, CCPL Executive Director Angela Craig previously told The Post and Courier.

Located on the Upper Peninsula and close to a CARTA bus stop, the union hall site will be easily accessible for patrons, she said.

The renovations are expected to cost $7.8 million. An additional $3.2 million has been set aside for architecture fees, permitting fees and contingency funding for emergencies and any unforeseen cost increases.

A major part of the renovations include relocating the teen section from the third floor to the second floor, which will make the second floor a dedicated youth services floor. All adult content on the second floor will be moved to the third floor.

The library will also update its technology, like projectors for the auditorium and meeting rooms.

The renovations for the main branch are expected to take around 18 months. Once the construction timeline is finalized, Reynolds wrote that they’ll share specifics on when the library will close.

JAMES ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) — Several local entities are coming together to continue monitoring and keeping the James Island Creek as clean as possible.

The Town of James Island Public Works Committee to accept an agreement between the Town of James Island, the city of Charleston and Charleston County to work together on improving the creek’s water quality by implementing watershed plans, managing drainage to prevent pollution and addressing high bacteria levels in the creek, which is classified as an “impaired waterway.”

The James Island town council is set to vote on the agreement to make it official on Thursday.

The James Island Creek’s water quality parameter of concern is a fecal indicator bacteria called Enterococci, which has been identified in the creek since 2016. This form of bacteria originates from the intestine of warm-blooded animals, and although not generally considered harmful to humans, it is an indicator of other pathogenic bacteria that pose a human health risk.

“There are higher than higher levels of bacteria than we would like to see in the creek, which can lead to health issues for anyone swimming in it, whether it’s you or your pets or your family,” Elsbeth Noe, a Charleston County civil engineer, says. “It can cause stomach symptoms or skin infections and things like that, and then equally importantly, high levels of bacteria also have negative impacts on the environment and the wildlife that lives there.”

The specific agreement is for MS4 monitoring, which is for a municipal separate storm sewer system. The agreement also includes the collection of grab samples and supplementary environmental data, laboratory analysis for bacteria found in the creek and data analysis and reports on their findings.

“It’s important to monitor the creek because monitoring is really what allows us to find different pollutant sources,” Noe says. “We want to try and find the things that we can control.”

An assessment study with an initial term of one year and up to five additional one-year terms will also be conducted.

Town of James Island show officials estimate the total cost of the monitoring to be less than $70,000 per year. The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services confirms the Town of James Island is covered under the Charleston County MS4 permit.

The 4,352-acre creek is sometimes used for boating, kayaking, swimming and fishing, but officials want to warn residents that it should be used with caution.

“James Island Creek is a beautiful, beautiful body of water that cuts through the heart of James Island,” Charleston City Councilwoman Leslie Skardon says. “This testing is a priority for the city, the county, and the town to make sure that the people who live on James Island can continue to enjoy what makes the island so special.”

In collaboration with the Charleston Water System and Charleston Waterkeeper, these local entities also released a watershed management for the creek in 2021.

In 2024, the Charleston Waterkeeper said the James Island Creek passed the bacteria level test 10 percent more than in 2023, meaning it is on the route to recovery. However, there is still a long way to go and officials say the monitoring will help tremendously.

“Restoring the health of the creek is very important to us, but we think it’s important that residents know that through these efforts we can’t necessarily make it 100% safe to swim all of the time,” Noe says. “It is a long process to detect these pollutants and even if we find one, a new one may come up later.”

The Town of James Island council meeting is on Thursday at 7 p.m.

“It is so important to invest in our environment and in science and testing because if we can spend a little dollars now for prevention later on from someone getting sick, it’s well worth it,” Skardon says.

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JAMES ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) — Over 100 parents and community members have signed a petition to rebuild the old James Island Middle School as a school for sixth-graders and a performing arts center.

Jamie Meissner, a parent of three Charleston County School District students, says she started the petition to make more room for the growing adolescent population, emphasize sixth-grade education and create a premier performing arts space. Meissner says the petition idea also comes from last year’s survey results showing support for a new middle school and for renovating or repurposing the old James Island Middle School.

“We have this brand new middle school that I have been a parent at for five years and it’s amazing, we have the best staff, the best principal,” Meissner says. “But it’s very obvious that 10 years from now, that might not be big enough considering we’re just about to build two early childhood centers on James Island.”

She says it’s vital to think far out when it comes to public education and advocating for families on James Island.

Jeff Borowy, Charleston County School District chief operating officer, says they are aware of the petition and are currently in the process of planning for the future. However, he says the need currently isn’t there and there are a number of obstacles with adding new campuses to the school district.

“One is the daily and yearly operational cost that goes with a new campus,” Borowy says. “This would be a new stand-up location and that would require a yearly operational budget which doesn’t exist right now. That would have to be worked in the equation.”

