Charleston continues to impress! This month, we share good news on endangered sea turtles, education, air services, recreation and conservation. We also reveal which long-awaited development project officially broke ground on the last day of February. Eager to learn more about any of the topics covered? Just follow the links where you see bold blue font.
In February, five endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtles rehabilitated by the SC Aquarium were released at sea with assistance from the US Coast Guard. Kemp’s ridleys are the world’s rarest and most endangered sea turtle species and these five - named Chia, Beignet, Griddle, Home Fry and Loaf - were part of the aquarium’s largest annual intake ever last year, when 49 sea turtles were admitted for care, making it an especially significant event.
More educational facilities and programs are coming to the area. Getting a second mention in our news post today, the SC Aquarium will soon begin offering programs at its new Boeing Learning Lab at the Charleston Maritime Center, welcoming students from across the state. The 8,500sf space includes four indoor classrooms, an open-air classroom, a broadcast studio and aquarium staff office space. The Medical University of South Carolina also has a new learning hub on “the reimagined first floor of the College of Nursing building” in downtown Charleston that is dedicated to learning, innovation and collaboration. Its skills lab, lecture hall, AV technology and common areas will allow its nursing program to enroll and train 40 more undergraduate students per year, preparing them with hands-on skills in realistic settings.
Air service through Charleston International Airport will be expanding as summer approaches. Breeze Airways will be adding three new nonstop routes from Charleston to the Northeast: Albany and Rochester in New York, and Burlington in Vermont. The airline is also inaugurating its previously announced service to New Haven, Connecticut. American Airlines is bringing back its nonstop service to LaGuardia beginning June 6, with twice-weekly flights linking Charleston directly with New York City.
Johns Island will be getting a new multi-million-dollar recreation and aquatics center with sports and recreational programming for all ages, thanks to the City of Charleston’s parks bond referendum passed by voters in 2023.
The Lowcountry Land Trust has also been active on Johns Island. Last month we reported on their purchase of the Grayson Oaks property. Now they have protected nearby Main Road Park with Charleston County Greenbelt Program funding and have plans for active and passive recreational areas, including facilities for Barrier Islands Little League.
Lastly, while writing this post for release tomorrow, our screen lit up with news that ground broke today on the Charleston peninsula’s Magnolia Landing project. What is projected to be a $3 billion, phased, mixed-use development on a 192-acre site along the Ashley River by Highland Resources has been 20 years in the making, delayed by site contamination and investor challenges. Not only will it include residential and commercial uses, but also tourist facilities, public open space and river access. Phase One’s first buildings could open as early as 2028, but it is expected to take another 20 years for the development’s completion.
