I’m only 32 but I’m fourth generation charlestonian. Even in my short time the change is crazy. It’s sad but I have a couple properties in Charleston and will sell them in the next five years and move away. This place is turning sour to me.
Our roads are not prepared for the traffic we have now, I understand that. I have a civil engineering degree and took my fair share of transportation classes. I also have eyeballs and drive 526 every day so it’s pretty obvious that we’re not doing it right. Blame your mayor and governor for this. They are responsible for keeping our city in order. They control permitting to keep ensure safe sustainable development, they buy land for future infrastructure (usually too late), and they look out for our economic needs. If they were smart they would have already purchased the land that the next layer of interstate (726?) will be that goes around Charleston but they’re idiots so I doubt that’s happened.
I know exactly what the port is doing because I’m in construction and have done work with them this year. They’re on track to spend a few hundred million in the next 2 years getting the Leatherman terminal built by September 2019. Is it unfortunate to lose that marsh? Sure, but it’s a small price to pay for the economic impact that it brings to our state.
Fred, they are building another inland port too. One is in Greer and I believe the new one is going in Dillon in the next year or so. The channel is getting dredged to make it compatible with the size ships that can fit through the newly enlarged Panama Canal. To account for these bigger ships and increased container volume they need a new terminal. Charleston will be the first port on the East Coast ready for these bigger ships.
My point is that *****ing about development ignores the positive benefits we all receive from it, the hypocrisy of somebody that moves here yet doesn’t want Charleston to change, and promotes ideas that devalue landowner property for selfish desires. I’m not a big family history guy but I know my family has been here for at least 4 generations. I like Charleston and the areas around it. Will change bring problems? Sure, but it will bring solutions too. Some solutions will be to problems we might not even kn
I understand change and have seen it here for almost 40 years, but who signed off on filling in marsh and a portion of the Cooper River? Where is the land or river they had to preserve in exchange? The new port only is helping a small portion of the area compared to the burden it has put on or transportation infrastructure…More dredging, more govt. funding, give me a break. The environmental impact is far more damaging… another turning basin, more tugs and more ships that think they own the shipping channel…They are rebuilding the exit and on ramp to support all the tractor trailers. .Soon the Ravenel bridge will have the same amount of tractor trailers as 526…I don’t get the logic…
Robert Olsen
Cosign ^^^^^this
quote:Who signed off? Well you can thank Republican Mark Sanford, along with many others, for that since he was head man in 2007 when permitting was complete. I don't know where the land is but they likely used the "land credit" garbage to make up for the lost marsh. Apparently $12.2M worth http://www.scspa.com/locations/hugh-k-leatherman-sr-terminal/
Originally posted by knot @ workI understand change and have seen it here for almost 40 years, but who signed off on filling in marsh and a portion of the Cooper River? Where is the land or river they had to preserve in exchange? The new port only is helping a small portion of the area compared to the burden it has put on or transportation infrastructure…More dredging, more govt. funding, give me a break. The environmental impact is far more damaging… another turning basin, more tugs and more ships that think they own the shipping channel…They are rebuilding the exit and on ramp to support all the tractor trailers. .Soon the Ravenel bridge will have the same amount of tractor trailers as 526…I don’t get the logic…
Robert Olsen
Dredging is for the larger ships that will soon be coming through the renovated Panama Canal.
They do own the shipping channel, that’s why it’s called a SHIPPING channel.
They are making railroad improvements to help reduce traffic inflation. I’m sure some trucks may go down the Ravenel but most will go to 26 like they already do. A new terminal won’t greatly increase the need to drive up 17. To give them a little credit I believe the DOT said they couldn’t bring the rock in to surcharge the new terminal via roads, the had to boat it in from Canada.
I would argue that the port probably does have a large positive impact on the city and state. They are a large source of resources, you can’
I guess you are the defender for port…
Robert Olsen
Actually I’m not very fond of them but I can put that aside for the economic benefits they bring to the state.
You can sit there on your computer and complain about all the change or you can get off you butts and go do something about it. Write to the mayor or the governor. The truth is change is going to happen. Charleston is an amazing place and when it starts winning awards for being the best vacation spot in the world more people are going to want to live and visit here. Who could blame them. We all Love Charleston!!! Maybe not all parts like the traffic but these are the problems that all cities on the east coast have to deal with on a daily basis. Also responding to whom made the comment that its a small price to pay for the benefits. Thats a load of crap. If we don’t find better ways to achieve these goals we will be paying a lot of “small prices” for the benefits of what? our cities are always going to have issues. Ive been told this my entire life about its just a small price to pay and then when that persons actions caused bigger issues than thought all they say if life isn’t fair or think about what benefits you’ve gotten. Why is it nature is always the one being sacrificed?
