Best Moving Company in Sullivan's Island

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - From West Ashley to Sullivan’s Island, businesses spent the day recuperating after heavy rains and strong winds caused them to temporarily lock their doors.

Many of the exterior windows at Hay Tire Pros, off Savannah Highway, shattered, and a large part of their ceiling collapsed on the inside.

Vice President Bill Sekula said that they have always expected severe storms to come through with being in Charleston, but that they have never had this much damage before.

“I guess it was like a microburst or something to that effect, but apparently it was raining harder than usual and then the windows started to buckle and snapped over. These windows on the side just kind of came apart and came out of the building,” Sekula said.

Sekula said glass from the windows was even in the back part of their building which is almost 30 yards away. They had to close the business for the day and return all of their customers’ vehicles. He said the incident happened during hours of operation as employees notified him at around 8 a.m.

The next-door business, Etto Leisure Cars, a golf cart dealer, also saw significant damage. Will Harton, chief executive officer, said that part of their awning was ripped off and hit their power box causing them to lose power.

“I said ‘Oh my goodness.’ You know, you live in Charleston long enough, you know a storm is going to happen. Usually, it’s a hurricane. It’s not a microburst like this, but we will be fine and we will move on from here,” Harton said.

He added that he’s glad that all of his employees are safe and that the building and golf carts can be fixed.

First Alert Chief Meteorologist Bill Walsh said the damage could have been from a potential microburst or straight-line wind, but the National Weather Service has not yet confirmed that.

The Co-Op Frosé and Eatery on Sullivan’s Island had around two feet of water inside their restaurant. Their staff members spent the day using buckets to help get rid of the water. They said they have had flooding in the past, but never anything over a foot, so this is the worst they’ve seen.

“This morning, we lifted everything off the floor because we were expecting rain and heavy floods, but we didn’t know it was going to get this bad. So, as we were lifting things off the floor, it started coming in through the back door. Next thing you know there is water all over the place and we started getting buckets and mops and throwing water out. We’ve been throwing water out for the past three and a half hours,” employee Havannah Malan said.

She said that they have had to get their floors redone three times, and she expects the business will have to get them redone a fourth time after Saturday’s flood.

The businesses said they hope to repair the damages quickly, so they can return to normal operation as soon as possible.

Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.

SULLIVAN’S ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) - Several Sullivan’s Island dog walkers and regulars are speaking up about their personal experiences with coyotes.

This comes a day after town officials reported five coyote-led attacks involving dogs within the month of August.

They say the wild animals has been approaching people, dogs and roaming open areas of the beach more often than usual.

The Jourdan family says they experienced a too-close encounter with a coyote over the weekend.

“They were out halfway to the water, from the dune, so middle of the beach. And they were attacked by coyotes,” Jourdan said.

Five-year-old Willie Nelson, the Jourdan family dog, was taken by two coyotes early Saturday morning while on a walk with a babysitter.

Jourdan says it happened in broad daylight and in the middle of the beach.

He adds the family was devastated by the loss of their “wonder dog.”

“I was trying to get closure for my family’s sake, for Willie, because we weren’t even there. Which was frustrating. I crawled on my belly for over four miles between stations 26 and 28,” Jourdan said.

The attack occurred at Station 27, a part of the beach several residents have called a “breeding ground” for coyote packs.

Officials with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources say the breed has been approaching people, dogs and roaming open areas of the beach more often.

They add that mid-summer and fall are peak active times for these animals, meaning it is when coyotes migrate to new spaces, feed and have young.

SCDNR officials say another reason for the increased interactions could be from them being opportunistic feeders, meaning they will be quick and take anything they need.

Others say they have been chased by coyotes in the past but escaped.

“We were walking in June when a coyote came out of the dunes and started chasing,” Sullivan’s regular Shelly Carson said. “I was able to chase it away, and it ran down the beach to chase a golden retriever.”

Now, they avoid the area altogether or take proactive measures to be able to walk safely.

“I’ve always known there are coyotes here,” Carson said. “Never seen one until this year. Really, March was the first time I had my first sighting and started carrying pepper spray on the beach. In June I started carrying a birdie alarm. And now I carry a stick with me too.”

Visitors are asking for help from officials to curb the problem.

