Mortgage Broker in Mount Pleasant, SC

The daughter of a council member running for re-election was injured in a car accident on Oct. 21.

Laura Hyatt, a Mount Pleasant Town Council member running for a second term on Nov. 7, said her daughter, Ava, is recovering after sustaining injuries to her arm in the accident that happened early Saturday evening in the northern end of Mount Pleasant.

Hyatt’s 16-year-old daughter was riding in the backseat of a car with some friends on Oct. 21. Hyatt said the group of teenagers planned to go to Fright Night at Boone Hall Plantation, but tickets were sold out.

The group decided to drive around town to fill the time, eventually ending up in the north end of Mount Pleasant near Awendaw when the accident occurred. Her daughter sustained injuries to her arm. The other passengers of the vehicle were unharmed, the councilmember said.

“Ava was saying she was glad that she was the only one that was hurt and she hopes everybody learned a valuable lesson in that situation,” Hyatt said.

The teen was taken to an emergency room and then to the Medical University of South Carolina to undergo surgery on her arm. The council member said that the accident highlights the importance of wearing seatbelts, which her daughter had on.

Hyatt mentioned that the incident calls attention to the need for more activities for younger folks in Mount Pleasant and referenced the proposed senior/civic center planned on Faison Road.

“Kids that age don’t have a whole lot to do around town and maybe that would have been a better option for them,” Hyatt said.

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Councilmember Blair Hahn kicked off the Oct. 24 Isle of Palms Chamber of Commerce meeting with a roar by poking holes in the contents of the referendum short-term rental document that voters will endorse into law or decline on Nov. 7.

The local attorney analyzed sections of the contract and noted that much of the language in the document applies to a community with more than 1,600 short-term rentals, when in fact IOP was under that number (1,595) as of April 30. “So all that goes away,” he concluded at the IOP Exchange Club gathering.

Hahn went on to shed light on another part of the proposal that debunks any notion of certain licenses being grandfathered in perpetuity. He claimed, in fact, that licenses are annual and don’t roll over, as proprietors would be required to stand in line for a new one every 12 months.

The elected official additionally highlighted an excerpt that could put some property owners in a bind if the referendum is voted through.

“Four percenters, there’s no limit. The maximum number of six percenters is 1,600, except as provided below ... The owner of an existing six percent rental has 60 days from the effective date of this chapter to apply for [a] license. The effective date of the the chapter will be the day after the election if it passes. And so you will have 60 days,” Hahn explained.

“And that’s just to get a license to carry you through the end of this license year. And after that 60 days, the City opens it up to anybody else. The cap is going to be at 1,600 for calls that were not more than 1,600 existing licenses that can get in under the 60-day period. [...] Upon expiration of the initial 60-day application period, the City accepts licenses on a first-come, first-serve basis until you hit 1,600 — and then you’re done.”

On that note, Hahn referenced a conversation he had with a property manager who was concerned about the prospect of having 75 licenses to renew when the license total is already at 1,550. When she asked what would happen in that case, the attorney told her that she would get “sued” due to property-owner clients reprimanding the realtor of not getting the process started sooner.

The speaker predicted that little sea cabins on the island would only wind up losing value in the absence of rental licenses.

In comparing IOP’s STR controversy to what took place on Folly Beach — which has had licensure caps since February — Hahn said the neighboring community’s ordinance didn’t deprive individuals of their existing licenses.

The IOP referendum on the table, conversely, will strip active renters of their licenses, according to Hahn.

Folly Beach home sales, he further noted, have decreased since their their cap ordinance was voted into law. In cases where people had to sell their homes, the audience learned, property values dipped by about 40 percent, while property taxes have surged with the growth of millage rates.

When trying to discuss a compromise and/or meeting of the minds with a “capper,” recounted Hahn, the unnamed party told him, “No, this is all or nothing” in terms of comparing and contrasting condos and vacation destinations versus residential single-family properties.

“I walked away; so that’s the mentality,” he observed.

When asked if an injunction could be filed in the event of the referendum passing, Hahn replied that some kind of legal action would likely transpire.

