EV battery component maker Redwood Materials has just broke ground on their massive new $3.5 billion plant at the new Battery Materials Campus, situated in the Camp Hall Commerce Park in northern Berkeley County. The company’s new anode recycling and battery component manufacturing facility will span over 600 acres.
The company’s $3.5 billion investment, marks the largest economic development announcement in the history of South Carolina, and is expected to create 1,500 new jobs.
Founded in 2017, Redwood Materials stands out as the world’s first company to recycle used electric vehicle batteries and other battery types. It extracts vital components from these batteries, which are currently sourced exclusively from Asia, and supplies them to car manufacturers for use in new electric vehicle batteries.
The tiny town in northwest Dorchester County might be getting some new next-door neighbors, and more, in one residential influx than it has ever seen before.
If approved by the county, a “cluster” housing development proposed by the D.R. Horton, a national builder, would bring more than 330 new homes and a new zoning designation for roughly 300 rural acres near the “Town of Friendly People.”
While the development would land on Sugar Hill Road outside town limits, St. George would provide water to the development while Dorchester County Water and Sewer would provide sewer services, said Kiera Reinertsen, the county’s planning director. The development would also add an estimated 100 students to Dorchester School District Four and draw on services and amenities from St. George’s Fire Station Nine, Davis-Bailey Park and the town’s library.
“We’ve never had this many houses come in at one time since I’ve been here,” said Mayor Kevin Hart, who has lived in the town for 35 years.
“We haven’t had a housing development like this in this area before. There’s no way we can stop them, but we have to make plans. We won’t know it works until we see how it goes,” Hart said. ”… Some want to keep our small-town feeling. It’s a tough battle, and we knew it was coming. You can see the progress coming all way up Highway 78. Harleyville is having the same challenge as St. George.
Described as “America’s largest home builder” on its web site, with operations in 45 markets nationwide and 1 million homes constructed since its inception in 1978, D.R. Horton wants to change zoning for the property for the proposed development from agricultural residential, which allows one-acre home lots, to single family residential (R-1), which reduces lot sizes to a third of an acre.
The cluster concept proposed relies on meeting the greenspace requirement by using that of an old golf club adjacent to the property to be developed. Members of the county’s Planning, Development and Building (PDB) Committee reviewed the request for information only on Jan. 8.
In an R-1 zone, said Reinertsen, there is a requirement that 30 percent of developable acreage be conserved as open space and 20 to 25 percent of that is required to be usable open space.
“Cluster developments allow for smaller lot size but preserve greater areas of open space. I believe that the intent is that a lot of that golf course area or all of it will remain open space. I believe they are looking to develop 338 homes over the next 4 to 5 years,” Reinertsen explained during the committee meeting.
“The services are in place to support a development like this.”
He didn’t disagree with the services available to the development, but PDB chairman and County Councilman David Chinnis took issue with two other factors in the cluster proposal. One point of contention Chinnis raised was the development’s cluster design, which he said not only depends on a housing community having accessible green space nearby, but also that the green space is developable.
“I see some open space that is created as open space because the development possibilities are nearly zero, because of the disconnect from the property. I need to know how they intend to connect it. If they’re getting credit for open space, I expect it to be something that is usable, not just something that is imaginary. Cluster ordinance benefits only really apply if it’s developable green space,” said Chinnis, explaining later to The Post and Courier that the spirit of the county’s cluster development ordinance was to create something similar to community pocket parks.
The benefit to homeowners is green space around their homes, he said, while the benefit to the developer is that it costs less to install utilities when homes are closer together.
D.R. Horton’s proposal still must clear several more bureaucratic hurdles, including a second review by the PDB with a vote, and three readings with votes by the full County Council.
Newcomers to S.C. greatly accelerated during the pandemic years as remote employment took hold and that trend has continued. South Carolina was recently crowned the fastest-growing state in the nation by the U.S. Census Bureau based on percentage growth, adding roughly 90,000 additional residents to the population.