“It’s close to our hearts, but the coyote system is unfortunately not something that is new, declining or lessened. Rather the opposite,” Jourdan said.

They ask for coyote population control, area management and listening to residential concerns.

Town officials say they do have systems in place to manage the problem, which include education, tracking, hazing and lethal control.

They ask anyone who experiences an encounter or sighting to report the problem immediately.

If you run into a coyote, you’re advised to react loudly, throw small sticks or cans or spray the animal with water.

For more information on coyotes along Sullivan’s Island, click here.

Copyright 2023 WCSC. All rights reserved.

SULLIVAN’S ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) - The mayor of Sullivan’s Island fired the latest salvo Wednesday afternoon in a battle over how much the town owes the Charleston Water System for service as it faces a July deadline.

Mayor Patrick O’Neal released the following statement Wednesday in response to the water utility’s blasting of a proposal that would have the town pay a fraction of what Charleston Water System says is the balance due:

Charleston Water System wants the town to ignore the terms of the signed agreement we entered into almost 30 years ago, after Hurricane Hugo devastated our independent deep water well system. We entered into that agreement at a significant cost to ensure that our residents would have certainty as to the source of our water for decades to come. It’s hard now to accept the baseless claim that CWS (or anyone else) is “subsidizing” Sullivan’s Island when we paid almost $2 million — in 1994 dollars — to support the infrastructure that allowed them to sell water to us and to our neighbors on the Isle of Palms, and when in 2020 we gifted them an easement through our public park and playground so there would be additional capacity to sell water to our neighbors in Mount Pleasant.

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The Charleston Water System on Tuesday responded to a motion passed during Monday night’s town council meeting that proposed the paying of $227,361 to “satisfy in full” the disputed debt. Charleston Water System CEO Mark Cline said the utility “does not agree” with the town’s viewpoint “or its recollection of historical facts.”

“We fully intend to discontinue the town’s water service July 20 unless their past due amount is fully paid and they have entered into a new contract that appropriately covers the costs of providing water service to their community,” Cline said. “It’s not fair that our other customers have been subsidizing the Town’s service for years now, and that would continue under their terms.”

The utility claims the town owes a total of more than $639,000. That figure includes $197,468 in billed but unpaid volumetric charges and $442,478 in bill but unpaid capital charges.

Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.

SULLIVAN'S ISLAND — A newly formed development group plans to invest more than $30 million to acquire and renovate a 90-year-old, vacant private oceanfront club on this seaside enclave.

But elected officials want more details before signing off on allowing a commercial project in a residential area.

Sullivan's Island Bathing Co. is asking the town to allow a members-only social venture called the Ocean Club at 1735 Atlantic Ave. as a conditional use in an area zoned for single-family homes.

Shep Davis, the development firm's managing partner, pointed out last week that the property operated as a private club for close to a century without being open to island residents.

Under this latest proposal, they'll have that option for the first time — at a cost of a $60,000 sign-up fee and an estimated $500 in monthly dues.

The property had been known for decades as the Sand Dunes Club. It was a private beachside retreat for employees of the former South Carolina Electric & Gas Co., which Dominion Energy acquired in early 2019 after the V.C. Summer nuclear plant debacle 18 months earlier.

The Richmond, Va.-based utility closed the property at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, and it never reopened, according to attorney Brian Hellman, a Sullivan's resident who is representing the development group.

Built in 1933 for $14,000, the then 5,400-square-foot structure was called Jasper Hall, an officer's club for military personnel stationed at nearby Fort Moultrie. SCE&G acquired it in the 1950s and expanded it over the years to just under 10,000 square feet.

Davis said the property has not been properly kept up for several years and is in disrepair.

One neighbor recently complained of the uncovered pool starting to smell and becoming a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Hellman and Davis said the pool is being maintained.

$30 million-plus

Davis estimated it will take an investment of "in excess of $30 million" for his group to buy the property, overhaul the building and amenities and place a stormwater retention pond underground. Retrofitting the pool alone, he said could cost half a million dollars.

Improvement plans include offering separate pools for families and adults, upgrading the existing building and landscaping the parking area. The developers also would add a fitness center, dining terrace and gazebo along with a new entry area off a beach access path.

"We can preserve the building and re-create the club for its historical use," Davis said.

Hellman said the current proposal comes after gathering input during several meetings with residents and town leaders over the past few months.

