Around Charleston
1 - $1.4m added to affordable housing grants - More funding has been made available to the Charleston County Affordable Housing Initiatives. Submission deadline is June 23rd. FULL PROGRAM INFO
2 - 1644-acre state forest coming to Dorchester County - The Open Space Institute acquired the Beech Hill Tract for $11.35m and is expected to be enrolled in the SC DNR’s Wildlife Management Area program. READ MORE
3 - Responsible Tourism Management - A recent forum was held on the future of responsible tourism to announce that Bloomberg will be conducting a study on our tourism and will report the findings in the fall. READ MORE
Historic Home of the Week
16 Trumbo Street - This Charleston Single in Harleston Village is on a double lot with a pool just a block from Colonial Lake.
4 Bed | 3.5 Bath | 2727 sqft | $3,100,000
2 Major Traffic Relief Projects in the Works
Maybank Highway: A Faster, Smarter Solution Proposed!
Maybank Highway, specifically between River Road and the bridge on Johns Island, is a major bottleneck. Getting off the island is a real issue, with significant backups.
The Problem with Current State Plans
DOT and the county have versions involving adding an additional lane.
These plans require taking out many grand trees and building essentially another road.
This approach seems like overkill and would take about two and a half to three years to complete.
A New, Quicker Solution Proposed
The city measured the existing asphalt and found that using narrower lanes (11 ft lanes, 10 ft for turning lane at Fenwick).
This would allow putting another lane in relatively easily and quickly.
The proposal is to implement this solution by reducing lane width, not adding entirely new road infrastructure.
Why City Ownership is Key
To implement narrower lanes, the city would have to take over ownership from the state DOT.
This is because DOT won't approve the narrower lane widths necessary for the proposed fix.
Taking ownership provides the necessary flexibility.
Funding and Partnership
The idea is for the county to pay for adding the additional lane.
They are targeting $15 million from their 526 settlement funds for this type of project.
This city proposal is expected to be a much less expensive option.
Addressing Concerns & Benefits
This plan would save a lot of trees compared to the state's approach.
It could potentially be done faster.
Reducing lane width would allow reducing the speed limit (to 25-30 mph max), potentially increasing throughput and improving safety.
Next Steps
The city would need to work out an agreement with the county regarding funding and long-term maintenance.
Then, formally request ownership transfer from the state DOT.
This committee recommended approving the concept to move forward with negotiating details and seeking state approval.
Residents are torn on this idea. Read what they have to say in the comments and chime in HERE
Folly Road Safety and Traffic Improvements
SCDOT held a public information meeting on May 22 to discuss Folly Road safety upgrades.
James Island residents voiced concerns and ideas for the 5-mile audit.
Traffic Volume
Nearly 70,000 vehicles use Folly Road daily, with peaks of ~50,000 near the Connector.
The southern segment carries about 18,000 cars per day.
Crash History (2018–2022)
2,103 vehicular crashes (15 pedestrian and 21 bicycle incidents recorded)
75% property damage, 24% injury, and <1% fatality rate.
Proposed Safety Improvements
New crosswalks, sidewalks, upgraded signage, and enhanced traffic signals.
Raised concrete medians and reduced left-turn movements to cut angled crashes.
Pedestrian & Cyclist Feedback
“These improvements will benefit walkers and bikers along Folly Road,” said Sarah Gallahorn.
Support for safer, continuous bike lanes and well-marked crossings.
Median Design Concerns
Concrete medians curb dangerous collisions but may impact travel lanes.
Paul Comar proposes narrowing medians to 6′ to expand bike lanes or traffic lanes.
Business Access Issues
Median breaks may limit direct turns into local businesses.
SCDOT will conduct one-on-one meetings to adjust designs and maintain access.
Traffic Flow Enhancements
Revised exit ramp from James Island Connector to Folly Road for smoother turns.
Improved alignment and signal timing at Central Park Road junction.
Funding & Timeline
Federally funded $12.5 million project, part of SCDOT’s 2026 pavement plan.
Public feedback is accepted through June 6, with construction slated for late 2026.
3707 Gambrill Lane, Mount Pleasant, SC 29466
4 beds | 3.5 baths | 3200 sqft
$1,160,000
A rare chance to own one of Carolina Park's most loved floor plans, the Lightsey. This Saussy Burbank builder home stands out with REAL WHITE OAK HARDWOOD floors with primary bedroom on the main floor (yes, finally!) and three more bedrooms plus a huge loft upstairs—perfect for a second living space, home office, or play area. New carpet in 3 of the upstairs bedrooms, everything else is hardwood. It sits on a corner lot with gorgeous mature landscaping with fresh sod, a newly painted black picket fence, and a clean, updated feel inside with fresh paint and new lighting fixtures. The garage has epoxy flooring with amazing added storage, and the crawl space was encapsulated just two years ago—plus, it has a brand new water heater. This home is perfect for any stage of life.
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It’s officially summer…at least according to the school district’s calendar. And what better way to celebrate than with a pool party! Oh, no pool? Well I can help with that! Browse all the homes currently for sale with a pool.
Should I do this?
I’ve been tossing around an idea, but I need to know if you’d be interested first. I tried to incorporate outlines of all the council meetings in this newsletter, and quite a few of you read them. However, it was slightly time-consuming, so I stopped. I had the thought of starting that back up, but making it a premium subscription to help make it even better. Full blog posts with images and more. Nothing crazy, just $5/month to know what’s going on in all the public meetings without having to sit through them.
Would you find value in this to keep up with EVERYTHING going on around Charleston?
I am seriously considering this to bring y’all even more news and value so please let me know if you would find that informative.
Have a fantastic weekend!
-Bill Olson
If you're looking to buy or sell a home in Charleston, Bill Olson & Pirate Properties can help you. We’re fast, friendly, knowledgeable, and fun to work with. We’ve helped hundreds of clients in real estate. Click below and start viewing what's available in Charleston today, calculate your home’s value, or schedule a no-obligation, no-pressure discovery call.
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