Charleston in the News - January 2020
Boone Hall Plantation Placed Under Conservation Easement
One of Charleston's beloved tourist attractions, Boone Hall Plantation, has recently been placed under a conservation easement. In 1955, Willie McRae's father purchased the plantation for his mother, which she opened to visitors soon after they moved there when Willie was one. A conservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement that limits the use of the land, specifically in this case, the forests and farmland on the plantation. This easement consists of nearly 600 acres, including 370 acres of forestland and 1.5 miles of creek frontage. With the rapid growth in Mount Pleasant, Willie McRae said he wanted to keep it the "mystical place" he remembers from his childhood into the future. The property is completely surrounded by development which prompted the family to obtain this easement. The attraction welcomes a large number of visitors every year who take in the history and beauty of the plantation, pick fruit from the fields, celebrate family occasions and attend special events. Boone Hall will now only be used for agriculture, education, and tourism purposes. We owe the McRaes a thank you for pursuing their family's long-term vision and keeping this a part of our community for generations to come. Read More Here...
Charleston Will Be One of the Top Ten U.S. Housing Markets in 2020
According to Realtor.com, the national real estate market is expected to see change in the new year with a slowdown in home sales expected EXCEPT for the Top 10 housing markets, with Charleston ranking 9th! The others, in rank order, are Boise, ID; McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX; Tucson, AZ; Chattanooga, TN-GA; Columbia, SC; Rochester, NY; Colorado Springs, CO; Winston-Salem, NC; and Memphis, TN-MS-AR. While sales are expected to slow down by an average of 1.8% nationwide, the Top 10 are forecast to experience an average increase of 2.4%. The availability of affordable housing, coupled with growth in job opportunities and salaries, is attracting a hoard of new buyers to these markets. The idea of having their paycheck go further and enjoying a more "laid-back" lifestyle is bringing an abundance of buyers into these markets. Specifically for Charleston, it has long been a favorite destination for tourists and those who come fall in love with its historic charm and food scene so much so that they end up staying for good. Read More Here...
"Bye-Bye Plastic Bags" in Charleston in the New Year
Starting in January of 2020, the ban of single-use plastic will expand even further across the Charleston area into three more communities: the City of Charleston, the Town of James Island and unincorporated areas of Charleston County. This new ban will require that all disposable products be recyclable or compostable. So say goodbye to styrofoam containers and cups, plastic straws, and plastic bags from schools, retail stores, food truck vendors and even grocery stores. Back in 2014, the Citadel estimated that roughly 15,000 pounds of plastic could be found in Charleston Harbor at any given time, and that only included plastic that had not broken down into smaller pieces. Mayor Tecklenberg, after learning this news, declared that it was "time to move forward with a stricter city ordinance". In 2018, Charleston City Council passed its single-use plastics ban but only began enforcement a year later to "give businesses and residents time to adjust their habits". After the City's Department of Livability and Tourism educates businesses of this new change, there will be consequences for those who fail consistently to violate this ordinance, even to the extent of suspending or revoking their business licenses. Isle of Palms was the first local community to ban single-use plastics in 2016, followed by Folly Beach in 2017, Sullivan's Island in 2018 and Mount Pleasant in 2019. Read More Here... (article). Read the Ordinance Here...
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