He said the private-membership venue will provide a place for homeowners to eat and exercise without having to drive off the island or jockey for tables with tourists at the restaurants in the town's small business district.

"It will be a gathering place to socialize that won't compete with beachgoers," Hellman said. "Dining will not be open to the general public and will reduce the need for residents to leave the island."

The 3.5-acre club site is owned by a company affiliated with Charleston real estate investor John Derbyshire, the former owner of the chain of Money Man Pawn shops. The firm paid Dominion $16.2 million for the property in 2022, according to Charleston County land records.

A large house is being built for Derbyshire, who plans to remain a partner in the project, on part of the property next to the club, according to Hellman.

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The developer said the goal is that the Ocean Club will be open to all Sullivan's residents who want to join. Davis estimated the venture will need at least 400 members to get the project off the ground.

The proposed Ocean Club would give priority to individuals and families who primarily reside on the island, said Jim Wanless, one of the partners. Off-island residents could join, too.

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The proposed parking rules to allow a social club in a residential area require at least one parking space for every 10 memberships whose primary or secondary residences are within 2½ miles. Sixty percent of those spaces must be designated for golf carts and low-speed vehicles.

For members living outside the 2½-mile range, which is basically anyone who doesn't live on Sullivan's, one vehicle parking space would be required for every five memberships.

The rules also would require one bicycle space — through a rack or corral — for every 20 memberships.

"For whatever the number will be of those living off the island, they most certainly would come by car," Davis said. "On-island residents would have much less need for parking" since they'd have the option to come by golf cart, bike or foot.

Tentative plans call for 50 car parking spaces, at least an equal number of golf cart spaces and "adequate" bicycle parking spaces, Hellman said.

Though the membership will be open to all island residents, the developers don't expect everyone to join. They also have not set a cap on membership.

"We are trying to come up with the right number of members for the club without excluding property owners," Davis said.

Talking to the town

During a public workshop last week, where a standing-room-only crowd spilled into the hallway, the developers addressed a list of written questions from elected officials, including the benefit to the town if the club is allowed.

Davis said, under the current zoning, the property could be sold for residential development that would allow three to five homes that could be taxed at the 4 percent rate if they are primary residences. If the club use is allowed, the developers will pay the 6 percent commercial property tax as well as licensing and permit fees.

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The developers also said they won't allow corporate memberships or agreements with hotels to provide dining or other services. In addition, no reciprocal-use deals with other private clubs are planned.

The projected hours of operation are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday for interior services, with the earliest morning hours set aside for fitness activities. The club would be open until midnight on Friday and Saturday. Outdoor activities would be allowed 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day except until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Some island residents see the idea as another amenity for Sullivan's while others are concerned about increased traffic and noise a club would bring to a residential area.

In letters to the town, supporters pointed to the property's long history as a site for dining, fitness, sports, recreation and cultural, educational and social events. They said those uses should continue to be allowed.

Others said they're against the rezoning to allow a restaurant or for it to become a for-profit entity.

Town Council is expected to discuss the issue further and take public input during its meeting Aug. 15. Mayor Patrick O'Neil cautioned the developers not to expect a quick decision.

"This council proceeds pretty deliberately," he said.

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Reach Warren L. Wise at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @warrenlancewise.

If you follow Ben Sawyer Boulevard far enough, you'll end up at the edge of the world.

Or at least that's how it feels when you visit Sullivan's Island.

Named after Captain Florence O'Sullivan, O'Sullivan's Island was founded in the late 17th century after colonists settled in Charles Town. Ever since, the now "Sullivan's Island" has drawn buyers far and wide to this seaside sanctuary.

A place built by locals for locals

Sullivan's Island is an untouched Lowcountry paradise that has managed to escape the rush of the vacation rental industry due to the limited space and stringent regulations instated on the island. Tim Reese, a Realtor with Dunes Properties, has been a long-time Sullivan's Island resident and has served the area's real estate market since 2000. He states that Sullivan's Island is a place for locals. According to Reese, approximately 5% of the properties on the island bear the rental home status. Either full-time or part-time residents own the rest.

While most of the Charleston region has experienced tremendous expansion and development over the past few years due to the sheer amount of population growth, Sullivan's Island remains one of the few areas untouched by development.

