County planning affects industry, infrastructure By SARAH G. MCC. MOISE With the amount of growth occurring in Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties, county governments have been forced to make a lot of decisions in the interest of their citizens, both current and future. Some new policies, however, have sparked the development and business communities, particularly those policies pertaining to density, zoning and impact fees.
I-26, access road clash over timing, funding By MATTHEW FRENCH When real estate developer Robert Clement III first proposed a revitalization of Charleston’s Neck area, the spit of land that leads southward to the peninsula, there was nothing but support from the business community, political community and neighborhood groups. Everyone agreed that the hundreds of acres on the Ashley River could be put to good use after the factories and plants of previous decades faded away.
Port divests Cainhoy property By MATTHEW FRENCH The South Carolina State Ports Authority, abiding by state law that will prevent it from building a port on Daniel Island, is selling off parcels of land in Cainhoy, once purchased to lay railroad tracks to the Daniel Island port that has never emerged.
Our existing businesses need love, piece of the action By Dennis Quick Native neglect. It’s exciting when a big company comes to town. The promise of several hundred well-paying jobs is an economic developer’s dream.
Gibbes’ ‘Mask’ seeks funding By DENNIS QUICK To help lure passersby into the Gibbes Museum of Art, the Clemson Architecture Center in Charleston is erecting “The Mask,” a 30 by 30-foot canvas at the museum’s Meeting Street entrance.
Bridge building—willpower stronger than steel By Bill Settlemyer Friday, March 11, was another milestone for construction of the new Cooper River bridge. Along with other representatives of the local media, I had the opportunity to join a group of state and local officials to witness the placing of the last section of concrete deck completing the 1,500 foot span between the two towers.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Seabrook Island club membership not ideal
I own a small $150,000 condo on Seabrook Island. My husband and I live and work as teachers in Brussels, Belgium, and spend the summers at Seabrook as I am from the Charleston area originally and love it there. Your article on Island One (“Island One’ first step in new Seabrook campaign; minimum $6K fee required,” Feb. 7, 2005, issue) seemed one-sided to me, and I am wondering if…
CAPITOL REPORT: Education top priority in South Carolina’s budget By S.C. Rep. Bobby Harrell The House Ways and Means Committee recently completed a $5.8 billion spending plan that offers more funds for education, law enforcement, Medicaid and restoring our state’s trust funds.
SALES MOVES: Your personal commercial, almost By Jeffrey Gitomer You’re at a networking event with hundreds of people, hundreds of prospects. You’re armed with business cards, incredible product knowledge and, if you must say so yourself, looking sharp. In short, you’re ready.
Mount Pleasant to annex East Cooper Airport By MATTHEW FRENCH If all goes according to plan, the town of Mount Pleasant will soon add the East Cooper Airport to its already expansive-and-growing holdings. The airport, located on Highway 17 North past Highway 41, is a 20-year-old facility that serves about 100 planes, most of them smaller and propeller-driven.
News Briefs
First Financial Holdings celebrates 20 years on the Nasdaq exchange
First Financial Holdings Inc., parent company of First Federal, celebrated 20 years on the Nasdaq exchange by presiding over the closing ceremony March 3 at 4 p.m. First Financial CEO A. Thomas Hood, along with James C. Murray and Paul G. Campbell, chairman and vice chairman of the board of directors, rang the bell to close the market in New York City. Hood and Murray…
Scam ad preys on victims’ desperation, trust By RACHEL PLEASANT In a scam that preyed on those with bad credit, a group based in Ontario, Canada recently promised easy loans to those who merely answered a few questions.
New Roper hospital could lure more business to East Cooper area By DENNIS QUICK When Roper St. Francis Healthcare officials on March 2 announced plans to build a full-service, 85-room hospital in East Cooper, the news was pure music to Myles Stempin’s ears.
NHL lockout benefits local hockey team By MATTHEW FRENCH When the National Hockey League announced at the beginning of its would-be season that players were to be locked out, teams in the East Coast Hockey League may have secretly—and quietly—cheered.
MARKETING: Spring is the time to set plans for growth By Elizabeth Boineau There’s a time for every season and this one seems just in time after a long, cool winter. As the buds start to surface from their dormant state, it’s a good time a look at plans for growth in your business to be sure you’re in a good position to go full bloom.
