BEST ADVICE Nick Osborne, Lowcountry Foodbank
PAGE 4 VOLUME 27 NUMBER 12 ■ CHARLESTONBUSINESS.COM
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Reality star opens retail shop on Upper King By Teri Errico Griffis
Marco Polo docks
Post-Panamax behemoth is latest containership to break records along East Coast. Page 8
Shifting north
The Quin office development carves out mixed-use potential in industrial area. Page 12
S
tgriffis@scbiznews.com
tar of Bravo TV’s Southern Charm, Craig Conover knew nearby businesses were hesitant of him opening Sewing Down South, a homegoods store on Upper King Street. Traditionally, the area has been heavily focused on food and beverage busi-
nesses, and nerves were high what kind of traction a reality star would bring to the hometown neighborhood. But John Fosco, owner of CBD Social a few doors down, sees the value in what Conover’s store brings and welcomes the retail shop and its owner — a quirky combination of reality TV star, entrepreneur and lawyer at Mount Pleasant’s Conover Law Firm.
NAVAL LEGACY
On May 15, Conover and his business partners Jerry Casselano and Amanda Latifi opened the doors to their 493 King St. shop, and by proximity, CBD Social recorded its highest day of in-person sales, Fosco said. “The lines were so long all day that whether people got interest at the end of the line or saw See CHARM, Page 6
The $4.3 million renovation of The Admiral’s House at the former Navy base preserves a 116-year-old property that North Charleston considers an economic asset. Page 10-11
Turning a new leaf Lowcountry nonprofit that helps former prisoners find work opening in Midlands. Page 3
Flowertown froth Craft brewing operation acquires location in Summerville. Page 12
INSIDE
Upfront................................. 2 SC Biz News Briefs................. 3 Best Advice........................... 4 In Focus: Architecture, Engineering and Construction................ 13 List: Home Builders.............25 At Work...............................27 Viewpoint............................ 31
Visitors can look through history at the newly renovated Admiral’s House in North Charleston. (Photo/Provided)
CHARLESTON UNDER CONSTRUCTION Who is building what in the Charleston area? Projects, companies, prices, projected timelines, photos and stories. Page 13
Upfront
BRIEFS | FACTS | STATEWIDE NEWS | BEST ADVICE
The politics of population
T
S.C. Population per representative 1910-2020
he first bits of Census data began emerging this year starting with apportionment data for each state. When the U.S. population is counted every 10 years, one of the important aspects of that data is to rebalance the representation of congressional leaders across the U.S. South Carolina won’t be getting another house member this year, according to the data released in April. The last time South Carolina’s population growth warranted the addition of a U.S. House district was in 2010. How the latest Census data relates to the political landscape also gives us an early glimpse into the kind of information we’ll be getting in the coming months and years as the U.S. Census Bureau analyzes and releases more data.
Change in Seats Gained 2 or more Gained 1 No change Lost 1
Political representation in S.C. Going back to 1910, Census data shows how South Carolina’s political landscape changed and shifted with population. Congressional seats, plus two senators, provide the number of electoral votes for each state.
Year 2020 2010 2000 1990 1980 1970 1960 1950 1940 1930 1920 1910
Population per rep. 732,102 633,711 670,844 584,285 519,868 436,220 397,099 352,838 316,634 289,793 240,532 216,486
Congressional seats/Change 7/0 7 / +1 6/0 6/0 6/0 6/0 6/0 6/0 6/0 6 / -1 7/0 7/0
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
ON THE
RECORD
“When other businesses slowed down or closed or modified their hours to be less, we made ours more ... We started increasing our number of deliveries and shipments as people weren’t leaving home.” — Cynthia Feldman, owner of Sweetgrass Pharmacy & Compounding in Mount Pleasant
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SC Biz News Briefs
Stokes & Co. President Stephen Stokes, Vice President Allen Hodges and 250 guests attended the ribbon cutting for the CPA firm’s new headquarters. (Photo/Stokes & Co.)
UPSTATE
Avison Young - South Carolina, Inc.
GSA Business Report
CPA firm relocates Greenville headquarters Greenville’s Stokes & Co., a CPA firm specializing in monthly accounting and advisory services for businesses, cut the ribbon on a new office at 108 Frederick St. U.S. Rep. William Timmons, who was among dignitaries attending the event, said that the 4th Congressional District has “all the right ingredients for successful businesses.” Greenville City Council member Russell Stall, Greenville Chamber representatives and 250 guests attended the ribbon cutting, according to a company announcement. “We are privileged to serve this community, hundreds of small business and nonprofits, helping them with their accounting and tax needs,” President Stephen Stokes said in the release. “We are grateful for our growth, but it’s not the building that makes us what we are; it’s our people. We look forward to continuing to grow with them.” Stokes & Co. CPAs also serve clients from offices in Gaffney, Spartanburg and Tryon, N.C.
MIDLANDS
A global commercial real estate partner, powered by people, that puts you first. Get in touch 843 725 7200 avisonyoung.com
2021 | SOUTH CAROLINA
MANUFACTURING CONFERENCE AND EXPO
Columbia Regional Business Report
Turning Leaf to open Columbia office
SAVE THE DATE: NOV. 10 - NOV. 12
Turning Leaf, a North Charleston-based nonprofit that provides services to men released from prison, is opening a new center in Columbia. The organization combines behavioral therapy, one-on-one counseling, on-site transitional employment and job placement to aid with re-entry and reduce recidivism. Turning Leaf works with men most at risk for re-arrest in an effort to decrease the 67% of people re-arrested within three years of release nationwide, according to its website, and has a 78% success rate. The organization is accepting applications for a program manager, classroom facilitator and peer specialist in its new Columbia office. Founded in 2011, Turning Leaf features an in-house screen printing business that offers program participants a chance to apply the knowledge obtained in three hours of daily group therapy. Participants also have weekly meetings with case managers and are placed in permanent jobs that provide livable wages, benefits and growth opportunities, according to the website. Founder Amy Barch taught a volunteer class in the Charleston County jail on making good decisions before devoting her full-time effort to Turning Leaf in 2012. The organization is the midst of a three-year, $3.2 million philanthropic campaign. VOLUME 14 NUMBER 8 ■ COLUMBIABUSINESSREPORT.COM
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Special Focus: Cayce/West Columbia Growth Report, pages 16-21 People mingle on State Street in West Columbia during Art on State, an event showcasing local businesses, earlier this month. (Photo/City of West Columbia)
Best of the best
Chapin High English teacher named S.C’s top educator. Page 2
Spring 2021
A big boost
Midlands Gives sees record $3.34 million in donations. Page 4
Moving right along Brewery, medical school back on track at BullStreet. Page 8
Capturing history
Columbia artist’s mural pays homage to Black Wall Street. Page 10
INSIDE
Upfront ................................ 2 SC Biz News Briefs ................ 4 In Focus: Cayce/West Columbia growth report ..... 16 List: Urgent Care Centers ... 15 At Work ..............................22 Viewpoint ...........................23
GROWTH SPURT Melinda Waldrop
T
mwaldrop@scbiznews.com
wo bridges span the Congaree River, connecting Richland and Lexington counties while separating downtown Columbia from a pair of rapidly growing cities forging identities beyond state capital suburbs. Cayce and West Columbia each take advantage of that river, ringing it with business and art districts. Each strive to create a welcoming atmosphere for residents and workers alike,
Driving toward the future
Cayce, West Columbia drawing attention across river
with an emphasis on helping people and providing easy access to government services. Each city is also home to two powerful female leaders. Elise Partin’s ability to form alliances has led to a downtown revitalization during her 13 years as Cayce mayor, while Nephron CEO Lou Kennedy’s energetic focus has made the pharmaceutical company an industry leader and top job creator. The women share a love for their communities and a dedication to improving daily life for those who call those places home. “Lou is a plow-ahead, charge-forward,
S.C. automakers push tech advancements, electric power
do-what-needs-to-be-done, impatient-in-allthe-right-ways leader,” said Meghan Hickman, executive director of nonprofit economic development organization EngenuitySC who has worked extensively with both women on initiatives to improve the Midlands’ competitiveness and livability. “Mayor Partin is a diplomat, and she is all about investing in the relationships and spending time in building the foundation.” In this issue, the Columbia Regional Business Report takes a closer look at what makes each woman and each city successful.
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Hometown impact
Nephron CEO Lou Kennedy takes pride in bringing jobs, development to Lexington County. Page 17
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LOWCOUNTRY NEWSROOM Executive Editor - Andy Owens aowens@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3142
June 14 - 27, 2021
Best Advice
NICK OSBORNE
LOWCOUNTRY FOOD BANK, PRESIDENT AND CEO
Editor, Custom Publishing Division Steve McDaniel smcdaniel@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3123
FINANCIAL BEACON
Staff Writer - Teri Errico Griffis tgriffis@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3144
realized that if this was the career path he was going to follow, he would
Research Specialist - Paige Wills pwills@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3125
made him question his entire trajectory.
After studying civil engineering in the United Kingdom, Nick Osborne likely end up becoming a small cog in a very big wheel. The thought
News coverage on the Ethiopian famine in 1984 then stirred a strong
News Editor - Alexandria Ng ang@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3124
desire in Osborne to step up and do something that could help those
Research Assistant - Anne Puckett apuckett@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3145
in developing countries facing hunger and food insecurity. As a result,
MIDLANDS NEWSROOM
Zambia in 1989 — working for CARE with smallholder famers to improve
Editor - Melinda Waldrop mwaldrop@scbiznews.com • 803.726.7542
years, the project and communities Osborne worked alongside taught
he took on a role as a volunteer on a project in the rural Copperbelt of their agricultural productivity and food security. Over the next seven him lessons that he looks back on and draws from to this day.
UPSTATE NEWSROOM Editor - Ross Norton rnorton@scbiznews.com • 864.720.1222
He said that experience cemented his commitment to a career in the
Associate Editor, Custom Publishing Division Jim Tatum jtatum@scbiznews.com • 864.720.2269
nonprofit organization. For the next 25 years, Osborne worked in 40
international development field and led him to join a large international countries throughout the world, addressing the many issues associated with the underlying causes of poverty and food insecurity.
Staff Writer - Molly Hulsey mhulsey@scbiznews.com • 864.720.1223
His different roles included setting up a new operational presence in
LOWCOUNTRY ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
Malawi; leading a program in Sri Lanka shortly after the Asian tsunami
Account Executive Thomas J. Giovanniello, Jr. tomg@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3104
and during the ethnic conflict; and overseeing programs in countries
THE BEST ADVICE I’VE EVER RECEIVED
such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Philippines and Nepal. In 2013, Osborne moved to Atlanta to take up a global operations
“When I first started my career, a partner in the company advised me that whenever someone asks, ‘How long do you think that South Carolina’s Media Engine for Economic Growth
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will take?’ you should think of the answer and double it. That way opposed to promising to finish quicker but ultimately failing to
Bank, which in some respects has taken me full circle to some of my
deliver on time.”
earlier experiences,” he said, “but in doing so, offers me the amazing opportunity to apply some of my international development experiences
INTERESTING FACT
and lessons to addressing the many challenges and issues associated
Nick has had the opportunity to visit 64 different countries.
with ending hunger and food insecurity across the coastal communities of South Carolina.”