"There are 900 properties on the island. Because there's no potential growth, we've seen a lot of renovation rather than expansion," explains Reese. "Zoning laws keep the density the same as it always has been."

Sullivan's Island dwellers can enjoy a part of the area that's preserved and hasn't changed much over the past few decades, which is reflected in the many historical homes that occupy the island. While there is some new construction and renovations, strict building codes and regulations prevent significant changes to Sullivan's tapestry and prevent the island from losing its local aesthetic.

Steeped in history and scented by the sea

Like the rest of the region, Sullivan's Island has had its fair share of famous residents and historical events that have forever left their mark on the land.

Reese recalls the Sullivan's home he's lived in since 1995. While breaking ground for a pool back in 2000, a shackle was discovered. This shackle harkened back to the sordid days when slave trade was a major industry in the American South. Sullivan's Island was used as a quarantine station for newly transported enslaved people. At the height of the slave trade era, Sullivan's Island was the largest slave port in North America.

Now, visitors and residents can sit on the black steel bench that the Toni Morrison Society dedicated as a memorial for the thousands of enslaved people who came through Sullivan's port and reflect on how this repulsive part of the island's history has shaped the community we know today and be reminded that we should never stop pursuing progress and equality.

Other remnants of Sullivan's history include Fort Moultrie, which has served as a strategic defense for the island from the Revolutionary War to the end of WWII, and the Sullivan's Island Lighthouse, which holds the title of one of the most modern lighthouses in the country.

Another significant chapter in Sullivan's Island history is Hurricane Hugo, which devastated Charleston in September 1989. The Ben Sawyer bridge broke free of its locks during the storm and ended up with one side in the water and the other side pitching into the air. Thankfully, the bridge was repaired and continues to function to this day.

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While Sullivan's Island has been visited by many celebrities, from some of Charleston's first settlers to recognizable writers and movie stars, the Island's most notable former resident is Edgar Allan Poe.

The writer was stationed at Fort Moultrie in the 1820s, and the island had a significant influence on Poe's work. Sullivan's Island was a pivotal setting in his story The Gold Bug and was referenced in his story The Balloon Hoax. Today, Poe's Lowcountry legacy takes the form of Poe Avenue, Goldbug Avenue, Raven Drive and the famous Poe's Tavern.

Buyers looking to make their home on Sullivan's Island will not only be enchanted by the stories of the island's past or wowed by some of the incredible local dives and eateries, but also enjoy a beach community a stone's throw away from the excitement of Downtown or the convenience of Mt. Pleasant.

"It's a residential island, not a rental island," explains Reese. "It's close to Downtown, has easy beach access and buyers are attracted by the lack of rental homes." And while historically, Sullivan's has been a known destination for retirees to hang their hats, young families have been drawn to the island for the good schools in recent years.

High dollar homes

The reputation that Sullivan's Island has been home to affluent residents has not changed, and even this paradise by the sea has not escaped the tremendous price hike the rest of the region has experienced over the past few years.

Reese recently sold 2629 Bayonne Street, a quintessential oceanside home. This off-market sale went for $9.5 million, a significant increase from the $1.5 million the home last sold for in 1999. This 6-bedroom, 7.5-bathroom not only boasts 6,456 square feet of living space but also features gorgeous views of the ocean and a beautiful backyard with a pergola adorned with lush, creeping vines and an in-ground swimming pool for the homeowners to enjoy. According to Reese, the new homeowners plan on undergoing a complete renovation of the home.

While the hefty price tag may seem shocking to some, to others familiar with Sullivan's Island, it comes as no surprise.

"In order to purchase on the island, it's going to cost at least $3 million," says Reese. "A lot of buyers now pay with cash."

Business as usual

Even if interest rates come down and pricing eases up, current Sullivan's Island residents are well-rooted and just like the rest of the region, the lack of available homes proves to be an insurmountable barrier for buyers.

There are currently 17 properties for sale on Sullivan's Island, and they sport a price tag in the millions.

"Pricing has been strong over the last six years with it steadily increasing, and inventory is way down," says Reese. "We may see everything slow down, but Sullivan's will remain a very desirable location for buyers."

Reese says that he gets multiple calls regularly from eager buyers wondering if there are any available listings on O'Sullivan's namesake. But for now, lack of inventory and the price keeps this seaside haven just out of reach for some.