“Get out there, and anybody that you know, explain this to them. I’m not going to tell you to vote no; I’m not going to tell you to tell people to vote no. I’m going to tell you to vote your conscious, but do so when you understand the facts,” he advised.

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Graze Craze, a new charcuterie concept known for crafting grazing boards and boxes, has opened its first South Carolina location at 3373 South Morgans Point Road in Mount Pleasant.

The new storefront is located in the National Crossing shopping center at the main entrance of the Charleston National neighborhood, according to a news release. Graze Craze is a part of Big Flavor Brands, the food service division of Starpoint Brands, a family of companies affiliated with United Franchise Group.

At Graze Craze, charcuterie experts, known as grazologists, design arrangements that feature an array of ingredients that are ideal for grazing, like fresh fruits and vegetables, premium meats and cheeses, artisanal sweets, nuts and more, the release stated.

The Mount Pleasant Graze Craze is the only one of its kind in the Charleston area, and the franchise owners behind the new store Keith and Kendra Lovas are thrilled to share something completely new with the community they call home, the release stated.

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“The wonderful people of Mount Pleasant love to gather and celebrate,” said Keith Lovas in the release. “There is no better centerpiece for a special occasion than a Graze Craze charcuterie board — it’s unmatched in quality, beauty and functionality.”

The Lovas enjoy playing a role in their community with Kendra working at a local elementary school and Keith coaching youth sports teams through the Mount Pleasant Recreation Department, according to the release. In addition to serving exceptional grazing boards, the Lovas plan to use their Graze Craze to expand their local involvement and sponsor sports teams, further supporting kids in being active and chasing their dreams. The Lovas are also interested in bolstering regional business development through their involvement with the Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce.

Graze Craze charcuterie arrangements incorporate an assortment of flavors, like the popular Gone Grazey board, balanced to provide a bit of everything – a mix of cured meats, premium cheeses, crackers, fresh produce, nuts and more. The Vegegrazian is designed with a medley of fresh fruits and vegetables for anyone embracing a plant-based lifestyle.

The artisan-inspired charcuterie offerings at Graze Craze are available in different size options, from Char-Cutie-Cups and Picnic Boxes for nibbling to sharing-size boards with enough fresh food to feed a large party, the release stated.

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A fondue restaurant chain plans to expand into the Lowcountry.

Bob Johnston, CEO of The Melting Pot, said the Tampa, Fla.-based company is looking to add two locations in Charleston and Mount Pleasant. He cited the Palmetto State’s strong tourism industry as a key reason for the expansion plan.

The chain already has a presence in Columbia, Greenville and Myrtle Beach. It said it hopes to have 15 locations in South Carolina by 2025.

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Liberty Senior Living wants to add more units to its South Bay continuing care facility, but it needs an amendment to a planned development because of Mount Pleasant’s moratorium on new multifamily buildings.

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3: Number of new restaurants planning to open in the fall in an expanding Charleston-area shopping center.

65,000: Size of proposed new supermarket in a new retail development beside Freshfields Village between Kiawah and Seabrook islands.

2563: Address on Ashley River Road for a fast-food restaurant that recently turned out the lights.

Real Estate

+ More multifamily: A 110-unit townhome development is in the works for the Point Hope area of Charleston on the Cainhoy peninsula.

+ Doctor’s orders: A medical office building is being proposed in Point Hope.

MOUNT PLEASANT — A North Carolina-based supermarket chain plans to enter the Charleston market, stepping in after another grocery store’s plans fell through.

The Fresh Market has taken over the lease from discount grocer Lidl for a space in Bowman Place Shopping Center, according to a document filed Sept. 27 in the Charleston County land records office.

A spokeswoman for the Greensboro-based specialty grocer said the company “did not have anything to share at this time” on its open schedule.

Peter Stone of Mount Pleasant’s planning department said Fresh Market has not presented construction plans to the town, which usually considers building and facade alterations as well as signage through the Commercial Design Review Board.

German company Lidl, with its U.S. headquarters in Arlington, Va., had planned to move into a 26,000-square-foot space in the Dick’s Sporting Goods-anchored retail center near Bowman Road and Johnnie Dodds Boulevard.