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if you complete something earlier, everyone will be happy, as
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position within CARE that entailed overseeing international programs
Charleston Regional Business Journal (USPS 18822) is published biweekly, 27 times per year, including one special issue in February, by SC Biz News. 1802 Dayton St, Suite 101, North Charleston, SC 29405. Periodicals postage paid at Charleston, SC. Mailing address: 1802 Dayton Street, Suite 101, North Charleston, SC 29405. Postmaster: Send address changes to: Subscription Services PO Box 1051 Williamsport, PA 17703-9940
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June 14 - 27, 2021
Craig Conover (center), one of the stars of Southern Charm, took time during a busy day at his King Street retail shop to sign autographs and take photos with customers. The company has partnered with local businesses to open the retail shop, Sewing Down South. (Photo/Teri Errico Griffis)
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us when they were standing in line and stopped by after, they came to our store,” Fosco said. “We typically do online sales, but from a walk-in standpoint, I’m pretty sure that was our biggest day ever.” Fosco calls Sewing Down South a perfect combination of a tourist destination bringing people to a specific area, and then by proxy benefitting neighbors. “I think it’s great that there’s a place where they can see someone they associate with the city that they admire, who’s leveraging their name and brand to put out a quality product,” Fosco said. Sewing Down South built a business on custom pillows, inspired by the reality star’s own hand-sewn creations. But customers can visit the store to also pick up candles, apparel, home décor, baby gear and more. Conover describes the products as high quality without pricing out his customer-base. Down the line, Conover sees further collaboration of new products with area businesses, creating custom goods, such as kitchen aprons and spatulas for nearby restaurant Raw 167 and leather goods with neighboring company J. Stark. Eight family-owned companies in South Carolina combine to create the company’s signature pillows, including making zippers, sewing fabric and assisting with designs. There’s a porch swing by Pops Porch Bed Swing that serves as the main window display. Local décor was supplied by vendors at Mount Pleasant Mall. Wood installs were provided by Renatus Reclaimed Wood, and Lowcountry Exterior Painting helped brighten the space.
Your future isn’t always what it seams
Sewing Down South was two years in the making. Conover initially launched
an ecommerce site as an April fool’s joke, but with the business’s growing popularity and a huge following that’s amassed 65,000 followers a week for its affiliated podcast Pillows and Beer, he and his team felt it was time to think brick and mortar. Conover never imagined his first home goods store would be a 2,000-square-foot window-front on Charleston’s Upper King Street, however. He especially didn’t expect it to happen in the middle of a global pandemic. But Conover was determined to follow through, especially in the face of those who doubted him. “We want to prove that retail is not dead,” he said. For 10 hours before he opened the doors of 493 King St., a line of shoppers stretched along Upper King the store’s first day. Customer traffic hasn’t abated with shoppers and reality TV fans rotating in and out from open until close, snapping selfies of themselves, and hoping to catch a glimpse of Conover. “We’ve done great with ecommerce, but I just want to show that shopping can still be fun and experiential,” Conover said. “I want to make sure that instead of just ordering online, if you are able to, you can go to a store, you can see and feel the items.” Conover said his love of the craft of sewing dates back to eighth grade. He took a home economics class and spent half the year learning how to cook and the other half to sew. Conover developed a talent with a needle and thread immediately. “Those classes meant a lot to me,” he said. “Sewing is a dying thing now, and it’s a shame there isn’t that curriculum in a lot of schools today.” Though he didn’t dabble much in the hobby for the next decade or two, a break-
up a few years back left Conover desperate for a creative outlet, and he took up the hobby again. Pillows have a simple shape so he tried his hand at making one. He surprised himself how good it came out. Conover made a few more pillows and strategically placed them in the background of an Instagram post, gauging if anyone would pick up on his handmade crafts — or even like them. He received a ton of positive feedback and that was all he needed to pursue the passion further. That includes an exclusive line for Home Shopping Network, a national Pillow Party tour and speaking opportunities that have brought him to national outlets as well as local schools. This spring, he spent a day at East Cooper Center for Advanced Studies in Mount Pleasant, discussing his rather unexpected career with students. “Any sort of encouragement we can do, whether it’s helping someone who has a side hustle or doing something that’s not necessarily cool, I want to give back as much as I can,” Conover said. “We’re trying to illustrate that it is cool to do this stuff and step outside of your comfort.” The entrepreneur understands his career could have been extremely different. Not long ago, he was heartbroken with three years of law school under his belt and no diploma. But he motivated students to pursue their passions, especially off a computer screen, and embrace any tragedies along the way. After all, the bumps in the road led him to opening his dream store in his dream location and being happier than ever. “There’s bad stuff that’s going to happen with you in life, but hopefully if you keep plugging along you end up in a really good place,” Conover said. CRBJ
Reach Teri Errico Griffis at 843-849-3144.
June 14 - 27, 2021
www.charlestonbusiness.com 7
Announcing the Release of the 2019-2021 Accomplishment Report from Healthy Tri-County Dear Community, Healthy Tri-County (HTC) is committed to the region’s health improvement, even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Focused on health equity, HTC members are taking the recommended steps outlined in the Tri-County Health Improvement Plan (TCHIP). In this inaugural Accomplishment Report, we share some of the achievements reached through April 2021. TRI-COUNTY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PLAN
TRI-COUNTY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PLAN
Key Highlights • Increased participation in the Community Health Needs Assessment from nearly 1,500 surveys in 2016 to over 5,300 in 2019 for enhanced data collection. • Launched online, in May 2020, the Healthy Tri-County Community Resource Hub targeting the needs of the underserved in the region. Since the launch, there were 1,249 views on HTC website with 25% of traffic onto the Hub.
PRIORITIZED HEALTH TOPICS
PRIORITIZED HEALTH TOPICS
INFUSED IN ALL TOPICS
INFUSED IN ALL TOPICS
Access to Care
Access to Care
Behavioral Health
Behavioral Health
Clinical Preventive Services
Clinical Preventive Services
Obesity, Maternal, Nutrition & Infant & Physical Child Health Obesity, Maternal, Activity
Infant & Child Health
Nutrition & Physical Activity
• Between January 2019 to May 2021, Roper St. Francis Healthcare hosted 26 Medication Take Back events and collected 1,617 pounds of medication.
Social Determinants
• Hosted in September 2020 the Tri-County “Power
Health Equity
to Prevent” webinar presenting best practices
Social Determinants To read the entire
Health Equity publication, scan the QR code or go to,
www.healthytricounty.com/ tri-county-health-improvement-plan
and strategies to improve immunization rates with 50 participants in attendance. • Secured two streams of funding in 2019 and 2020 for expansion of National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) and increased the pool of lifestyle coaches to 4 Master Trainers and 19 National Diabetes Prevention Program lifestyle coaches.
These accomplishments are possible BECAUSE OF YOU … our community, more than 75 organizations and more than 1,000 individuals leading the work. Special thanks to the Core Partners of Healthy Tri-County
Visit HealthyTriCounty.com and get engaged in this important work.
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June 14 - 27, 2021
Massive ship moors at Port of Charleston, sets East Coast records By Teri Errico Griffis
S
The CMA CGM Marco Polo sails into Charleston Harbor to dock at the Wando Welch Terminal in Mount Pleasant on May 28. (Photo/Teri Errico Griffis)
tgriffis@scbiznews.com
outh Carolina welcomed another post-Panamax containership late last month, setting another record for a massive cargo-carrying vessel at the Port of Charleston. Gov. Henry McMaster, U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., and CMA CGP America President Ed Aldridge, were among those gathered to see the CMA CGM Marco Polo dock at the Wando Welch Terminal on May 28. The ship carried 16,022 TEUs — an industry measurement equivalent to a 20-foot container — and set several big ship records along the U.S. East Coast in 11 days. First docking in Halifax, Canada, the Marco Polo sailed south to ports in New York and New Jersey, Virginia and Savannah before making a final U.S. stop at the Port of Charleston. Representatives from companies such as Walmart, Amazon and Ingevity gathered with Berkeley County leaders. Global freight forwarder DT Project mingled in a group with the CEO of Unipet, Inc., a distributor and exporter of raw cotton from Huntersville, N.C. Samsung interns snapped selfies with managers. “A big ship, very indirectly, creates
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June 14 - 27, 2021
jobs,” said Micah Mallace, senior vice presdient of marketing and sales for the SCPA. “The investments that we make, the growth of our port, it creates jobs, further investment in our state, a better tax base. ... Maybe I’m overly optimistic, but I look at this response and think maybe people do see the correlation.” The ship arrives less than a year after the Ports Authority strongly leaned into importing and exporting retail goods, Mallace said. The ship also comes at a time when port capacity is stretched to all-time rates and supply chains are being disrupted globally. For SCPA customers actually to see their products and containers unloaded is meaningful, Mallace said, and it couldn’t have happened without a nearly $2 billion investment in infrastructure and harbor deepening over the last decade. “All of that allows us to handle a ship like this, and to tell companies yes, we can handle your business today. We can also handle your business for the next 10, 15 years,” Mallace said. For Aldridge, every container on the Marco Polo represented a customer. “At the end of the day, our importers, exporters and thousands of consumers are all depending on South Carolina ports and the CMA CGM group to provide a personalized and differentiated level of service,” he said. “Together, CMA and the S.C. Ports must focus on remaining flexible and agile so our customers in this very, very important region can continue to grow and prosper for many more years to come.” Though the Marco Polo docked up and down the East Coast, Aldridge only stopped at Charleston. Mallace expects to see ships upward of 18,000 and 19,000 TEUs reach Charleston possibly as early as next year. “We’ve seen this unbelievable growth in the Southeast, as well as just in South Carolina and Charleston,” he said. “In our industry, that growth is substantiated by containerships carrying more cargo.” Mace said the ship’s massive size showed the importance of dredging the Charleston Harbor and continuing to be competitive along the Eastern Seaboard. “Even right now with the challenges we have in the supply chain, we have Trident Technical College that is going to open their own CDL truck driving certification school this summer in July,” Mace said. “We are just doing everything right in Charleston and here in South Carolina.” SCPA COO Barbara Melvin said in a statement that the ship’s arrival has created a source of pride for the maritime community. “The arrival of this record-breaking vessel highlights the importance of our infrastructure projects, which require great foresight and significant investment to deliver the capacity and capabilities our customers require,” she said. “Our efforts
www.charlestonbusiness.com 9
“We are just doing everything right in Charleston and here in South Carolina.” U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace
ensure South Carolina remains a top 10 U.S. container port, in support of South Carolina’s economy.” Reach Teri Errico Griffis at 843-849-3144.
