AC Repair in Folly Beach, SC

Updated: Nov. 6, 2024 at 4:45 PM PST

FOLLY BEACH, S.C. (WCSC) - The City of Folly Beach hopes to curb a growing need for “cost-friendly” livability by expanding access to workforce housing, but they need opinions to push them forward.

Leaders are asking the public to weigh in on ideas to bring diverse housing options closer to city limits. The idea was first introduced in July when planning commission board members discussed creating affordable long-term rental spaces.

Folly Beach has seen an increase in July long-term rentals after a cap was placed in 2023 on short-term rental options.

“It’s getting to be a bit more expensive to live on Folly Beach, and that’s starting to impact our public safety, our service workers, who are having to move further out and find places they can afford to live in,” Councilmember Chris Bizzell says.

Sarah Piscatelli has worked on Folly Beach for more than a year. She admires the character of the beachfront and its local hospitality.

“I used to live on James Island, made a shorter commute. Since we now own a house in Goose Creek, so a longer commute,” Piscatelli says. “It is so rewarding to work somewhere and commute somewhere that is so beautiful.”

Coworkers and surrounding businesses share a similar experience. The restaurants, cafes and shops lining Center Street say peak tourism season gives them the business and the energy they need, but staffing can be difficult to maintain, despite the potential of higher pay.

Local residents add attainable housing is “no doubt, a need,” but would like to see how it would be done. City officials have confirmed there is not a lot of space in city limits for development.

“I know locals are super passionate about the community we have and are obtaining. I feel like any sort of additional housing, anything built besides whatever is being done already is excessive,” Piscatelli says.

The city aims to have a formal plan by February 2025 that includes details of cost, timeline, location and design. Between that time, leaders expect to hold public hearings and meetings to dispute options.

“We won’t be building high-rises, we can’t build high-rises because we don’t have room. The avenues we want to build through planning commission may look very different than they do in other places,” Zoning Administrator, Jenna Stephens, says. “Planning commission is about to send out a survey we hope business workers will answer, to know how far they live, how far they commute, how much they pay, are they looking for housing on Folly Beach and would they benefit from some sort of help.”

Bizzell says this is the time for “creative solutions,” as it can be difficult to gauge an “affordable” definition for housing. He adds the average single family home could cost anywhere between $3,000 and $4,000 a month.

To submit public comment on this project, you can contact the city of Folly Beach here.

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CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – Mary Rhodes is celebrating a century. She was born in 1924 and raised just outside of Summerville with her parents, two sisters, and three brothers.

“I still call it the country,” said Rhodes. “We had a lot of fun. It was out in the country and the church was right there close by.”

Talking about her time as a young girl, she had no car… heck, no electricity. She used a paper fan to keep cool in the hot Lowcountry summers.

But there was one time when she was 11, she just had to have some ice cream.

“My cousin, she drove the mule, but I sat on the back holding a block of ice on his rump. To the day I figure how cruel it was because I know his rear-end was frozen by the time we got home, but we got the ice cream made and thoroughly enjoyed it.”

Before so many milestones, one thing she and her family always made sure of… they made it to church every Sunday.

“We were raised in church. We go every Sunday- no matter what, we went.”

Her memories are as vivid today as the day they happened. Like one with her mother.

“I’ll never forget the time she learned how instead of putting food in a jar, you could put it in a can and seal it. I will always remember that. Now you didn’t have to mess with the jars.”

A much simpler life, Rhodes graduated from Berkeley High School in 1941 and had a few jobs, including at the Navy shipyard. That’s when she moved to Folly Beach and met her future husband in 1945.

“He would come over after he got off work and visit. Next thing we knew, we were dating.”

A full life, living on the beach where everyone knew everyone else. She worked at a concrete company and helped with her parent’s store. But Rhodes credits her longevity to her children.

“They mean everything in the world to me. They are so faithful. I guess that’s why I’ve lived as long as I have, because I have good children.”

No secret to this life well-lived. “Just stayin’ busy. Trying to eat right. But other than that, there’s no pattern to follow,” she said.

Nowadays what Rhodes has to do, and loves to do, is keep her yard looking good.

“I love to go out there and work,” she said.

Rhodes has 13 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren with one on the way, and two great-great grandchildren. Her birthday is September 24^th.