AC Repair in North Charleston, SC

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - The City of North Charleston will consider an ordinance creating a new zoning district Thursday night at the site of a former Navy Base.

The Navy Base Redevelopment District would establish a mixed-use urban area that will provide office, retail, entertainment, civic and public uses, as well as a variety of urban housing choices for the region.

Then, the council will consider rezoning 89 parcels of land to be a part of the NBRD. The city of Charleston, the South Carolina Ports Authority and the South Carolina Department of Commerce Division of Public Railways own most of the land.

One parcel included in the zone is the non-profit Water Mission. The team of engineers, marketers, implementers, fundraisers, volunteers and donors works to create clean water systems for those who need them.

They recently sent a relief team to Turkey following the earthquakes.

Water Mission owns about 10 acres on the northernmost part of the former base. Founder and CEO George Greene says he enjoys the history of the area.

“Personally, growing up in Charleston; you know, I remember being out in the harbor and on boats and nuclear submarines coming and going and just kind of, you know, looking back on it, that was the middle of the Cold War,” Greene remembers.

He says he is excited about the potential for development along the old Navy Base since it will bring people to the neighborhood.

“As we look at more and more people coming into this area, whether it’s for a concert or whether it’s because it’s where they want to live or it’s where they want to go grab a meal,” Greene says. “There’s just some really neat things that are coming down the pipeline that are just going to make it an even more desirable place to be.”

The land is currently zoned with light or heavy industrial. The Planning Commission held a public hearing on Jan. 9, 2023, and voted unanimously to recommend approval.

“It’s just kind of crazy to think about how much growth we’ve had already been experienced and seen, and I think all that’s tied to everybody understands how valuable the location is,” Greene says.

The ordinance includes requirements for use, setbacks, street standard and streetscape use, all defined in its writing. You can read the details of the proposed NBRD here:

Copyright 2023 WCSC. All rights reserved.

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC/AP) - The Federal Aviation Administration says flights to and from the Charleston International Airport are resuming following the downing of a suspected Chinese spy balloon.

The balloon traversed sensitive military sites across North America and became the latest flashpoint in tensions between Washington and Beijing.

The United States on Saturday downed it off the Carolina coast. An operation was underway in U.S. territorial waters to recover debris from the balloon, which had been flying at about 60,000 feet and was estimated to be about the size of three school buses.

This footage, recorded off Myrtle Beach shows the U.S. military downing a suspected Chinese spy balloon Saturday afternoon. (Source: Nick Frags)

The downing of the balloon came shortly after Federal Aviation Administration temporarily paused departures from three airports along the Carolina coast, including the Charleston International Airport.

The decision was made to “support the Department of Defense in a national security effort,” the agency announced on Twitter. The post did not specify a reason for the grounding of planes at the three airports.

Airport spokesman Spencer Pryor confirmed that the agency had halted all flights but referred questions as to the reason for the decision to the FAA.

But the announcement of the grounding came as the Biden Administration moved forward with a plan to shoot down a large Chinese balloon suspected of conducting surveillance on U.S. military.

It would be brought down once it is above the Atlantic Ocean where the remnants could potentially be recovered, according to two U.S. officials.

The officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive operation, said President Joe Biden had given the go-ahead. In a brief remark Saturday in response to a reporter’s question about the balloon, Biden said: “We’re going to take care of it.”

The balloon was spotted Saturday morning over the Carolinas as it approached the Atlantic coast. In preparation for the operation, the Federal Aviation Administration temporarily closed airspace over the Carolina coastline, including the airports in Charleston and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and Wilmington, North Carolina.

The FAA was rerouting air traffic from the area and warned of delays as a result of the flight restrictions.

Just after 3 p.m., the FAA tweeted that all of the airports would be resuming normal operations.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Copyright 2023 WCSC. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved.

Boeing’s South Carolina workforce grew by about 950 in 2022, part of a companywide surge of 15,000 employees around the world.

Boeing shared its year-end employment numbers in conjunction with filing its 10-K financial performance forms with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The growth of the Lowcountry workforce brings the total headcount to about 6,500 at Boeing South Carolina’s two campuses, according to figures released by the company. The company said in a news release that it plans to hire another 10,000 workers worldwide in 2023.

Part of the Palmetto State hiring took place because delivery resumed for the Dreamliners produced at the Ladson plant. Production of the 787s had continued at a slower pace while the company and Federal Aviation Administration worked to address safety concerns.

Related: Boeing makes first 787 delivery since 2021

The company acknowledged that a return to deliveries accounted for some of the hiring, but not all of it.

Although the Dreamliner program is based at the North Charleston plant, other Boeing operations include:

• Boeing’s engine nacelle design and manufacturing center of excellence, supporting the 777X and 737 MAX programs, among others.

• Boeing Research and Technology South Carolina, the center of the company’s composite manufacturing development activities.