U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace talks about the importance of the distribution and logistics sector under the mooring lines of the CMA CGM Marco Polo, the largest containership to traverse the East Coast. (Photo/Teri Errico Griffis)
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June 14 - 27, 2021
Admiral’s House renovation preserves architectural legacy of naval base By Jenny Peterson
A
Contributing Writer
quarter of a century ago, on a winding road off of McMillan Avenue, one of the most critical military operations on the East Coast was led by an admiral who lived on a hill overlooking the Cooper River in North Charleston. The Admiral’s House, or “Quarters A,” was built in 1905 for $12,000 on one of the base’s highest points, originally a two-and-a-half-story mansion with three chimneys and two verandas for the admiral and family members. North Charleston recently revealed a full-scale rehabilitation of the house, a neo-classical mansion on the former Charleston Naval Base. The home was shuttered in 1996, when the naval base closed, and has not been used for 24 years. Until now. After a three-year, $4.3 million renovation, The Admiral’s House has been restored back to its former glory, with five bedrooms and seven bathrooms, fully-furnished with pieces that reflect its nautical history. The city is hoping it will be a sought-after wedding venue and event space. “This venue is absolutely magical, and the interior was created and designed by Karrie Britton of iDesign Elements with in-depth research of the admirals and their families that stayed there, showing furnishings that depict travels from all over the world,” said Lisa Reynolds, event coordinator and naval base liaison for the city of North Charleston. The rental rate for events at the
Left: The grand entrance to the 1900s neoclassical house known as “Quarters A” at the former Navy Base has been reimagined into an event venue that the city of North Charleston will own in the coming years. (Photo/North Charleston) Above: While the interior of The Admiral’s House has been given a modern renovation, the design preserves the architecture and cultural aspects of the home’s former purpose, which was to provide a place for the top commander and his family to live. (Photo/North Charleston)
Admiral’s House is $3,500 per day and $5,000 for the venue with overnight accommodation.
The Renovation
The Admiral’s House is a lot different
today than it was two years ago, as contractors were tearing out walls, removing undergrowth, rotten wood, broken windows and reburbishing a home well over a century old that was showing years of neglect. The home today reflects work that presevered the architecture and design of the house with modern improvements, but it took a lot to get there.
The renovation was paid for by the Charleston Naval Complex Redevelopment Authority, an agency established by state lawmakers to acquire the former Charleston Naval Base Complex from the Navy after the base closed. Spratiln & Son Construction from Lincolnton, Ga., was the general contractor on The Admiral’s House project, according to Sean McDonell, operations director with the RDA. Evans & Schmidt Architects of Charleston did the architec-
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tural design and ADC Engineering from Hanahan handled the structural, roofing and building envelope design. Subcontractor Charleston Engineering completed the electrical, plumbing mechanical and fire protection design. The renovation kept many of the original features and architectural details of The Admiral’s House intact. A commercial kitchen was added along with an elevator for access. Furniture in all living areas and bedrooms were chosen to reflect the style of the time period, and admiral seals are included on some of the furniture. The Admiral’s House is the latest renovation by the RDA that brings a new purpose to the buildings on the former navy base. Four buildings are now restored and available as venue rentals — three officers’quarters and the Eternal Father of the Sea Chapel, which served as a non-denominational chapel for sailors and their families. All are located within walking distance to the city’s Riverfront Park, which was a focal point for revitalization of the Navy base property several years ago. “The city looks at the venues on the Navy Base Charleston with options of combined uses and as a one-stop for events,” Reynolds said. “There are lots of great options for wedding ceremonies and receptions, business retreats and concerts and festivals.” Many buildings on the former naval base are listed on the National Register of
The staircase in The Admiral’s House in 2019 while the renovation was well underway. (Photo/Charleston Naval Complex Redevelopment Authority)
Historic Places under a “Charleston Navy Yard Officers’ Quarters Historic District” designation. The city will be using The Admiral’s Housing in partnership with the RDA for one year, and then the property will be transferred to the city, said North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey. “It’s a good deal for us here in the
City of North Charleston,” Summey said. “They have spent the money; we inherit the buildings, and they help pay for it in the form of state revenues that have come in.” Summey said he’s glad The Admiral’s House renovation includes historic touches that bring the naval base’s past to life. A historic mural of the Charleston
Harbor is painted on a large wall on the inside of the home. “It was important for me and to council that we preserve the heritage of the naval base,” said Summey. “We now have a historical section where people just want to come and view the beauty of what we have. A lot of people never got to come on the naval base when it was open and now it’s a beautiful scenario of a park and an operation of a business. This is an opportunity for us to look at the heritage of North Charleston and preserve it.” The new purpose for The Admiral’s House as an event space could also be a boost to the city’s economy. Large gatherings bring in revenue for many vendors and the hospitality industry. While many weddings were postponed or downsized during the pandemic, a surge is expected as more people become vaccinated and the multi-billion-dollar industry reemerges. Average weddings cost $26,751 in the Charleston MSA, according to data from the Charleston Regional Business Journal’s Market Facts in 2019. That represented more than $154 million to the local economy. “We can use it as a function space for citizens of North Charleston, and people who are not from North Charleston, to create revenue and be something we can all be very, very proud of,” Summey said.
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June 14 - 27, 2021
Frothy Beard acquires location in Summerville By Teri Errico Griffis
F
tgriffis@scbiznews.com
rothy Beard Brewing Co. is expanding to a second location in the Lowcountry. The partners have acquired Homegrown Brewhouse in Summerville’s popular Hutchinson Square and will convert it to a second location, projected to be open sometime mid-June. “The location is great in Summerville, right on the square, and it has a lot of visibility, a lot of parking and is aready set up for what we do as far as serving beer,” owner Michael Biondi said. The space needs a little bit of updating, which will happen mostly out of sight of customers, Biondi said. Homegrown will continue operating as is until the renovations are complete. Frothy Beard launched its flagship operations in West Ashley in 2013, at the corner of the Publix shopping center on Sam Rittenburg Boulevard. The second location will feature a kitchen, allowing Frothy Beard to serve meals, including lunch Friday through Sunday, dinner seven days a week and brunch on Sundays. The second location will also brew small batch beers that will rotate with the flagship.
Frothy Beard Brewing Co. is moving into the Homegrown Brewhouse location on Main Street in Summerville across from Hutchinson Square. (Photo/Andy Owens)
Biondi said the Summerville was appealing for its community and the great businesses throughout the square that Frothy Beard could potentially partner with. “Summerville has grown like crazy, and there’s so much going on, whether it’s Nexton or further down the road with the
Volvo plant,” Biondi said. The location is also far enough away that it won’t take away from West Ashley business. “It’s really exciting and this is something we’ve thought about for a long time how we want to model things within
our business,” Biondi said. “We love the taproom atmosphere, having events and reaching people in this way. To be able to do that in different communities will be lots of fun for us.” CRBJ
Reach Teri Errico Griffis at 843-849-3144.
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Creating commercial critical mass The Quin development adds acres of office space to Upper Peninsula
CHARLESTON UNDER
CONSTRUCTION Construction, engineering and architectural firms are working
hard in Charleston. Thank you to everyone who submitted projects and photos for this section. Feature your project in the next edition of Charleston Under Construction. The submission deadline is July 23 for the next edition. Submit projects to tinyurl.com/CUCsubmit. Emailed
submissions are no longer The Quin, a 117,000-square-foot office space recently opened on the Upper Peninsula, where developers expect further growth from residents, workers and mixed-use businesses. (Photo/Provided)
By Teri Errico Griffis
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ioneering into an up-and-coming area can lead to many a sleepless night for developers, wondering if the people will come, buy, lease. But Jay Levell, co-founder of White Point, said the company’s hunches have been pretty spot-on so far. The Charlotte-based developer expanded into the Charleston market in 2015 with the acquisition of industrial land on the Upper Peninsula submarket. Since then, White Point has wrapped two Lowcountry projects, including, most recently, The Quin. The 117,000-squarefoot office space at the corner of Meeting Street and Algonquin Street overlooks the Ravenel Bridge and Magnolia Cemetery. “There’s no question that the center of gravity is shifting north, or northeast, from the peninsula to the Upper Peninsula,” Levell said. Decades ago, the area north of Interstate 26 up North Morrison Drive was barren and run-down, but today it’s alive with developments of craft breweries, restaurants and multi-family residences. All the area is missing is more office space to accommodate those moving into the region and Levell hopes to provide a solution with White Point’s newest development.
The Quin offers five stories of Class-A office development on a 4.6-acre parcel adjacent to the new U.S. Foods Chef ’store. Unlike other developers who get in, execute a project and move on to the next venture, Levell said White Point is focused long-term on its Charleston developments. The company simultaneously manages projects that build off each other. “We create more of an amenity space,” Levell said. “If we’re creating something on two acres, we want to own six in order to tie it all together and make more sense.” White Point kicked off its Lowcountry plans with Foundry Point, a multi-family housing development at 1000 Morrison Drive. Two years in the making, the development of more than 500 apartments was completed in 2020 and is now lease up, along with The Quin. In April of the same year, White Point also acquired the Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. on Algonquin Road. “It’s all about creating more critical mass… You already have a pretty heavy critical mass there with a couple breweries, Munkle, Fatty’s and our project,” Levell said. “So that area’s going to be more of a destination now than rather just being a one-off.” The Pepsi distribution plant spans 5.6 acres and includes a 56,000 squarefoot-building. Plans call for a campus of apartments, office and food and bev-
erage establishments with rooftop patios. Development will begin when Pepsi vacates the site. By expanding into the Upper Peninsula, White Point’s team said their developments can avoid some of the pitfalls of downtown living: congestion, tourism, street grids that are hard to navigate and lack of parking. “We purposely sought out a sight that would allow for a parking deck,” Levell said of The Quin. “We could provide structured parking for the office, so that’s huge.” Extra parking will be a particular draw for companies with commuters, Levell said, since the Quin’s central location is easily accessible by U.S. Highway 17 or Interstate 26. The area soon will also be the heart of the Hospitality on Peninsula Park-andRide Lot and transit hub, as well as a stop for the Lowcountry Rapid Transit bus line. “From that perspective, an office here made a lot of sense,” Levell said. The developer credits Stephen Zoukis, a member of Raven Cliff Co. who developed the area’s Pacific Box & Crate and Half Mile North, as inspiration. Zoukis showed the tenant demand for this area, and White Point is now following in his footsteps, Levell said. See QUIN, Page 15
accepted.
Coastal Fertility Specialist - Nexton 342 Brighton Park Blvd., Summerville Architect: Rush Dixon Architects, Mount Pleasant General contractor: Harbor Contracting, Mount Pleasant Project description: This recently completed project in Nexton includes the Coastal Fertility business, as well as cold, dark shell future tenant space.