Meissner says many of the classes at Camp Road Middle School have between 30 and 35 students, which she and other parents believe is too high.

“Parents are always going to be concerned about class size,” Meissner says. “It matters to us because it’s our one child and we want them to be seen and helped for their ability. When you’re looking at a lot of students, rising sixth-grade students, pursuing private school, or pursuing a magnet school, it’s because they want that more intimate, smaller class size.”

Even though class size is a bit higher than average, Borowy says available capacity can also prevent a new campus from being added.

“Certainly, we have to compare the needs to the rest of the district,” Borowy says. “There are schools that we have that still have trailers on them. Those are clearly over capacity.”

He says the needs at Camp Road Middle School are not there. Camp Road Middle School’s capacity is 1,091 students, and he says there are just under 900 students, with projections not to reach 1,091 anytime soon.

“From a pure capacity perspective, Camp Road itself is adequate for the foreseeable future unless there is a desire to set up a separate campus and then that would compete with other needs across the district,” Borowy says.

“We are in the middle of the process at this point. We took that community input from last year and are combining it with the other information across the district, which includes a facility condition assessment of all of our schools,” Borowy says.

School district officials say they also look at enrollment projections and projects they’ve completed. After all of the current information is compiled, they will send the latest data to the Board of Trustees in the spring.

“That’ll be essentially the menu of opportunities that could be put forward in the future,” Borowy says. “That future is coming up pretty quick. In July, we’ll come to the board with a list of proposed projects that will ask them to approve to put on the referendum this fall for the next sales tax extension program.”

Another component of the petition is using the building as a performing arts space, which Meissner believes all the elementary and middle schools could use.

“We have a lot of families that go to North Charleston to have the bells and whistles that we just don’t have here,” Meissner says. “And I owe it to the music teachers at Camp Road Middle School to reach for the stars because they do that for our kids every day.”

Meissner hopes the idea of rebuilding the old James Island Middle School is seriously considered as a future project down the line.

“The reality is that we kind of have to ask for things sometimes too and this is my way of saying, ‘Hey, James Island, I need you guys to take a look at this and think ahead into the future because I promise I’m looking out for your kids because my kids will be long graduated,” Meissner says.

To learn more about the petition, click here.

Drivers along Maybank Highway on Johns Island have been passing a bright green, retro-style sign promising miniature golf is “coming soon.”

The wait is almost over.

Sea Island Mini Golf & Arcade is slated to open in late February, bringing two full 18-hole micro-layouts and a large indoor arcade with several dozen games.

The family-friendly entertainment hub at 3414 Maybank Highway features two separate courses — Alligator Alley and Swampville — complete with fountains, sand traps and mini bridges behind a warehouse-style building and parking area.

More than 40 arcade games will be installed indoors, along with multiple televisions for watching sports, including golf and a concessions counter inside will serve up soft pretzels, ice cream, slushies, nachos and pretzels.

Pending a permit, the food truck will offer pizza, fries and chicken fingers. The owners have also applied for a beer and wine license.

Each hole on the courses is sponsored by a local business, and the first nine holes on each course are wheelchair accessible. The design allows players to complete a full 18-hole round by combining accessible holes across both courses. A practice putting green is included on site.

Co-owners Sandie and Michael Albenesius, who also own and operate St. John’s Kayaks and Boat Tours, said the idea grew out of a desire to offer more activities for teens and families on the island and nearby James Island. They own the Sea Island Mini Golf with two additional co-owners.

Transforming the former storage warehouse took several years.

Players on the mini golf course will receive putters, golf balls, a scorecard and a tiny pencil upon signing up to play the courses.

Outdoor seating, picnic tables and televisions — including coverage from the Golf Channel — are also part of the setup.

Initially, Sea Island Mini Golf & Arcade plans to operate Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 8 p.m. but will fluctuate based on weather or demand. The owners said hours will likely expand as demand grows, particularly heading into the summer season.

Beyond casual play, the venue plans to host birthday parties, corporate events, themed nights and group outings for kids and adults alike.

Rural retail

A national retailer of farm and rural lifestyle supplies is eyeing a new stire at Foxbank Plantation in Moncks Corner, near a community slated for nearly 3,000 homes.

Tractor Supply and PetSense by Tractor Supply have submitted plans to the S.C. Department of Environmental Services for a 21,930-square-foot retail outpost at 219 Foxbank Town Center. The project’s owner and developer is Twin Rivers Capital.

Tractor Supply carries farm supplies, pet and animal feed, clothing, tools, fencing and other rural essentials. PetSense offers grooming services and pet prescriptions.