Because land, air, and sea are our most basic resources.
What’s your line of work mitch?
First, Most, Biggest
quote:
Originally posted by Great WhiteIMO this is just another form of the entitlement attitude.
If this development was to expose residents to anything toxic that would be a different story. But that would fall on the permitting office for allowing unsafe development.
First, Most, Biggest
“Entitlement attitude”? That’s a good one. Never knew anyone who works as much as I do be labeled as feeling “entitled”, but whatever. Back to the topic.
I think it was Sunday a week ago, Mark Sanford wrote an interesting op-ed in the paper, calling for land to be set aside on the water for public use. The land he mentioned is SPA land, I believe on Daniel Island. He also mentioned how enriched NYC is having Central Park.
Now, I don’t care much for Mark and his adventures on the Appalachian Trail, but he has a point.
As for Laurel Island, they can give the development a cutesy name, and they can wistfully muse over the meaning of Lorelei, but when the dust settles it’s still a waste dump.
It started with contamination from Standard Oil in the early 1900’s, and continued with household trash and industrial waste. Bottom line, is that landfill potentially contains everything from oil, solvents, poisons, dioxins, pcb’s, and chemicals to heavy metals like lead and mercury. There’s no telling what’s buried there.
Now, you may honestly believe that a permitting office will stop development if it’s considered unsafe, but that’s a foolish and naive belief. Why would I say that? lol at history, or look at current affairs.
You’re too young to remember Love Canal. Over 20 tons of chemical waste was dumped and buried in the canal in the 40’s and 50’s. The local government and school board built two schools there knowing what was present underground, th
I understand that the potential is there but if our government screws it up then they should take the blame. Elect somebody who is more environmentally responsible. Don’t assume that there is potential for a leak and cry for a stop of all development. Demand that your government gives evidence that they are handling it appropriately.
First, Most, Biggest
Hey Great White,
I’m a college student at Charleston Southern Studying Natural Sciences. I grew up in a Family that Owns a PVC pipe company. So I know the value of developments. I was also raised to appreciate the outdoors and value the land that we have on this earth. I’ve always had a respect for both sides of the issue but I’ve also noticed it seems that once side sacrifices more than the other because of the concern for money.
I agree with pretty much all of the points of view on this forum However being born and raised in Charleston, with my family crest/heritage going back multiple generations being a true native going as far back as the early 1700’s, even being related to William Rhett (2nd cousin, William Rhett captured Steve Bonnet if you are not familiar local history, a pirate). It’s very sad to see Charleston slowly losing it’s exquisite and elegant beauty. I have been fishing and hunting all my life. For those of you that are relatively new to Charleston ( 20 yrs or less ), you will never get to experience the real unforgettable beautiful scenery of our water’s and hunting lands. Hurricane Hugo changed everything in Charleston, once the builders came in, they never left… How many of you remember, up the Wando, “Cow Patty Creek”, not a single house, dock, just good fishing and fun, not any more. Or when people used to actually party on the barge (not a good idea now) in Nowell Creek. When Mt Pleasant was actually pleasant to live in? The old K-Mart was the end, nothing but woods and one gas station in McClellanvile between Mt P and the **** hole called Georgetown. The landscape and the waterway has changed drastically in last 10-15yrs, more than anyone of us would like. Look at Bee’s Ferry Rd for example, all of that used to be hunting lands and (**() good one’s too. Glenn McConnell Parkway, wood’s and hunting land, that entire area south of hyw 61. I could go on and on… Really in truly the building needs to stop or at least put on a 5-10yr hold. I’ve seen enough change in Charleston and surrounding area… And it’s not been for the Better…
How about this. You can fill 50 acres on the Cooper for a port, ruin Ralston, Nowell, and Beresford with development. However, you can’t get a boat landing on the Cooper that would be usable at all stages of the tide. As a matter of fact. Berkeley, and Charleston county elected officials don’t want to hear about it. They claim the harbor pilot’s control the river, when it comes to boat landings. Get on the phone and burn some ears about this. We have waited too long for a boat landing.
Cooper river marina is being decommissioned. I imagine so that port terminal will be expanded
There was property on Dorchester Road owned by the county for a boat landing but it was apparently too close to Magnolia Gardens and all the other plantations. They raised cane, so no boat ramp was built.
Heard all of this 2nd hand but a good source nonetheless.
“mr keys”