BTM Machinery Business Park Road, Summerville See CUC, Page 14
NEXT ISSUE’S FOCUS: Transportation and Infrastructure
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June 14 - 27, 2021
Sponsored
Lowcountry Endoscopy Center 207 McBride Lane, Summerville Developer/owner: Charleston GI Real Estate Holdings, Charleston Architect: Stubbs Muldrow Herin Architects, Mount Pleasant General contractor: M. B. Kahn Construction, Charleston Estimated completion date: Spring 2021 Project description: This 13,000-square-foot center on two acres is the first free-standing endoscopy center owned and operated by independent, board-certified gastroenterologists in Berkeley County. The interior includes locally sourced and reclaimed materials, such as barnwood. This contrasts with the use of stainless steel and other medical grade finishes throughout. The construction is slab-on-grade and includes exposed beams and barn-doorlook finishes.
CUC, from Page 13
General contractor: Harbor Contracting, Mount Pleasant Estimated completion date: October 2021 Project description: This project includes 12,000 square feet of shop area with about 4,000 square feet of office space for BTM Machinery operations.
Wild Dunes Village Facade Modifications 5802 Palm Blvd., Isle of Palms Developer/owner: Lowe Real Estate, Los Angeles Architect: LS3P Associates Ltd., Charleston General contractor: Mashburn Construction Co., Charleston Engineers: Designworks, Charleston (landscape); Earthsource, Mount Pleasant (civil); Buford Goff & Associates, Columbia (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) Estimated completion date: Summer 2021 Project description: This project is a 17,000-square-foot exterior renovation to the existing Wild Dunes oceanfront resort. The scope of work includes painting the existing buildings, installing awnings and replacing the existing storefront, as well as masonry, lighting and waterproofing.
Bender Street Park 1071 Bender St., Charleston Developer/owner: Charleston Department of Parks Architect: Liollio Architecture, Charleston General contractor: Mashburn Construction Co., Charleston Engineers: Stantec, North Charleston (civil); 4SE Structural Engineers, Charleston (structural); RMF Engineering, Charleston (mechanical, electrical, plumbing); Charleston Engineering, Charleston (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) Estimated completion date: February 2022 Project description: This project consists of a new waterfront park at the end of Bender Street in West Ashley. The scope of work includes construction of a new 5,707-square-foot multipurpose building, along with restrooms, an open-air pavilion, decking, a pervious path, a playground and parking. It also includes grading, drainage, utilities, hardscape, landscaping, site lighting, irrigation and signage for a new City of Charleston park overlooking the Ashley River.
New Middle School for Dorchester School District 2 1011 Beech Hill Road, Summerville
Developer/owner: Dorchester School District Two, Summerville Architect: SGA NarmourWright Design, Charleston General contractor: Thompson Turner Construction, Sumter Engineer: ADC Engineering, Hanahan (civil, structural); RMF Engineering, Charleston (mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection); Little Diversified Architectural Consulting, Charlotte, N.C. (prototype planning, design consultant) Estimated completion date: August 2022 Estimated total cost of project: $31 million Project description: The new Dorchester District 2 middle school will be about 120,000 square feet and have capacity for 1,000 students. The cafeteria will have a capacity for seating 400 students at a time. The gym will also serve as an auditorium with sporting event seating of 500 on bleachers and performance seating for 1,000. The school is scheduled to open in 2022.
Caroline’s Cottage Okatie Highway, Ridgeland Developer/owner: Friends of Caroline Hospice Inc., Port Royal Architect: LS3P Associates Ltd., Charleston General contractor: M. B. Kahn Construction, Charleston Engineers: Ward Edwards Engineering, Bluffton (civil); ADC Engineering Inc., Charleston (structural); DWG Consulting Engineers, Mount Pleasant (mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection) Estimated completion date: February 2022 Project description: The 18,900-square-foot Caroline’s Cottage will provide hospice care. This will be the area’s first inpatient hospice resource.
June 14 - 27, 2021
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HAMILTON DEVE LO PMEN T
Developers at White Point created an office park in an area of Charleston that had previously been used mostly for industrial operations. (Photo/Provided)
QUIN, from Page 13
“Stephen really started a lot of the migration up here,” Levell said. “And really, once you see a couple of successful concepts like his, you feel pretty good that people are going to want to continue to go there.” Raven Cliff are also capital partners of a number of Upper Peninsula restaurants, including Edmond’s Oast, John Lewis BBQ and the recently shuttered Workshop. The latter was inspired by one of Zoukis’ successful projects in New York City, the famed Chelsea Market. Zoukis left a significant mark on highend real estate in New York. Notable purchases include One Times Square and the Eighth Avenue building that serves as Google’s New York base. When he relocated to the Lowcountry in the 2000s, Zoukis regularly rode his bike from Sullivan’s Island to Park Circle every Sunday, often passing through the Upper Peninsula. The area always caught his attention, and he’d wonder why other than a few houses and metal warehouses, nothing of note was built there. “I would think this neighborhood at Half Mile has a nice urban street grid, and there doesn’t seem to be a lot of people here so you don’t have to displace people to build things here,” Zoukis said. In time, he and his partner, Michael Wooddy, operating under the name Raven Cliff Co., began buying up properties in Half Mile North and finding tenants. The first was a Mercedes-Benz shop. Edmond’s Oast now operates in the building’s former show room. From there, Raven Cliff worked with the tech company BoomTown to solve its office space needs with an open-concept 56,000-square-foot office at Pacific Box & Crate. In January 2017, BoomTown moved in, followed by Phish Labs,
Harbor Entrepreneur Center and CrowdReach. Zoukis always saw the area as an office district, and he believes there’s more to come. “What kind of offices, though, may depend on Magnolia (Project) and Laurel Island,” he said of other area development projects. The canvas is pretty big to work with on the peninsula, Levell said. At The Quin, tenants are already looking to move in, starting with furniture dealer Interior Elements. The company will open an office and showroom, which Levell said will provide a hybrid retail appearance. “We’ve been very fortunate that now, especially with mask mandates and COVID restrictions being lifted, we’re starting to see a lot more activity,” Levell said. The Quin also will have attractions of its own with 5,000 square feet of outdoor recreational space, outdoor seating, ping pong and a putting green that pays homage to the property’s history as part of Belvedere Golf Links. “People love being somewhere and feeling that kind of connection to history, but also a little bit of grittiness. It feels pretty good to be amongst something that’s kind of a rebirth,” Levell said. He expected the mix to attract more residents, workers and developers to the Upper Peninsula area. “We do a lot of adaptive reuse, and you just can’t recreate old buildings and industrial areas. It comes across as too fake if you do,” Lovell said. “To be nestled among it all is pretty positive thing so that you feel like you’re outside of your normal element when you go here. It’s a good juxtaposition.” CRBJ
Reach Teri Errico Griffis at 843-849-3144.
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Summerville Breast Center 77 Springview Lane, Summerville Developer/owner: HCA Healthcare South Atlantic Division, Charleston Architect: Goff D’Antonio Associates, Charleston General contractor: Choate Interiors, Mount Pleasant Engineer: DWG Consulting Engineers, Mount Pleasant (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) Estimated completion date: Summer 2021 Project description: This project includes a 4,800-square-foot interior renovation of the Summerville Breast Center. The facility provides comprehensive mammography screenings and diagnostics and access to minimally invasive surgical procedures. The upfitted space includes an expanded reception area and waiting lounge, two break rooms, updated restrooms, exam rooms and offices.
Stokes Honda North Renovation & Expansion 8650 Rivers Ave., North Charleston Developer/owner: Stokes Automotive Inc., North Charleston Architect: Rosenblum Coe, Charleston General contractor: Choate Construction, Mount Pleasant Engineer: Live Oak Consultants, North Charleston (civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing) Estimated completion date: October 2021 Project description: This project includes the addition of a 148,620-square-foot four-story precast concrete parking deck, service area, showroom and customer lounge. The renovation of the existing 33,111-square-foot building includes updates to the showroom, sales offices, service area and a new building façade.
June 14 - 27, 2021
CHARLESTON UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Volvo Car Stadium Renovations 161 Seven Farms Drive, Charleston Developer/owner: Beemok Capital, Charleston Architects: Rossetti, Southfield, Mich.; LS3P Associates, Charleston General contractor: Choate Construction, Mount Pleasant Engineers: Seamon Whiteside & Associates, Mount Pleasant (civil); Geiger Engineers, Sufferen, Tenn. (structural); DWG Consulting Engineers, Mount Pleasant (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) Estimated completion date: March 2021 Project description: The project team is currently installing the steel frame for the stage house, as well as conducting the underground electric and plumbing. This 771,000-square-foot entertainment venue will include hospitality suites, concessions, washrooms, vertical circulation expansion and a stage house.
www.charlestonbusiness.com 17
Daniel Island Retail 873 and 877 Island Park Drive, Daniel Island Developer/owner: Lat Purser & Associates, Charlotte Architect: McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture, Charleston General contractor: Choate Construction, Mount Pleasant Engineers: Thomas & Hutton, Mount Pleasant (civil); Citadel Contractors, Apex, N.C. (structural); ECHO Engineering, Mount Pleasant (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) Estimated completion date: Summer 2021 Project description: This project consists of a one-story 3,575-square-foot building and a twostory 20,200-square-foot building on Daniel Island. This new building will provide leasable office space, walking distance from the city’s restaurants, shops, apartments and event venues.
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St. Johns Fire District Kiawah Station No. 4 12 Sora Rail Road, Kiawah Island Developer/owner: Construction Dynamics Inc., Columbia Architect: RosenBlum Coe, Charleston General contractor: Choate Construction, Mount Pleasant Engineers: Thomas & Hutton, Mount Pleasant (civil); 4SE, Charleston (structural); RMF Engineering, Mount Pleasant (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) Estimated completion date: Summer 2021 Project description: Construction is soon to be complete on the single-story fire station on Kiawah. The exterior of the station will consist of a combination of cast-stone masonry, Hardi siding and a complementing standing seam metal roof. The interior will include living quarters, a shower, laundry facilities, a break room with a full kitchen, and a gym for the firemen.
Charleston Southern University - Science and Engineering Building 9200 University Blvd., North Charleston
June 14 - 27, 2021
CHARLESTON UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Architect: Liollio Architecture, Charleston General contractor: Trident Construction, North Charleston Engineers: RMF Engineering, Charleston (mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection); Forsberg Engineering Inc., Charleston (civil), 4SE Inc., Charleston (structural) Estimated completion date: End of June 2021 Estimated total cost of project: $7.825 million Project description: This 18,288-square-foot space will be completed in phases and initially include engineering labs, office space and work rooms. CSU plans to expand the building in future phasing to 28,000 square feet total to provide biology, chemistry and geology labs, a dedicated wing for the engineering and physics program, and additional offices and student lounge space.