Top 10 States or State Equivalent by Percent Growth: 2022 to 2023
Rank
Geographic Area
April 1, 2020 (Estimates Base)
July 1, 2022
July 1, 2023
Percent Growth
1
South Carolina
5,118,422
5,282,955
5,373,555
1.7
2
Florida
21,538,216
22,245,521
22,610,726
1.6
3
Texas
29,145,459
30,029,848
30,503,301
1.6
4
Idaho
1,839,117
1,938,996
1,964,726
1.3
5
North Carolina
10,439,459
10,695,965
10,835,491
1.3
6
Delaware
989,946
1,019,459
1,031,890
1.2
7
District of Columbia
689,548
670,949
678,972
1.2
8
Tennessee
6,910,786
7,048,976
7,126,489
1.1
9
Utah
3,271,614
3,381,236
3,417,734
1.1
10
Georgia
10,713,771
10,913,150
11,029,227
1.1
This population boom created more demand for housing, but inventory has been constrained, keeping prices afloat and putting pressures on rents.
The population growth is mainly concentrated in larger cities with populations declining in some rural areas. Local governments increasingly engage in managing growth and pursuing affordable housing options for workforce.
Mortgage interest rates have fallen from their peak of nearly 8 percent in 2023, and many financial experts speculate interest rates will continue to moderate. Inventory is expected to rise, and lower interest rates should help make homes more affordable. Whether the rising supply can keep up with demand remains to be seen.
It’s been more than 30 years since the Lowcountry learned the Charleston Naval Base would close, shutting down the tri-county’s largest employer
Three decades later, people are learning what the future has in store for the north end of the former base in what is to be called Battery Park. It’s poised to become North Charleston’s new urban center, with development across the northern base that would connect the Park Circle area to the city’s south end with businesses, entertainment and thousands of new residences
The development scale rivals some of the largest in the greater Charleston area: 3,000 to 4,500 new residences along with a minimum of 825,000 square feet — possibly much more — of commercial space that will include entertainment venues, restaurants, shops and offices.
According to the “master developer” group North Charleston has picked, both the Battery Park and Navy Yard Charleston plans together could create 17,300 construction jobs, 11,900 permanent jobs and $57.4 million in annual tax revenue.
Here’s the proposed schedule for construction, starting next year, according to the developers’ timeline:
2024: Civic Pavilion across Noisette Creek from Riverfront Park, facing a planned “event lawn.” The pavilion would be adapted from what’s known as Building 1601 and “can serve as a public market, event space, entertainment venue and interpretive center,” according to the proposal.
2025: Pavilion completed. Infrastructure, hotel and restaurant, multi-family housing, retail and parking garage construction begin.
2026: Townhouses and second phase of office, multi-family residential, retail and restaurant construction start.
2027: Phase 3 of infrastructure and multi-family housing. From earlier phases, 325 multi-family units and 238,800 square feet of commercial space ready to lease.
2028: Phase 3 of retail and restaurant construction, more multi-family housing start. Another 635 residences ready to lease, and 423,000 additional square feet of commercial space.
2029-30: Remaining multi-family, office, retail and restaurant construction begin. Another 886 homes and 15,000 square feet of commercial to lease.
2031-32: Final 1,102 residential units and 215,000 square feet commercial space to lease.
Over nine years, the project schedule calls for 2,958 new residences and 891,800 square feet of commercial space — assuming North Charleston gets title to the remaining 21 acres of federal land.
Construction at Battery Park could begin next year.
Hewing Farms is a new mungo homes community located in Summerville, SC. adjacent to the master-planned community of Carnes Crossroads right off of Hwy 17-A and only 3 miles from I-26.
The neighborhood offers a variety of community amenities including a cabana, pool, playground, walking trails, oyster shed and putting green.
The homes in Hewing Farms are designed with modern features, spacious layouts. There are two distinct Floorplan collections that contain one and two-story, hardi-plank homes that range from 1,700 to more than 4,330 square feet. Many floorplans feature the primary bedroom on the first floor, and include a designated home office or bonus room.
The community is conveniently located near shopping, dining, and entertainment options and the Hewing Farms schools are; Cane Bay Elementary, Cane Bay Middle, Cane Bay High School, Carolyn Lewis School
Always verify school attendance zones as they can change without notice.
The deserted movie theater located at 2055 Eagle Landing Blvd., within walking distance of Northwoods Mall, in North Charleston is now the future site of the city’s next public affordable housing neighborhood.