Minibottle law repeal to improve sales, creativity By DENNIS QUICK Sirena Rodecap, a bartender at McCrady’s restaurant, believes South Carolina’s minibottle law has stuffed a cork in her talents. The New York-trained mixologist looks forward to the day regular-sized liquor bottles become legal in the Palmetto State’s restaurants and bars.
Proposed hotels still planned for upper King Street By DENNIS QUICK Two hotels are still on the drawing board for upper King Street, the area extending northward from Calhoun Street. Plans for the 185-room hotel and 69-room hotel were announced nearly two years ago.
Conservators collaborate on Hunley, Monitor By MATTHEW FRENCH When underwater explorers discovered the Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley just a few miles off the coast of Charleston in 1995, it was one of the most important maritime archaeological discoveries in history. The Hunley is the first submarine to ever sink another ship in battle.
Think-tank influences policy changes in S.C., the South By SARAH G. MCC. MOISE What are the biggest barriers or challenges to economic prosperity in the rural areas of South Carolina? Is it education, infrastructure, government policies, or something else entirely?
TIME WELL SPENT: Adult ADHD: Do you really have it? By Honor Hawkins Have you heard a colleague say, “I’m so ADD”? Then you know this self-diagnosis code for, “My presentation isn’t done,” and “I checked e-mail five times a minute today instead of doing my share of the project.”
WORKING: Deciphering the dress code: Choosing appropriate event attire By Aleigh Acerni Recently a group of Business Journal staffers was headed to an awards event, but the invitation’s dress code gave them pause: it was “cozy festive.” For the next week, we tried to decipher what exactly cozy festive attire meant.
CAREER COACH: Debunk popular career myths to move ahead By Barbara Poole One of the biggest reasons many people stay in unrewarding careers is the multitude of career myths floating around out there. Let’s face it, when you’re feeling unsure of yourself in what appears to be a volatile market, it’s easy to fall prey to the popular beliefs that would have you stay exactly where you are.
Calendar
• MARCH 22: Charleston Commissioners of Public Works’ board meeting. 9 a.m., 103 St. Philip St., first floor conference room.
• MARCH 22: President’s Reception, sponsored by the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce. 5:30-7 p.m. at 2750 Speissegger Dr., Ste. 100. Meet the chamber president and chief executive officer. Cost: free for new and renewing members. Information: 805-3039, …
People in the News
Real Estate & Construction
Coldwell Banker Coastal Properties in Mount Pleasant added agents Vicki Jones and Louise Sylvester. Jones has 10 years of property management experience, including vacation rentals and general brokerage experience. Sylvester worked for Coldwell Banker in the Northeast.
Margie Mead Jackson joined RE/MAX Professional Realty in Mount Pleasant. She has spent 10 years specializing in residential sales, land and commercial investments in the tri-county area. …
Giving Back
Century 21 makes Easter Seals donation
Century 21 Properties Plus presented Easter Seals South Carolina with a $16,000 check to support its programs and services. Last year, Century 21 Properties Plus donated more than $7,000 for Easter Seals South Carolina and was recognized by Century 21 Real Estate Corp. as the Century 21 System’s Top Easter Seals fundraiser in North and South Carolina. Easter Seals and Century 21 have worked together since 1979, and the Century…
Appointments
Eugene W. Blanton, president of Landmark Enterprises, was appointed to the World Trade Center Association committee of trade fairs, trade marts and high tech parks. Blanton is the developer of the new South Carolina World Trade Center building in North Charleston.
National Trust Historic Hotels of America, a collection of 213 historically significant hotels, named P. Steven Dopp and Rick Widman to its 2005 board of advisors. Dopp is with Portwood Properties Corp., and…
ACCOLADES & MORE
Special Olympics South Carolina presented the Charleston Battery Owners Group with its Special Olympics S.C. 2004 Hero Award. The award is given annually to an organization that has shown year-round commitment to children and adults with intellectual disabilities who train and compete in Special Olympics.
Marc Marchant of LS3P Associates Ltd. passed the architectural registration exam and is a registered architect in South Carolina. …