Crosspoint II 9015 Sightline Drive, Ladson Developer/owner: Childress Klein Properties, Charlotte Architect: Wagner Murray Architects, Charlotte General contractor: Choate Construction, Mount Pleasant Engineer: HLA Inc., Charleston (civil)
Estimated completion date: July 2021 Project description: This project includes 182,000 square feet of speculative warehouse space to the Palmetto Commerce Park development. Crosspoint II is constructed via tilt-up painted concrete panels and includes a 45-mil thermoplastic polyolefin roof. The warehouse includes 48 bays and one truck court.
Mount Pleasant Endodontics 3070 N. US Highway 17, suite 200, Mount Pleasant Architect: John Gardner, Huger General contractor: Harbor Contracting, Mount Pleasant Project description: This is a 1,600-square-foot upfit for the endodontist practice of Dr. Michael Cotter. This suite is equipped with all new finishes, including some large interior frameless glass elements.
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BBA Pumps 7222 Cross Park Drive, North Charleston Developer/owner: GCB Real Estate and Investments LLC, North Charleston Architect: GJS Architecture, North Charleston General contractor: Pepperdam Construction Co. Inc., North Charleston Engineers: Empire Engineering, North Charleston (civil); Allied Consulting Engineers, Charlotte (mechanical, electrical, plumbing); ADC Engineering, Hanahan (structural) Estimated completion date: July 2021 Estimated total cost of project: $2 million Project description: This project is a 12,000-square-foot warehouse that is custom built for BBA Pumps Inc. The building is expandable and includes a large fenced exterior storage area. The structure is supported by structural steel, and the exterior consists of brick and stucco. The building also includes large storefront windows and a metal door surround.
MUSC Ashley River Tower Cath Labs 10 and 13 equipment replacement 25 Courtenay Drive, Charleston Developer/owner: Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston Architect: Liollio Architecture Inc., Charleston General contractor: Chastain Construction Inc., Charleston Engineers: DWG Consulting Engineers, Mount Pleasant (mechanical, electrical, plumbing); ADC Engineering Specialist, Hanahan (structural); Siemens Medical Solutions USA Inc., Malvern, Penn. (medical equipment) Estimated completion date: June 2021 Estimated total cost of project: $621,924 Project description: This project included the renovation of finishes and updating the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, medical gas and structural to accommodate the replacement of imaging equipment.
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Knapheide Manufacturing Facility 2486 U.S. Highway 52, Moncks Corner Developer/owner: Knapheide Manufacturing, Moncks Corner Architect: LS3P Associates, Charleston General contractor: Choate Construction, Mount Pleasant Engineers: Seamon Whiteside & Associates, Mount Pleasant (civil); PEA Associates, Greenville (structural); Hensley & Goerling, Charleston (mechanical, electrical) Estimated completion date: Summer 2021 Project description: This project consists of a new 55,000-square-foot, tilt-up, concrete, manufacturing facility. The project team recently erected 100% of the tilt-up concrete panels.
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June 14 - 27, 2021
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Eastport Commerce Center Phase 2 104 Pinnacle Way, Summerville Developer/owner: MayRiver Industries, Charleston Architect: LS3P, Charleston General contractor: Choate Construction, Charleston Engineer: HLA Inc., Charleston (civil, landscape) Estimated completion date: January 2022 Project description: Eastport Commerce Center is a 128,000-square-foot multi-tenant Class A industrial-flex building on 11.21 acres. Phase one includes 64,000 square feet and was delivered July 2019 and fully leased as of December 2020. Phase two, which includes an additional 64,000 square feet, is officially under construction as of April 2021, with a delivery date of January 2022. This project includes tilt-up concrete construction, early suppression fast response sprinklers, 30-to-33-foot ceiling heights, multiple docks and drive-ins, and flexible floor plans as small as 8,000 square feet.
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Folly Beach City Hall 21 Center St., Folly Beach Developer/owner: Folly Beach Architect: Cummings & McCrady Inc., Charleston General contractor: J. Musselman Construction Inc., Charleston Engineers: MECA Inc., Columbia; CDDC LLC, Bluffton; Lambert Engineering Company, Mount Pleasant Estimated completion date: Spring 2021 Project description: This project consists of a 9,300-square-foot interior renovation of the Folly Beach City Hall. The scope includes complete interior demolition of both floors, floor plan changes to include new offices, conference rooms, break rooms, bathrooms, council chambers, permit and licensing, and other city offices. Renovations include luxury vinyl tile, ceramic tile, custom casework, bullet resistant glass and walls, new mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, an upgraded thermal envelope and a new generator. Charleston Digital Corridor 997 Morrison Drive, 2nd floor, Charleston Developer/owner: Charleston Digital Corridor, Charleston Architect: McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture LLC, Charleston General contractor: J. Musselman Construction Inc., Charleston Engineer: Barrett Woodyard & Associates, Norcross, Ga. Estimated completion date: April 2021 Project description: This tenant upfit at the Charleston Technical Center includes architectural features such as casework, storefront, doors, frames, hardware, ceilings, paint and flooring. Construction also consists of mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection for this 13,969-square-foot space.
June 14 - 27, 2021
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CHARLESTON UNDER CONSTRUCTION
CTC Family Asset Management 997 Morrison Drive, Suite 401, Charleston Developer/owner: Tarrant Commercial Real Estate, Charleston Architect: McMillan Pazdan Smitch Architecture, Charleston General contractor: J. Musselman Construction Inc., Charleston Engineer: Barret Woodyard & Associates, Norcross, Ga. Estimated completion date: May 2021 Project description: This interior upfit is a specially designed space, which includes casework, doors, frames, hardware, ceilings, flooring and paint, as well as mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection work.
61 State Street | Charleston, SC | Summer 2021
Mashb u r n Co n st r u ct i o n Bui ld in g w ith I nte g rit y
HISTORIC | INDUSTRIAL | OFFICE | RETAIL | HEALTHCARE | K–12 | UPFIT mashburnconstruction.com
BDP International 4401 Leeds Ave., Suite 280, North Charleston Developer/owner: Holder Properties, North Charleston Architect: Nelco Architecture Inc., Alpharetta, Ga. General contractor: J. Musselman Construction Inc., Charleston Engineer: Barret Woodyard & Associates, Norcross, Ga. Estimated completion date: July 2021 Project description: This project consists of a 4,500-square-foot interior renovation on the second floor of the River Oaks Center. The new office space will be occupied by BDP International. The floor plan will include new offices, conference room, open office area and break room. Interior finishes include prefinished cherry doors, carpet tile, luxury vinyl tile, cabinets, countertops, exposed ceilings and linear LED strip lighting. Duckett Hall – The Citadel 171 Moultrie St., Charleston Developer/owner: The Citadel, Charleston Architect: McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture LLC, Charleston General contractor: J. Musselman Construction Inc., Charleston Engineer: DWG Consulting Engineers, Mount Pleasant Estimated completion date: July 2021 Project description: This project consists of a renovation to an existing classroom in Duckett Hall at The Citadel to create a new Anatomage room. Scope of work includes renovations to accommodate Anatomage equipment, student and teacher seating, tables, lab casework and new ceiling and floor finishes.
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June 14 - 27, 2021
CHARLESTON UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Administration, Silver Spring, Md. Architect: Mead & Hunt Architecture Inc., North Charleston General contractor: J. Musselman Construction Inc., Charleston Estimated completion date: Summer 2021 Project description: Construction of the NOAA Hollings Marine Laboratory project includes a 101,024-square-foot upfit. This project renovation will be completed in phases with the relocation of laboratory and office equipment and includes new paint, casework and flooring, among other finishes.
Johns Island Pharmacy 3133 Maybank Highway, Johns Island Developer/owner: DaPore & DaPore LLC, Versailles, Ohio Architect: Cobb Architects, Charleston General contractor: J. Musselman Construction Inc., Charleston Engineers: Earthsource Engineering, Mount Pleasant; Constantine Engineering Associates LLC, Charleston Project description: This project consists of an addition to an existing structure on Johns Island to create a compounding pharmacy. The site work will include supporting parking spaces, sidewalks and drive aisles, along with complete remodeling of the interior to include custom cabinets for the lab and pharmacy, flooring, doors and hardware, and new mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems.
Palmetto Barkley Commerce Park 9581 Palmetto Commerce Parkway, Ladson Developer/owner: Barkley Palmetto Parkway LLC, Charleston Architect: Charles K. Hardin, Architect, Charlotte General contractor: Trident Construction, North Charleston Engineer: HLA Inc., Charleston (civil, landscape architect) Estimated completion date: Spring 2022 Project description: The nearly 13-acre Palmetto Barkley Commerce Park will consist of a two-phased, mixed-use development. Phase 1, currently under construction, includes an 80,000-square-foot Class A industrial space. Phase 2 will include two commercial outparcels for restaurant or retail business use.
NOAA Hollings Marine Coral Lab 331 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston Developer/owner: U.S Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric
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June 14 - 27, 2021
www.charlestonbusiness.com 23
CHARLESTON UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Landscape Architecture CHARLESTON 843.952.7817 WEB REMARKSTUDIOLLC.COM
677 King Street Mixed Use 677 King St., Charleston Developer/owner: Atlantic South Development, Greenville Architect: McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture, Charleston General contractor: Trident Construction, Charleston Engineers: Forsberg Engineering and Surveying Inc., Charleston (civil); Britt, Peters and Associates, Mount Pleasant (structural); Barrett, Woodyard & Associates Inc., Norcross, Ga. (mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection) Estimated completion date: Summer 2021 Estimated total cost of project: $14 million Project description: This project consists of a new five-story, 84,000-square-foot mixed-use building. It includes Class A office and retail space and will add 120 parking spaces, using Charleston’s first Car Matrix mechanical parking system. College of Charleston Housing Fire Safety Upgrades 15 and 17 St. Philip St., Charleston Developer/owner: College of Charleston, Charleston Architect: Rosenblum Coe Architects Inc., Charleston General contractor: Chastain Construction Inc., Charleston Engineer: Constantine Engineering Associates LLC, Charleston Estimated completion date: July 2021 Project description: This projects includes the renovations to the existing two historic buildings to accommodate the installation of a complete NFPA 13-compliant fire sprinkler system and an NFPA-compliant fire alarm. The existing buildings date to 1859-1860.
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Poinsette Senior Care 194 Spring St., Charleston Developer/owner: Liberty Senior Care, Wilmington, N.C.; Hamilton Development, Greenville Architect: McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture, Charleston General contractor: Trident Construction, North Charleston Engineers: Fine Tuned Structures LLC, Summerville (structural); ECHO Engineering LLC, Mount Pleasant (mechanical, electrical, plumbing); Forsberg Engineering, Charleston (civil); Terracon, North Charleston (geotechnical) Estimated completion date: February 2022 Project description: This new 87,000-square-foot five-story building consists of about 100 memory care and assisted living units. The first project of its kind on the peninsula, the building has four residential levels, as well as guest reception, spa, salon, fitness center and theater.