Brentwood, Tenn.-based Tractor Supply is described as the largest rural lifestyle retailer in the U.S. The chain operates 2,364 namesake stores in 49 states, along with 206 PetSense locations in 23 states.

The company has opened seven stores in the Charleston area since expanding to South Carolina in 2007.

Gold rush

Gold Digger, an antique jewelry store, repair shop and jewelry design studio, will open Feb. 7 in North Charleston's Park Circle area.

The address is 1080 E. Montague Ave.

Gold Digger is owned by Lisa Thomas and daughter Emma, who source pieces during their travels. Each item is inspected and prepared by a master jeweler.

Thomas also owns DIGS Charleston and DIGS Imports, a curated furniture shop located at the same address, as well as Out of Hand in the Old Village in Mount Pleasant.

In addition to antique and vintage jewelry, the shop will offer repair services and custom, one-of-a-kind jewelry design.

Get crackin’

A Cajun-style seafood boil restaurant has opened near Tanger Outlets in North Charleston. Happy Crab Seafood is now serving at 4950 Centre Pointe Drive.

Restore more

The Habitat for Humanity ReStore on the peninsula is now open on Mondays.

The home goods-focused shop at 731 Meeting St., accepts donations and sells discounted building materials, furniture and home products, with proceeds supporting affordable housing efforts in the Charleston area.

Updated store hours are Monday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sunrise arrives

The wait is over for diners in Goose Creek to get their own outpost of a Johns Island-based diner.

Sunrise Bistro officially opened Feb. 3 at 216 St. James Ave., in the former Ti-Ney Bangkok II Restaurant.

Co-owner Brian Appelt launched the eatery in 2009 with business partner Jessica Welenteichick after the pair spent years working together at Hege’s Restaurant on Johns Island. Other Sunrise Bistro locations are in Mount Pleasant, Johns Island, Aiken and Summerville.

JAMES ISLAND — Town Council has taken a stance against proposed raised medians along Folly Road due to concerns about traffic flow and access to local businesses.

The state Department of Transportation is planning road safety improvements along a five-mile section of Folly Road from Maybank Highway to Old Folly Road. As part of the years-long initiative Rethink Folly Road, most of the project involves adding sidewalks and upgrading equipment at crosswalks to improve pedestrian visibility.

But one part of the SC 171 Safety Corridor Project has ruffled feathers among James Island residents and business owners: adding a raised median along part of the road.

The addition of raised medians would divert traffic into neighborhoods along the road and have the potential to deter people from visiting businesses on Folly Road, James Island Mayor Brook Lyon told The Post and Courier.

Town Council unanimously approved a resolution expressing opposition to the proposed raised medians at their Jan. 15 meeting. The resolution also requests the DOT to install a traffic light at the intersection of Santee Street and Folly Road as an alternative to help with traffic flow.

“Sometimes you have to be against stuff to make things safer, and stopping bad developmental decisions is one of them,” Town Councilman Lewis Dodson said at the meeting.

Lyon said council passed the resolution in a show of support for the businesses along Folly Road and residents who live in the Bayfront and Centerville neighborhoods.

Shawn Salley, DOT project manager, previously told The Post and Courier the project is part of the Federal Highway Safety Improvement Program due to the high volume of crashes along the road.

A DOT road safety audit from January 2018 to December 2022 showed there were more than 2,100 crashes on Folly Road. While 75 percent of those crashes resulted in property damage, six resulted in fatalities.

Salley said DOT found that more of the serious and fatal crashes come from left turns and sometimes, U-turns. Their solution is to install an intermittent raised concrete median, which is meant to encourage people to turn at traffic signals and reduce the number of crashes.

DOT found that roads can reduce crashes by as much as 57 percent after installing a raised median, Salley said.

But business owners, including Shawn Sherman, co-owner of Locals Sushi on Folly Road, shared concerns the medians with The Post and Courier. He worries his business will suffer because it won’t be as easily accessible with the addition of a median.

Charleston City Councilwoman Leslie Skardon, the newly elected representative for the city’s portion of James Island, said while she hadn’t heard from her constituents about raised medians, she heard countless complaints about Folly Road while campaigning for her council seat last year.

“When people think of Folly Road, the words that usually come to mind are unsafe, busy, ugly, bad traffic, car accidents,” Skardon said. “People do not like Folly Road. There’s not a lot to like about it right now.”

She believes raised medians are a “proven and effective” solution and can help make Folly Road safer. Skardon referenced data that Mount Pleasant staff gathered and presented in December based on their Safety Action Plan, which includes the installation of a raised landscaped median along Long Point Road.

The data showed a 33 percent average reduction in collision rates once the median was installed and replaced the two-way left turn lane in the center along Long Point.

“If we have the chance to eliminate one in three accidents, why wouldn’t we do that?” Skardon said.