Work came to a halt more than a year ago.

A Lidl representative did not respond for comment.

The Fresh Market now has the remainder of the 15-year tenant agreement Lidl signed three years ago next month. The lease also included an option for 15 more years.

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The site originally held a 20,000-square-foot kitchen store, but it closed in early 2020. Lidl wanted a larger space, so it added 6,000 square feet and a loading dock in the rear of the building.

The Fresh Market has nine stores in South Carolina. Its closest location to Charleston is about 70 miles up the coast at Pawleys Island.

The chain offers an upscale assortment of fresh produce, meat and seafood along with a deli, bakery, prepared foods and fresh-cut flowers. The store also has beer, wine, coffee and bulk nuts along with various other items.

In 2017, Fresh Market first eyed the state’s fourth-largest municipality and its 95,000 residents who have a median household income of more than $106,000, according to U.S. Census figures.

Publix eventually brought one of its small-format specialty grocery stores called GreenWise Market to the 21,535-square-foot space in Indigo Square Shopping Center off U.S. Highway 17, where Fresh Market was looking.

GreenWise Market, near Mount Pleasant Towne Centre, closed in 2020 about 16 months after it opened. It’s now the site of outdoor gear retailer REI Co-op.

Another specialty grocer also made a run in Mount Pleasant. North Carolina-based Southern Season shuttered its store off Coleman Boulevard in 2016, less than three years after it opened. It’s now the home of Gold’s Gym.

Last year, South American retailer Cencosud acquired a 67 percent stake in The Fresh Market. Existing grocery store shareholders retained a minority equity interest in the company.

The Fresh Market, with 159 stores in 22 states, was founded in 1982. The size of its stores average about 21,000 square feet.

The Bowman Place location is near a 4-mile stretch of Johnnie Dodds Boulevard between the Ravenel Bridge and Interstate 526 that’s teeming with supermarkets. They include Harris Teeter, Whole Foods, Publix, Traders Joe’s, Aldi and Walmart.

Lidl has a dozen stores in South Carolina, with two in the Charleston area in Goose Creek and North Charleston.

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCSC) - A historic Mount Pleasant park was possibly going to be a dog park before nearby community members banded together against the development.

Now, the development has been put on hold and nearby residents are celebrating the victory.

At Edwards Park in historic Mount Pleasant, the park has been here since 1837, that’s why the proposed development brought together the community to maintain its historical significance.

“I heard about the dog park that the town was proposing an idea to divide and fence half of the park, and the community spoke out and said we don’t want this, and the town council responded,” Sarah Mitchell who lives near Edwards Park says. “And as I know, it is off the table for now. So, which is wonderful, but in the future, we’d like to do a historical designation of the park.”

Turning Edwards Park into a dog park was an idea shared with the community a few weeks ago, but the town decided to stop pursuing the project after over 700 Mount Pleasant residents signed a petition against it.

Eric LaFontanie with Mount Pleasant said after hearing feedback and considerations from the community, the town will not be pursuing this Edwards Park concept at the moment.

The park currently sits in the middle of a neighborhood with homes surrounding it on all sides with homeowners concerned about the potential impact on traffic and noise it would have on residents.

“It’s important just for traffic, noise, and other reasons, that we don’t ever make it an official dog park. Like I said, folks can use it now as it is: you could still come with your dog, but we also want it open for everyone,” Mitchell says.

Edwards Park is used by many members of the public to picnic, host group gatherings, go for walks, and more, which is why the community wanted it to be open to all.

“When you turn something into a dog park, it really limits it to just one use,” Park Preservation Advocate Daniel Brownstein says. “I mean, nobody’s going to go have a picnic at a dog park, so it just made sense, I think, to keep the status quo and make sure that it’s open to people and dogs and not exclusive to one or the other.”

Turing Edwards Park into a dog park was part of Mount Pleasant’s plan to improve Alhambra Hall, grounds and playground, the other improvements are all still set to begin next summer.

“I think if anything, the park could use a little TLC with its landscaping,” Brownstein adds. “It would also be an ideal spot to build a gazebo, and to really just sort of enhance it into the community gathering spot that it could be.”

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