June 14 - 27, 2021
CHARLESTON UNDER CONSTRUCTION
The Opportunity Center 8570 Rivers Ave., North Charleston Developer/owner: Homes of Hope Inc., Greenville Architect: McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture Inc., Charleston General contractor: J. Musselman Construction Inc., Charleston Engineers: Britt Peters and Associates, Mount Pleasant (structural); Epic Inc., Mount Pleasant (mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection) Estimated completion date: October 2021 Estimated total cost of project: $3.4 million Project description: Homes for Hope acquired a now-empty 34,600-square-foot warehouse located on Rivers Avenue to create a headquarters for local nonprofits, a business incubator and a career training facility. Three Charleston-area organizations have partnered to set up the facility: Increasing H.O.P.E., Center for Heirs Property Preservation and S.C. Association for the Community Economic Development. Upon completion, all three local nonprofits will be headquartered here. Additional office spaces will be available to local businesses for rent. Shared amenities include conference rooms, print room, phone booths and a break area. Renovations include a complete redesign of the interior, adding windows, installing wood screens and adding atrium clerestory windows.
The Cooper Hotel 176 Concord St., Charleston Developer/owner: Leucadia Coast Properties LLC, Los Angeles Architects: McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture, Charleston (architect of record); Robert C. Glazier Architects, Santa Barbara, Calif. (design architect) General contractor: BL Harbert International, Birmingham, Ala. Engineers: ADC Engineering, Hanahan (civil, structural); Designworks, Charleston (landscape); Buford Goff & Associates, Columbia (mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection); REI Engineers, Charleston (building envelope) Estimated completion date: Third quarter 2023 Project description: The Cooper Hotel will be a downtown full-service waterfront hotel. The 280,000-square-foot, 225-room hotel overlooks the Cooper River and includes multiple indoor and outdoor dining venues, a full-service spa and fitness center, a rooftop lounge and observation deck, as well as ground-floor retail spaces. The project will extend the River Walk along the Riley Waterfront Park to wrap the east side of the hotel and connect into Concord Street.
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June 14 - 27, 2021
www.charlestonbusiness.com 25
Homebuilders
Ranked by No. of Permits Granted in 2020 Company
Phone / Website / Email
Top Local Official(s) / Year Founded
Lennar Carolinas LLC 1941 Savage Road, Suite 100C Charleston, SC 29407
843-388-8989 www.lennar.com/charleston amy.dooley@lennar.com
Jason Byham, Joe Johnston 1954
Pulte Group 4401 Leeds Ave., Suite 400 Charleston, SC 29405
843-740-7290 www.pulte.com/charleston -
Crescent Homes 572 Savannah Highway Charleston, SC 29407
Permits / Employees
Building Areas
Price Range
1,110 123
Mount Pleasant, West Ashley, Johns Island, James Island, Ladson, Summerville, Goose Creek, Hanahan, Moncks Corner
$287,990 - $869,700
Charlie Tipton 1987
625 95
Mount Pleasant, Johns Island, James Island, Summerville, Daniel Island, Hollywood, West Ashley
$306,000 - $1,200,000
843-573-9635 www.crescenthomes.net info@crescenthomes.net
Edward M. Terry 2009
329 85
Summerville, Mount Pleasant, Charleston, Johns Island
$200,000 - $900,000
Mungo Homes 4465 Tile Drive North Charleston, SC 29405
843-769-6390 www.mungo.com -
2003
257 24
Goose Creek, Johns Island, Moncks Corner, Mount Pleasant
$290,000 - $685,000
Hunter Quinn Homes 852 Lowcountry Blvd., Suite 100A Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
843-277-6226 www.hunterquinnhomes.com info@hunterquinnhomes.com
Will Herring 2010
243 37
Charleston, North Charleston, Goose Creek, Monks Corner, Summerville, Ladson, Santee, Ridgeville, St. George, Manning
$199,000 - $850,000
Dan Ryan Builders 3955 Faber Place, Suite 100 North Charleston, SC 29405
843-820-2505 www.danryanbuilders.com charelstoninfo@danryanbuilders.com
Steven Meassick, Michael Boyle 1990
200 40
Monks Corner, Goose Creek, Summerville, Ladson, North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Ridgeville, Greenville
$235 - $1,000,000
Vasko's Quality Builders 112 W. 9th North St. Summerville, SC 29483
843-851-2133 www.vaskosqualitybuilders.com vaskos@vaskosqualitybuilders.com
Scott A. Vasko 1992
150 10
Tri-county area
$200,000 - $2,000,000
David Weekley Homes 498 Wando Park Blvd., Suite 650 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
843-654-5559 www.davidweekleyhomes.com sakemp@dwhomes.com
Bryan Booth, Sarah Kemp 1996
117 35
Mount Pleasant, Summerville, Charleston, James Island, Folly Beach, Awendaw, Daniel Island, Ravenel, Johns Island
$280,000 - $900,000
Saussy Burbank 730 Coleman Blvd., Suite K Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
843-416-1027 www.saussyburbank.com charleston@saussyburbank.com
Ivie J. Kirk 1990
75 13
Nexton and Kiawah River
$250,000 - $1,000,000
New Leaf Builders LLC 3421 Maybank Highway Johns Island , SC 29455
843--4000280 www.newleafsc.com -
2010
70 25
Lowcountry
$375,000 - $1,500,000
Cline Homes 474 Wando Park Blvd., Suite 106 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
843-849-2929 www.cline-homes.com info@cline-homes.com
Jeff Cline, Stu Cline, Scott Cline 2005
30 12
Daniel Island Park and Edgefield Park, Daniel Island; Riverside at Carolina Park; Awendaw Village
$700,000 - $2,500,000
Manorhouse Builders of South Carolina 215 East Bay St., Suite 504 Charleston, SC 29401
843-377-1312 www.mhbsc.com kimberly@manorhousebuilders.com
Hilton C. Smith III 2004
29 8
North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Beaufort, Port Royal
$290,000 - $1,000,000
Arnett Construction 1 Cool Blow St., Suite 322 Charleston, SC 29403
843-271-8668 www.arnettconstructionsc.com office@arnettconstructionsc.com
Travis Arnett 2008
21 14
Downtown Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Kiawah, Johns Island, James Island, Sullivans Island, Isle of Palms
$750,000 - $2,000,000
Cava Custom Build 2845 Cane Slash Road Johns Island, SC 29455
843-708-7050 www.cavacustombuild.com cava@cavacustombuild.com
Cava Compton 2018
15 3
Johns Island, Charleston, Kiawah, Seabrook, Wadmalaw, James Island
$35,000 - $1,000,000
Seamar Construction Group Inc. 3690 Bohicket Road, Suite 3C Johns Island, SC 29455
843-768-1758 www.seamarconstruction.com info@seamarconstruction.com
Mark A. Faenza, Richard J. Faenza, Steven C. Parham, Charles L. Hudson 2004
13 8
Residential homes in Kiawah Island, Seabrook Island and Johns Island
$950,000 - $3,500,000
Delpino Custom Homes LLC 1023 E. Montague Ave., Suite B North Charleston, SC 29405
843-818-4866 www.delpinocustomhomes.com delpinocustomhomes@gmail.com
Nathan J. Delpino 2010
12 6
Daniel Island, Charleston peninsula, Mount Pleasant, James Island, Park Circle, Kiawah River, Johns Island
$250,000 - $1,200,000
Ilderton Contracting LLC 2201 Middle St. Sullivans Island, SC 29482
843-883-3708 www.ildertoncontracting.com info@ildertoncontractors.com
Adam Ilderton, Pat Ilderton, Doug Smith 1978
12 9
Charleston, Sullivans Island, Isle of Palms, Mount Pleasant, Wadmalaw Island, Johns Island
$900,000 - $3,500,000
Cook Bonner Ebeling Construction Inc. 1859 Summerville Ave., Suite 700 Charleston, SC 29405
843-795-9301 www.cookbonner.com info@cookbonner.com
Tray McCune, David Ebeling 1976
10 11
Kiawah, Johns Island, James Island, Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Sullivan's Island, Isle of Palms, Awendaw
$1,300,000 - $5,000,000
Dolphin Architects & Builders 3730 Bohicket Road Johns Island, SC 29455
843-768-2404 www.dolphinbuilders.com info@dolphinbuilders.com
Noel Kade, Jonathan Marshall, Christopher Ibsen 1990
10 12
Custom-designed new homes and remodels in Kiawah, Seabrook, downtown Charleston, James Island and Mount Pleasant
$750,000 - $3,000,000
MGN LLC P.O. Box 897 Mount Pleasant, SC 29465
843-557-7997 mgnllc2@gmail.com
Mike Newbern 2017
10 2
Charleston metro area
$150,000 - $1,000,000
Bennett Hofford Construction Co. 17 Lockwood Drive, 4th Floor Charleston, SC 29401
843-722-8169 www.bennetthoffordconstruction.com info@bennetthofford.com
Hank Hofford, Susan L. Ford, Robert Puffinburger 1983
6 12
Downtown Charleston, Kiawah Island, Seabrook Island, Wadmalaw Island, Johns Island, Mount Pleasant, Santee and St. Kitts, West Indies
---
Design Builders Inc. 694 Wildwood Road Charleston, SC 29412
843-795-1779 www.designbuilders.us designbuilders@bellsouth.net
Bill Douglas, Eric A. Douglas 1991
6 3
Charleston, Dorchester and Berkeley counties
$200,000 - $1,000,000
Because of space constraints, sometimes only the top-ranked companies are published in the print edition. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur. Email additions or corrections to research@scbiznews.com.