• One of Boeing’s four Information Technology Centers, which provides support to the entire Boeing enterprise across the globe.

• One of the primary U.S. Air Force base locations (Joint Base Charleston) supporting the C-17 fleet with technical and logistics solutions.

• One of three domestic BCA Engineering Design Centers, performing engineering work statement for BCA, BDS and BGS programs and projects.

• Senior Boeing executives leading enterprise roles such as 787 Engineering; 787 Quality; Ethics, Law and Global Compliance; and others.

“Our diverse Boeing South Carolina team demonstrates a commitment to safety, quality and integrity every day on the 787 program and across the many other Boeing programs and projects BSC supports,” Lane Ballard, vice president and general manager of the 787 program and Boeing South Carolina site leader, said in the news release. “I am proud of our growing team in South Carolina, and we will continue to invest in our teammates and the development of meaningful and fulfilling careers for generations to come.”

Boeing South Carolina is one of only three aerospace production sites in the world where twin-aisle commercial airplanes are assembled and delivered. It is the only site in the world that encompasses the full cycle of Dreamliner production, starting with fabrication using carbon composite materials and ending with final assembly and delivery to the customer.

The company has invested more than $83 million with charitable organizations in South Carolina, with an emphasis on education, arts and culture, health and human services, civic engagement and the environment. From their headquarters in Virginia, Boeing today said it would donate $500,000 to earthquake relief in Turkey.

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - As the City of North Charleston grows and leaders work to rebalance the city’s districts, they want the public to get involved.

The city is holding a public meeting Tuesday and city leaders are encouraging residents to come look over the plan and share their thoughts or concerns. Redistricting is meant to make sure that each vote is counted equally throughout the city.

The population of North Charleston jumped more than 20% from around 97,000 in 2010 to around 117,000 in 2020, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Ryan Johnson, the Public Information Officer for North Charleston, said every district will be affected.

Johnson said specifically, there has been a lot of growth along Dorchester Road, and he said expects the districts that fall within Dorchester County to be drawn smaller to account for population changes.

He said community input in this process is essential because these districts will determine the council member’s areas that will represent the public.

Click here to view the proposed maps and other data and reports from the City of North Charleston.

Tuesday’s public meeting starts at 5 p.m. and will be held on the third floor of North Charleston’s City Hall, located at 2500 City Hall Lane. The meeting can be viewed online here.

Johnson said residents who are unable to attend today’s meeting can submit comments online, or email written comments to fieldsc@northcharleston.org. The maps will also be on display at the Gethsemani Community Center, the Perry-Webb Community Center, the North Charleston Athletic Center and the north Charleston Aquatic Center for the next two weeks.

“We just want to encourage people to look at the new maps, look at the data, and all that’s been involved in that, and give us your opinion and your feedback,” Johnson said.

He said the city may make changes to the proposed draft after receiving public input.

From there, the map will go through the typical ordinance process, requiring a couple of city council readings before being officially adopted.

Copyright 2023 WCSC. All rights reserved.

NORTH CHARLESTON — Alan Parker trudged into court Feb. 8 knowing he could lose his home.

Awaiting his fate outside an empty courtroom on the first floor of Lonnie Hamilton III Public Service Building, Parker prayerfully bowed his head atop the cane he uses to walk.

He has been here before.

Last month, Elizabeth Hartman, an attorney with Charleston Pro Bono Legal Services, had an eviction dismissed because Parker’s landlord hadn’t given him the required five-day notice of his intention.

Hartman is part of a group of attorneys and legal aid organizations operating Charleston County’s Housing Court, a special docket that offers free representation to tenants facing eviction. When the law is not followed, like in Parker’s earlier case, they can mount a defense on behalf of the tenant; when it is, they broker deals to avoid eviction, usually buying time for their client and promising some money to the indebted property owner.

But with nothing more than a disability check as monthly income, Parker wasn’t able to come up with the rent he owed, and his landlord wanted him out. Given the proper notice this time, he was back in court Feb. 8 with little recourse.

Parker was given a week to vacate his North Charleston apartment huddled between Rivers Avenue and Interstates 26 and 526. He has nowhere to go. He’s been looking for a new apartment since last month’s hearing, he said.

“I’m sorry there isn’t more I can do,” Hartman told Parker. “Sometimes the law doesn’t leave much room.”

While Parker still has to leave, the agreement negotiated by Hartman and his landlord is not an eviction. That means Parker gets more than the 24-hour notice he would have had if evicted, and his federal housing voucher won’t be endangered as it could have been.

“At least it gives him a chance,” Hartman said knowing Parker will likely end up at a shelter if he can’t secure another apartment in a week’s time.

Parker’s was one of 10 hearings scheduled that day in this southern end of North Charleston. The Housing Court pilot program, which started in late 2019 to address the city’s worst-in-the-nation eviction rate, has recently been authorized to expand to every court in South Carolina.