The North Charleston Housing Authority recently purchased the 6.5-acre site for $3.85 million. The sale closed in late October.
Jeremy Erling, the housing agency’s executive director, said the group is currently searching for a developer to build “much needed” affordable housing units on the site. Preliminary studies suggested 130 units, but the end count could be higher or lower.
The authority has been on the hunt for a large property since last summer. After a few offers fell through, Erling said that the former theater site was an ideal fit.
The site has been vacant since 2006, when the discount North Charleston Cinema 10 closed. At one time a hotel was planned to be built but it never materialized.
The North Charleston Inclusive Playground, the largest of its kind in the world is designed to be an inclusive haven for people of all ages and abilities, this playground shows dedication from the North Charleston community to promote social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development through play.
The North Charleston Inclusive Playground features elements chosen with great care to ensure the highest level of inclusion. Families will have the opportunity to engage in play that nurtures their motor skills, sensory perception, cognitive abilities, and social and emotional growth. This one-of-a-kind playground exemplifies the spirit of true inclusion and will serve as an inspiring model for communities around the globe.
The newly redeveloped Park Circle boasts a stunning community building, complete with a theater and meeting rooms, where art, culture, and community gatherings will find a new home. An inclusive baseball field stands ready to host games that encourage friendly competition, and a versatile performance and event space is poised to become the stage for countless memorable moments.
Autumn Timber LLC plans to purchase land from Dorchester County
Dorchester County Council has approved tax incentives, a water-service agreement and a land deal to a business that’s proposing to invest $510 million, but the plans for the property or how many jobs it will bring to an industrial park west of Summerville has not been disclosed.
John Truluck, the county’s economic development director, said the company behind Autumn Timber is working through some final “regulatory issues.” He hopes it will be ready to disclose its identity and plans by the end of the month.
Arborgen’s research and development complex below is among the companies in Pine Hill Business Campus, where Autumn Timber LLC plans to purchase land from Dorchester County
“
The tax breaks are among the biggest ever approved for a private business by Dorchester County. They increasingly look to be tailored toward a data center operator, which requires vast amounts of water to cool equipment, but not formally disclosed.
To meet the recommendations outlined in the Comprehensive Plan, the City of Goose Creek is updating the current Zoning and Land Development Ordinance with the following goals in mind:
Modernize the zoning code to reflect the community’s current and future needs, values and aspirations.
Guide the design and development of main streets, neighborhoods and activity centers to support community goals while celebrating the unique character of the neighborhoods and create a sense of place for residents.
Ensure the Goose Creek zoning code is fair, predictable, and accessible.
Public Input is encouraged. The next zoning open houses are listed below
Wednesday, November 8th 11:00am-1:00pm @ City Hall – 519 N. Goose Creek Boulevard
Wednesday, November 8th 5:00pm-7:00 @ City Hall – 519 N. Goose Creek Boulevard
Post and Courier reports Starlight Homes, a division of Ashton Woods Homes, recently paid $5.4 million for 27 acres in the former Wildcat Tract that is now part of the expansive Cane Bay Plantation, off U.S. Highway 176. The seller was HIC Wildcat TH LLC of Miami, which bought the property 21 months ago for $5.07 million.
Starlight’s website shows it has one subdivision in Cane Bay called Pender Woods. The company also is developing homes in Watson Hill in North Charleston off S.C. Highway 61 in Dorchester County, where it also purchased 40 lots for $3.13 million from New York-based Brookfield Holdings LLC.
About 10,000 homes are permitted for the 4,500-acre Cane Bay tract off U.S. Highway 176. The neighboring 2,000-acre Wildcat Tract was bought by Cane Bay developer Gramling Brothers Real Estate & Development in 2016 and will have 5,700 homes at build-out.
Cane Bay has more than 7,000 homes on the ground in the combined tracts, according to a spokeswoman. About half of the planned houses have been built in the developing unincorporated community that will have almost 40,000 residents at full buildout. That’s more than the current population of the city of Spartanburg, the state’s 12th largest municipality, per Post and Courier.
At full buildout, the 6,600-acre Watson Hill tract is slated to have 1,000 houses.
Real Estate Matters in Charleston SC - Gena Glaze 