Researched by Business Journal staff
26
www.charlestonbusiness.com
June 14 - 27, 2021
Homebuilders
Ranked by No. of Permits Granted in 2020 Company
Phone / Website / Email
Top Local Official(s) / Year Founded
Sea Island Habitat for Humanity Inc. 2545 Bohicket Road Johns Island, SC 29455
843-768-0998 www.seaislandhabitat.org john@seaislandhabitat.org
John Rhoden 1978
Shelter Custom-Built Living 895 Island Park Drive, Suite 203 Daniel Island, SC 29492
843-471-1833 www.sheltercustombuiltliving.com info@sheltercustombuiltliving.com
Byrd Builders Inc. 3690 Bohicket Road, Suite 4C Johns Island, SC 29455
Permits / Employees
Building Areas
Price Range
6 25
Johns Island, James Island, Wadmalaw Island
$120,000 - $250,000
2013
6 8
Daniel Island, Mount Pleasant and Isle of Palms
$2,000,000 - $3,500,000
843-243-0343 www.byrdbuildersinc.com matt@byrdbuildersinc.com
Matt Byrd 1998
5 5
Kiawah Island
$1,800,000 - $14,000,000
JacksonBuilt Custom Homes 130 River Landing Drive, Suite 12B Daniel Island, SC 29492
843-471-2310 www.jacksonbuilthomes.com info@jacksonbuilthomes.com
Richard Jackson 2008
5 5
Daniel Island, Mount Pleasant, Kiawah River
$1,500,000 - $4,000,000
Phillip Smith General Contractor LLC 465 W. Coleman Blvd., Suite 301 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
843-881-9828 www.phillipsmithcontractor.com info@phillipsmithcontractor.com
Phillip W. Smith, Bill Payzant 1990
5 9
Charleston, Daniel Island, Isle of Palms, Mount Pleasant, Sullivan's Island, Johns Island
$1,500,000 - $5,000,000
Priester's Custom Contracting LLC 130 Sand Dollar Lane Summerville, SC 29483
843-200-8495 www.priestercustomhomes.com info@priestercustomhomes.com
Rochelle K. Priester 2003
5 2
Lowcountry
$650,000 - $2,500,000
Brassfield & Fulk 3333 Maybank Highway Johns Island, SC 29455
843-559-2804 www.brassfieldfulk.com chris@brassfieldfulk.com
Chris Brassfield, Bernie Fulk 2007
4 4
Kiawah, Seabrook, Johns Island, Mount Pleasant, IOP, Awendaw
$1,000,000 - $3,500,000
Coastal Premier Homes LLC 537 Long Point Road, Suite 202 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
843-492-6770 www.ARHCharleston.com clattif@ARHomes.com
Chuck Lattif 2013
4 6
Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties
$900,000 - $3,000,000
East Cooper Habitat for Humanity Inc. 447 Jessen Lane, Suite B Wando, SC 29492
843-881-2600 www.eastcooperhabitat.org bob@eastcooperhabitat.org
Robert S. Hervey 1990
3 5
Mount Pleasant, Awendaw, McClellanville, Huger
$200,000 - $275,000
Generation Homes Inc. 18 Boyer Court Charleston, SC 29403
843-696-1975 www.generationhomessc.com andy.barber@generationhomessc.com
Andy Barber 2014
3 3
Charleston
$425,000 - $1,400,000
Mathis Ferry Development LLC 885 Low Country Blvd., Suite 206 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
843-568-1000 rmillerchc@bellsouth.net
Bob Miller 1987
3 5
Mount Pleasant, Charleston
$1,400,000 - $2,000,000
Osprey Construction Co. Inc. 3690 Bohicket Road, Suite 2B Johns Island, SC 29455
843-768-4150 www.ospreyinc.com osprey@ospreyinc.com
Douglas James 1991
2 1
Kiawah Island, Seabrook Island
$1,500,000 - $3,500,000
Because of space constraints, sometimes only the top-ranked companies are published in the print edition. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur. Email additions or corrections to research@scbiznews.com.
Make data driven decisions.
Researched by Business Journal staff
CTS A F T E K R A M August 2020
rlestonBu | www.Cha
siness.com
WISE COMET NEOin 64 million
• Passed with in July 2020. miles of Earth s. in 6,800 year Will return . at 144,000 mph • Traveling n years old. • 4.6 billio
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The story of the Charleston business market continues to be a story best told in numbers. Market Facts provides the context for the data and statistics critical to commerce in our region. COVID-19 reshaped our economy, and now, more than ever, business leaders require the latest data, facts and trends to navigate the pandemic and capitalize on the continuing recovery. Advertise in Market Facts and position your company as a valuable resource as we continue to navigate the new normal.
PUBLICATION DATE: August 23, 2021 | ADVERTISING DEADLINE: July 16, 2021 For advertising information, contact Robert Reilly at 843-849-3107 or rreilly@scbiznews.com
Source: NASA
RIE 0 covering 60,40 LAKE MOULT st lake in S.C.,
• Third large shoreline. 210 miles of in 1941. acres with completed polis Dam was dam was the • The Pino t lock at the The single-lif time. world at the largest in the the of age Moultrie Pass s long. • The Lake is 26.7 mile Palmetto Trail
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At Work
BUSINESS DIGEST | PEOPLE IN THE NEWS | HOT PROPERTIES | PEER TO PEER
People in the News
Business Digest
Santee Cooper honored for outstanding safety practices Santee Cooper has earned second place in the American Public Power Association’s Safety Award of Excellence for safe operating practices in 2020. The S.C. Chamber of Commerce also honored Santee Cooper with a safety award. Santee Cooper tied for fewest number of recordable incidents in 2020.
Viva Chicken opens Summerville location
Viva Chicken has signed a lease for its location at Nexton in Summerville. The restaurant is slated to open December 2021. This is the second restaurant opening for the privately owned company in South Carolina this year. In the fall, Viva will open its first Greenville location. Its second Upstate location will open in early 2022. Founded by Chef Bruno Macchiavello and Randy Garcia, Viva Chicken serves Peruvian food. The menu includes pollo a la brasa, soups, salads, sandwiches, bowls and a variety of sides. The Nexton location will be the 14th for the brand.
day, 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Thursdays and Sundays, and 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
Centex opens new phase in Sanctuary Cove
Centex has opened a new phase in Sanctuary Cove at Cane Bay. Floor plans include one- and two-story single-family homes with six designs to choose from. Each home includes a two-car garage and Smart Home technology. Centex plans to build 254 homes in Sanctuary Cove, with 101 already closed.
McCay Kiddy LLC announces new name
Coastal Crust opens at Wild Dunes Resort
Coastal Crust, a wood-fired pizzeria, has opened at Wild Dunes Resort’s newly renovated Sweetgrass Plaza. It will be open 4-9 p.m. Monday through Wednes-
McCay Kiddy LLC will now be known as Veris, The Proactive CPA. Melissa Kiddy has taken over as managing partner. The remainder of the leadership team is comprised of Justin Kiddy, partner and former managing partner, Russell Deal, partner, and Danny Quirk, director.
Summerville Medical Center opens orthopedic practice
Summerville Medical Center has opened Trident Orthopedic Specialists on the
hospital’s campus. New orthopedic surgeons include Shasta Henderson, Gregory Kalv and Haley Merrill. Trident Orthopedic Specialists is located in suite 200 of the medical office building. This is the second practice location for Trident Orthopedic Specialists, which also has an office on Trident Medical Center’s campus. The practice provides orthopedic services for children and adults in a 3,850-squarefoot office with eight patient rooms and an X-ray system.
PGA of America gives back to PGA host community
The PGA of America, in conjunction with Kiawah Island Golf Resort, has made charitable donations to Wings for Kids, Kiawah Cares, Our Lady of Mercy Community Outreach and Lowcountry Food Bank. Wings for Kids and Kiawah Cares each received a $10,000 donation. Our Lady of Mercy Community Outreach and the Lowcountry Food Bank received food donations from the PGA Championship and Delaware North’s Patina Restaurant. Wings for Kids will use the funds to support the organization’s WingsLeader training program, which empowers individuals to make positive impacts in children’s lives. Kiawah Cares will make the donation to Edith L. Frierson Elementary School to be used to expand the school’s Learning Garden and to supply a new well with a solar pump to power irrigation. Additionally, more than $150,000 was donated to 10 local nonprofit orgaSee BUSINESS DIGEST, Page 29
TECHNOLOGY Docugraphics has promoted Lance Redler to vice president of sales. Redler will oversee all aspects of sales and marketing throughout the eight DocRedler ugraphics markets and branches. Specific responsibilities include business and market development, strategic direction for promotion and advertising, sales growth and client satisfaction. He will also oversee the sales management team’s activity, team development and hiring and revenue growth. Redler has more than 30 years of experience in the office technology industry. He has previously held digital solutions positions, as well as vice president of sales and regional and branch manager, with Xerox, Danka, Comdoc and Konica.
ACCOUNTING Jarrard, Nowell and Russell LLC has hired Zaw Tun as a senior staff accountant. Tun was previously with The Lanning Group. His focus will be on preTun paring 1010, 1041, 1065, 1120 and 1120s tax returns for clients, along with assisting junior staff with tax returns. Tun graduated from Charleston Southern University with a Bachelor of Arts in accounting. He also served in the U.S. Marine Corps.
NONPROFIT Lowcountry Land Trust has hired Meg O’Halloran as chief advancement officer. She will work on the strategic direction of advancement initiatives, includO’Halloran ing designing and implementing the annual and long-term comprehensive fundraising plans, as well as creating and implementing strategic communications and marketing plans. O’Halloran will work closely with the organization’s president and CEO, along with the See PEOPLE, Page 29
28
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June 14 - 27, 2021
We’re facing robust GDP growth, worker shortage, rising inflation
T Target your market in an upcoming issue of the Charleston Regional Business Journal
JUNE 28
TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
List: Largest Employers Bonus List: Business Communications Companies
Advertising Deadline: June 14 JULY 12
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
List: Commercial Real Estate Companies Bonus List: Independent Insurance Cos.
Advertising Deadline: June 28 JULY 26
FINANCIAL SERVICES
List: Credit Unions Bonus List: Accounting Firms
Advertising Deadline: July 12 AUGUST 9
ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION (AEC) List: Architecture Firms Bonus List: Hotels
Advertising Deadline: July 26
For advertising information, call Robert Reilly at 843.849.3107
he demand side of the economy is showing no sign of slowing down. On the production side employers are able to hire a respectable number of new workers, but need far more bodies than they can find. In addition they are encountering supply constraints. This dichotomy between demand and supply STEPHEN D. is pushing prices SLIFER higher. The inflation rate will climb in the short-term, but by how much? For how long? And then retreat to what? Nobody knows. But whatever happens it is unlikely to entice Fed officials to raise rates prior to the end of next year. Flush with cash left over from the series of stimulus checks over the course of the past year, the savings rate remains elevated at 14.9% or more than double its usual 7.0% pace. That leaves consumers with $1.5 trillion more spendable cash than usual. And consumers are in a spending mood. Consumption spending, which is 70% of GDP, climbed 11.3% in the first quarter and second quarter growth should be roughly comparable at 10.5%. New home sales are at their fastest pace since 2006 and would be even more rapid if there were more homes available for sale. There is a 2.4 month supply of homes available for sale or less than onehalf the 6.0 month supply required to balance demand and supply But production is encountering numerous difficulties. High on the list is an inability to hire enough workers to satisfy demand. Payroll employment rose 559 thousand in May which is a respectable increase. But respondents to the purchasing managers surveys frequently cite an inability to hire enough workers. Meanwhile, orders keep rolling in. Businesses ramp up production. But the supplier delivery component of the purchasing managers’ survey indicates that their suppliers cannot get enough workers, or materials, prices have skyrocketed, and there is congestion at the ports. Furthermore, the situation is getting worse each month – not better. Every month firms have to further deplete inventories to satisfy demand. As a result, the ratio of orders to inventories is at a record high level. Firms need to find a way to boost production. Given this divergence between demand and supply, prices are on the rise. Core consumer prices jumped 0.9% in April. Is this the tip of an iceberg? Producer prices have registered sizeable
“Beyond the middle of next year a rate hike close to the November 2022 election is out of the question. As we see it, it would require a dramatic acceleration in inflation to trigger a Fed rate hike prior to 2023.” increases every month so far this year. The core PPI rose 1.2% in 2020. The pace has accelerated to 8.0% in the first four months of 2021. The PPI does not include labor costs. The CPI does. Worker compensation rose 9.7% in the fourth quarter and 7.2% in the first quarter of this year. That is an 8.8% increase in the two most recent quarters. Compare that to the 3.4% increase for 2019 – prior to the pandemic. Firms are paying higher wages and sign-on bonuses to attract workers and are still falling short. All of this suggests that the nearterm pickup in inflation could be more troublesome than anyone expects. Market expectations of inflation have not changed too much. The bond market believes inflation over the next 10 years will be only 2.4%. If that is correct, the Fed will be thrilled. It would love to see an inflation rate for the next 10 years of 2.4% or 0.4% higher than its 2.0% target. That would compensate for the 0.5% shortfall in inflation during the previous 10 years. But is that right? We look for a 3.3% increase in the core PCE deflator both this year and next, but fear inflation may be more rapid than we are expecting. At this point nobody knows. We have never seen such a wide divergence between the demand and supply sides of the economy so all economists –the Fed and us included -- are guessing. Whatever happens, we believe that the Fed is deeply committed to its current stance which would leave the funds rate at 0.0% through the end of next year. If inflation should be higher in the nearterm, the Fed can fall back on the argument that it is a temporary acceleration in inflation,. Beyond the middle of next year a rate hike close to the November 2022 election is out of the question. As we see it, it would require a dramatic acceleration in inflation to trigger a Fed rate hike prior to 2023. CRBJ
Stephen D. Slifer is a Daniel Island economist. Reach him at steve@NumberNomics.com.
