By Kathleen Dayton
Staff Writer

Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce officials are in the middle of a ZIP code war.

In an ongoing effort to find a new home for the chamber’s headquarters, a task force will continue its search for a site despite receiving offers from Charleston and North Charleston to locate in each city.

The chamber’s board of directors on April 29 approved the Quarters Task Force’s ongoing search.

Recently, the task force and the chamber’s executive committee considered two parcels, including one at Remount Road and Interstate 26 in North Charleston and another within the planned Magnolia development in Charleston.

The Magnolia site was proposed by developer Robert L. Clement III and the city of Charleston a couple of weeks before the chamber’s board meeting, said Danny Kassis, chairman of the Quarters Task Force and a general manager with SCANA.

Taking a look

“When another option came up, we felt like we at least had to take a look at it,” Kassis said. “What we did (that day) is agree to continue the search. We’re not eliminating anything or making a decision.”

The chamber currently leases space in the former Baker Hospital building on Speissegger Drive, where Kassis said it has become a five-star organization.

The chamber moved into the temporary location in 2004 after selling its former spot at 81 Mary St. in downtown Charleston.

The lease on Speissegger Drive expires in 2009, but there are options for
renewing, Kassis said.

Prior to getting the proposal for the Magnolia site, the chamber was leaning toward 2.9 acres near Remount Road and Interstate 26 in North Charleston.

“We wouldn’t have gone where we were going with the Remount Road site if we didn’t think

that met much of the criteria we’re using, and the Magnolia site is of interest to us, too,” Kassis said.

The task force’s criteria for the acquisition follow:

• Chamber should own the property rather than leasing it.

• Property is a single, central location that’s easily accessible.

• Visibility and presence are maximized.

• Must be financially prudent.

• Should meet facility requirements.

• Property is within a radius using the junction of Interstate 526 and I-26 as the central point.

“We want to continue to be a regional chamber and that’s when that criterion was developed,” Kassis said.

The mayors’ podium

Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr. and North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey both attended the April 29 meeting, although Summey did not stay the entire time.

Kassis said he did not see Summey walk out and did not want to comment on whether the

mayor was angry when he left the meeting.

“I just think he realized we weren’t going to get to a decision,” Kassis said.

Summey said he would consider creating his own chamber of commerce in North Charleston if North Charleston isn’t treated fairly.

“It’s always an option,” Summey said. “We’re a large enough community to do that. When you look at Summerville, they have one.

“That’s not my preferred choice,” he added, “but if I don’t think my community is at least being treated fairly in the consideration process, I would feel no alternative but to take other

recourses.”

11th hour

Summey said meetings were held with the chamber at the 11th hour to present the city’s proposal after Summey had already gotten the North Charleston site approved by the chamber’s search committee. The decision has yet to go before the full board of directors.

“I thought it was inappropriate,” Summey said. “No one was called to support the location in North Charleston. I think there was some outside influence from other than chamber board members. I’m not going to create a war over where the chamber goes, but I’m not going to sit back and be beaten down because North Charleston is one of the choice sites.”

Riley said the city of Charleston had proposed a number of relocation sites to the chamber during the past several years and met extensively with chamber officials for a period of time.

Other sites

“The discussions ended and we assumed that the chamber hadn’t found the right spot and time wasn’t of the essence,” Riley said.

“When we heard that the chamber was in fact not only back seriously looking but quite seriously looking at a site, we quickly pulled our team together to look at the sites we offered and to see if there were other sites that hadn’t been presented.” he said.

Magnolia is centrally located and in the same neighborhood where the chamber’s offices are now, which makes it ideal, Riley said.

“It’s also right in the middle of the metro area and is easily accessible from Mount Pleasant, West Ashley, the islands, North Charleston and Charleston. It’s an area that’s seen as kind of a neutral zone,” he said.

Both mayors met separately on April 30 with chamber officials and agreed to step away from the decision-making process, leaving that entirely up to the chamber.

“The ball is in their court,” Summey said.

Kathleen Dayton is a staff writer for the Business Journal. Email her at kdayton@scbiznews.com.

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