A Princeton University study found that in 2016 there was an eviction for every six rental units in North Charleston, giving the city its notorious superlative and spurring the creation of Charleston County’s first housing court.

Praise for housing court

In its first full year in operation, 410 eviction hearings were held, 74 percent of which did not result in an eviction, according to Jeff Yungman, director of Legal Services at One80 Place Legal Services. He not only helped start the housing court but also served as its first coordinator and recently petitioned the Supreme Court to expand the program statewide.

“That was our hope, to serve as a model for the state,” Yungman said just days after Chief Justice Donald Beatty had signed the order Jan. 26 authorizing its expansion “to all counties in South Carolina.” Yungman added that it’s not a mandate, so not every county has to create a housing court.

Since its inception, the program has expanded to five magistrate courts in Charleston County — three covering all of North Charleston, and one each in West Ashely and the city of Charleston — with two more expected to be added later this year.

In 2022, the program touted a 95 percent success rate after more than doubling the number of hearings it held, according to figures provided by the Housing Court coordinator, Natalie Sorrem. Again, success means the tenant was not evicted. The reasons vary: It was dismissed for cause because proper notice wasn’t given or another lease violation was found. Or more commonly, because some other settlement was reached: a delayed move-out, habitability issues are addressed, or rental relief sought.

“It’s the best worst-case scenario,” Sorrem said. “It means they don’t have to leave tomorrow.”

Part of the court’s success is in increasing the number of hearings requested. When an eviction is filed, a tenant has 10 days to request a hearing or the ejectment moves forward.

In 2018, a Post and Courier analysis of court records found that hearings were requested for fewer than a tenth of the eviction filings in the North Area 1 court, where the program began. By 2020, hearings were requested in a quarter of cases.

The pro bono legal assistance the housing court offers is limited to those eviction hearings. Sorrem estimates thousands of evictions still go through the Charleston County courts without any dissent from tenants.

Sarah Schreiber, senior staff attorney at Charleston Legal Access, is helping to start a housing court in Dorchester and Berkeley counties. Her hope is to start in Goose Creek, where there are about 600 filings monthly.

Mixed reviews

Another key part of the court is buy-in from landlords, who appear to have mixed opinions.

Alysse Green, with J.H.W. Enterprises Property Management, said the attorneys in housing court help keep the negotiations amicable with tenants.

“We’re grateful that our tenants who cannot or don’t know how to advocate for themselves have someone who can stand in the aisle for them,” she said after court Feb. 8.

Her case was continued for a second time after both parties agreed to wait for rental assistance to come through. The delay was neither the tenant nor the landlord’s fault, so Green said she was happy to delay it because it meant some money would be paid.

In a conventional eviction, a landlord only regains possession of the property, not any overdue rent. The negotiations in housing court often result in the landlord getting some money back.

But not all landlords are happy with the concessions, which Thomas Baker, of Darth Properties, said favor the tenant.

“You’re bullied into it,” Baker said after agreeing that a tenant has until the end of the month to pay the $3,850 he owes or vacate. “If you don’t agree to it before you go in there, the court gives it to them anyway.”

Baker, whose company manages about 100 investor properties all over the state, said South Carolina is moving away from the reasons why he invested here in the first place.

But housing advocates say the state makes it far too easy to file an eviction, allowing landlords to use it as cudgel to collect rent. It costs just $40.

Outlook unclear

Sue Berkowitz, with SC Appleseed Legal Justice Center in Columbia, is heading efforts to bring housing court to Richland County, but the office is also looking at more systematic approaches for addressing evictions and the affordable housing crises there “to make sure that people aren’t easily evicted from their homes,” and that they have somewhere to go, if they are.”

One example might be upping the $40 eviction filing fee. Another is developing a process to expunge filings that don’t end in evictions.

“Even if you win your case, it shows an eviction was filed against you,” she said.

While housing court is a good start, she said, it might not work everywhere.

“In a lot of the smaller counties, there’s not enough evictions for there to be a regular housing court, nor are there necessarily attorneys who could staff them,” Berkowitz said.

The program is also losing one of its greatest points of leverage with landlords. The federal rental-assistance dollars doled out during the pandemic are quickly dwindling. Charleston County has spent more than $35 million on rental assistance; another $10 million has been earmarked for those facing eviction, county spokeswoman, Kelsey Barlow said in an email. It’s unclear how long that will last and what that means for the continued success of housing court when it’s depleted. The consensus is that evictions will inevitably rise.

“The wheels have been greased for about two years,” Magistrate Amy J. Mikell, who presides over North Area 1’s Housing court, told a group of law students who will be helping as volunteer counsels. “But (the money is) running out. The gloves will come off. Then we’ll see what housing court is really like.”

Reach Ali Rockett at 843-901-1708. Follow her on Twitter @AliRockettPC.