June 14 - 27, 2021
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People in the News PEOPLE, from Page 27
board of trustees. She will develop and maintain relationships with corporate and foundation partners, while creating and managing a portfolio of individual major donor prospects. O’Halloran has experience in capital and principal gift fundraising. She studied environmental studies, urban studies and geography at Macalester College in Minnesota. She spent four years as a campaign consultant with CCS Fundraising, working for environmental, religious and education clients and raising more than $35 million in the process. Beautiful Gate Center has hired Jean Castelli as director of operations and training. Castelli will oversee operations, human resources and comCastelli munity outreach for the organization’s Charleston-based location. Castelli has more than 30 years of experience in leadership positions, having previously been responsible for the special education programs and services for a large
Business Digest suburban public school district in New York. Previously, she served as a classroom teacher, principal, special education administrator and assistant superintendent. Following her retirement from public education in 2018, Castelli transitioned to the private sector, where she served as community outreach manager for an autism treatment and therapeutic services agency on Long Island, New York. Castelli received an undergraduate degree in health, physical education and recreation from The Pennsylvania State University and a graduate degree in elementary education from Queens College. Castelli also holds a professional diploma in school district administration from Long Island University.
BANKING Beacon Community Bank has promoted Elichia C. Simpson to assistant vice president, deposit operations manager. Simpson has 20 years of banking Simpson industry experience. She began with Beacon Community Bank in March 2018 as
FORTY
a deposit operations specialist, responsible for supporting all aspects of the bank’s deposit and electronic banking operations. Simpson previously had a 15-year career with Wells Fargo and its predecessors. There, she held several positions supporting the bank’s corporate clients, most notably as an international operations manager and client service consultant. Simpson received an MBA from the Keller Graduate School of Management.
INSURANCE Tony Pope’s State Farm team has hired Allyson Barrington at its new North Charleston location. As a team leader, Barrington will be responsible Barrington for assisting new prospects and current customers with their insurance needs. She has more than 10 years of insurance sales experience through another insurance carrier. Barrrington graduated from Charleston Southern University in 2016 with a degree in business administration, with an emphasis in management.
BUSINESS DIGEST, from Page 27
nizations through a volunteer partnership with Delaware North’s Patina Restaurant Group.
Vikor Scientific launches KOR Medical company
Vikor Scientific is launching health innovation company KOR Medical to address personalized clinical cannabis to benefit patients and to help alleviate the nation’s opioid addiction crisis. The company is exploring locations nationwide for its initial operation and expects to confirm this by mid-summer 2021. This site will serve as a model for future expansion across the nation. The initial product launch is planned for 2021, followed by full-scale production in 2022.
First National Bank expands with site at Freshfields Village
First National Bank has opened a branch at Freshfields Village along with four ATMs at Charleston International Airport. The new Freshfields Village location is the bank’s third retail branch in the Charleston area. By the end of 2021, First National Bank plans to have five retail branch locations in the market, in addition to its downtown regional hub.
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CALLING ALL HIGH-GROWTH COMPANIES!
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We are currently accepting nominations for the top 40 high-growth large and small companies in South Carolina. Company size is determined by gross revenue. • Large – Over $10 million • Small – $10 million and under ELIGIBILITY: Companies must have a physical presence in South Carolina and be a for-profit entity or a nonprofit organization (EXCEPT FOR: government entities and charitable organizations, including 501(c)3 organizations. These types of nonprofits are not eligible.)
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Viewpoint Taping windows doesn’t help in a hurricane; here’s what does VIEWS, PERSPECTIVES AND READERS’ LETTERS
T
he approach of summer in the U.S. means that it’s time to be ready for hurricanes and wildfires. The incidence of weather and climate disasters is increasing in the U.S., a trend partly because of climate change but also human decisions. Since the 1950s, population growth has increased significantly in Sun Belt states. MilERIK lions of people have SALNA moved to coastlines, from Texas to the Carolinas, putting more lives and property in harm’s way during hurricanes. Florida, the hurricane capital of the United States, now is the third-most-populous state in the nation. Recognizing that Americans are increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Weather-Ready Nation initiative is helping communities plan for events like violent tornadoes, destructive hurricanes and widespread flooding. As a meteorologist and supporter of this effort, I believe that everyone should understand what kinds of severe weather hazards could affect their family and home and be ready for them. Here are some ways to do it.
What to do instead of taping windows
The U.S. experienced a record 22 billion-dollar weather and climate disasters in 2020 that wreaked about $95 billion in total damage. This included a historic hurricane season, with 30 named storms and seven billion-dollar tropical cyclones — the most in one year since NOAA started keeping track of billion-dollar disasters in 1980. For Atlantic and Gulf coast residents, hurricane preparedness has to be a way of life. It means knowing whether you live in a designated evacuation zone. That’s key in the event of storm surge — when a hurricane pushes seawater up onto local beaches and inland areas. Readiness also means having a family and business disaster plan that details preparations, and maintaining a hurricane survival kit. Another priority is knowing how to protect your home and business from damaging winds. Conducting a home insurance review with your agent and scheduling a wind mitigation inspection will identify what you can do to strengthen and protect vulnerable parts of the building such as windows, entry doors,
Hurricane Dorian swept up the East Coast in 2019, causing a swath of destruction, including enormous property damage from wind and rain in the Charleston area. (Photo/McLaughlin Design & Photography)
“In my view, weather readiness has to become a way of life — something that all Americans see as their responsibility.” garage doors and roofs. Adding metal hurricane shutters or hurricane-resistant windows can help. So can retrofitting the attic or eaves with metal hurricane straps, which connect the rafters to the walls to prevent the roof from blowing off. Here’s one step to skip: Putting tape onto windows for wind protection from a hurricane. Tape does nothing to reduce wind damage, so this is a waste of time. Consumers also need to rethink how they shop for a new home in storm-prone areas. It’s OK to want granite countertops, walk-in closets and a safe neighborhood near schools and parks. But buyers should also consider how well a house is built, its age, the materials it contains, the shape and condition of the roof, and building code requirements at the time it was constructed. And they should ask whether the house is located in a flood-prone area, has wind-resistant features or has been retrofitted against hurricanes. Even residents who don’t live in a zone where it is required should consider taking out flood insurance.
Storm-testing buildings
Florida International University’s International Hurricane Research Center, which is part of our Extreme Events Institute, was designated NOAA’s first Weather-Ready Nation ambassador in South Florida. Our Wall of Wind facili-
ty is capable of creating Category 5 hurricane conditions — winds with speeds over 157 mph. Like crash testing for vehicles, wind testing can help ensure that structures, traffic signals and building components can hold up under stress. The Wall of Wind is part of the National Science Foundation’s Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure program. For educational outreach, we host the yearly Wall of Wind Mitigation Challenge, in which teams of local high school students develop innovative wind mitigation concepts and solutions. And the Extreme Events Institute uses a risk equation to help the public understand and support measures to confront the “risk drivers” that lead to major losses. For more about hurricane mitigation and preparedness, watch our 12-episode “Eye of the Storm” video series, or visit our Spanish-language hurricane website.
Wildfires, tornadoes and floods
NOAA’s National Weather Service is also investing in new forecasting tools and linking its forecasts to lifesaving decisions made in every state and county. The goal is to provide timely forecasts that emergency managers, first responders, government officials, businesses and the public can act on. Across the United States, Weather-Ready Nation ambassadors are preparing for many types of extreme weather
events. Flooding can occur almost anywhere across the country, and hazards can develop quickly. In mid-May 2021, over 12 inches of rain fell on the Lake Charles, Louisiana, area in a single day, triggering flash flooding that completely submerged parked cars. Flooded roadways can be deadly, so take heed of NOAA’s “Turn Around Don’t Drown” message and avoid walking or driving in flooded areas — it could save your life. Tornado safety is critical: So far in 2021, twisters have killed a dozen people, in Alabama, Louisiana, Texas and North Carolina. Tornado readiness includes knowing the safest room in your home — usually a windowless interior room on the lowest floor — and tuning in to NOAA Weather Radio, which will provide severe-weather information directly from your local National Weather Service office. During any severe weather event, such as the February 2021 deep freeze in Texas, the power may go out, so everyone should have flashlights and batteries on hand. Portable generators can be useful during extended outages, but always operate them outdoors to avoid the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Apathy and complacency can also be dangerous when it comes to weather-driven disasters. In my view, weather readiness has to become a way of life — something that all Americans see as their responsibility. The best forecasts in the world may be useless if the public doesn’t respond or hasn’t taken the needed actions to protect themselves when extreme weather threatens. Most importantly, remember to help your neighbors when needed, especially if they are elderly and can’t help themselves. In addition, consider supporting local nonprofits or churches that help residents in your community who have financial or transportation needs to be ready and safe. We are all in this together. CRBJ
Erik Salna is associate director of education and outreach at the Extreme Events Institute at Florida International University. This Viewpoint originally appeared in The Conversation, www. theconversation.com, and is reprinted with permission.
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