AC Repair in Sullivan's Island, SC

SULLIVAN‘S ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) - The town of Sullivan’s Island has revealed updated master plan designs for J. Marshall Stith Park after receiving the public’s feedback.

The new design includes pickleball courts, new and inclusive playground equipment, a pavilion, paths and restoring the mound.

Leaders say it’s ultimately up to the council over the next few years to approve funding from different departments to upgrade the park as they see fit. The master plan designs are not final and could see changes based on council opinions or future funding opportunities, but the plans are a product of multiple public input sessions and a survey on what people want to see at their island’s community park.

The potentially more than $5 million project at first included a community pool with lap lanes that would have cost upwards of $2 million.

A public survey of more than 300 people found that 87% opposed a pool and preferred open park space. A pool is no longer in the master plan, but the designers did provide their design alternatives that would have applied if it were favored.

Instead, the plan focuses on restoring the mound as part of a playground and gathering space. The mound is the large dirt hill that served as a fort and battery throughout the island’s history. The plan proposes paths to the top of the old fort where there would be open park space and a lookout tower. Along the paths up the mound would be historical education information.

Part of the access to the top of the mound would be a retaining wall with steps and a path leading down to the grove. The grove is a space featuring a community pavilion, paths and greenery.

Katie Fradella has a son who she says loves the park and she thinks it’s a worthwhile investment for the growing families on the island to make improvements.

“We come here probably once or twice a week. My son is two-and-a-half, so he loves playing here. It’s a little outdated, but it’s nice because it’s convenient,” Fradella says.

Another side of the mound would meld into an inclusive playground through paths and potentially an embankment slide. The current playgrounds would be removed. The new playground area would have two different areas with age-appropriate equipment for younger and older children. The equipment will have pieces that are accessible to children of all needs.

The plan proposes adding two pickleball courts and a shaded structure behind the two current tennis courts. The plan includes creating a parking lot for ADA accessibility and golf cart parking near the courts as well.

“I think it’s a great idea. I mean, there’s a lot of people that have young kids out here. I know Pickleball is huge now. When my mom comes to visit, she wants to play, and it would be nice to have pickleball courts and some new playground equipment,” Fradella says.

Fradella says she already enjoys meeting other parents and neighbors at the park and appreciates upgrading it to be even more inviting for community events. It’s not just the people who live there that would benefit from the park as well. Visitors, like Laura Phillips, say it’s a great public perk when towns she vacations to have updated facilities.

“I am a huge tennis and pickleball player, and when I go on vacations like a little beach town, I fully support wanting to have that here, because, it makes us go outside, get our exercise, and then even meet locals who also want to play with us,” Phillips says.

The budget action plan for the project notes the town already paid $60,000 for master planning and design work starting with public hearings in 2023 and leading to the designs in 2024. The next item estimates $150,000 for permitting through 2025. Drainage and parking site work is estimated to cost about $500,000 and could get underway between 2025 and 2026. Landscaping and restoring the mound is estimated to cost $1 million and could start, along with playground construction, between 2026 and 2027. The playground equipment is estimated to cost $870,000. The community pavilion, pickleball courts and observation tower are action items for 2027 and beyond, with a combined estimated cost of $825,000.

The links to the master plan designs and budget action plan can be found on the town’s website for the project.

Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.

One of the most historic buildings on Sullivan’s Island is getting a second act, instead of a curtain call.

The Fort Moultrie Post Theatre, which used to play films for soldiers in the 1930s, will be revived to become a 6,000-square-foot single-family residence with a private movie room.

Steve Guaglianone, owner of Charleston builder Novella Homes, is leading the charge after purchasing the property for $2 million in April.

Hurricane Wire

“We were looking at renovating the building originally for the previous owner, but he decided not to move forward with it,” said Guaglianone, who was too enamored with the project to give it up.

So he bought the property and now will follow through on the plans for himself.

He intends to build and find a buyer down the road.

The brick building at 1454 Middle St. has been vacant for 40 years after being converted into a warehouse in the 1970s and is in desperate need of reviving, Guaglianone said.

“No one would say the property looks great right now and you’re going to ruin it,” he said in consideration of those who at face value may criticize development of a historic building. “Anything we do is going to be an improvement.”

Business

Today, there's no electricity for the building, which is completely dark inside and overgrown outside. Paint is peeling, spiders have strung their webs from corner to corner and the auditorium has been gutted.

Small remnants remain intact, though, like the original double doors with port windows leading into the theater and an old ticket window with a $1 adult price and 50 cents for kids. Old-timey restroom signs and chandeliers hang from the ceiling.

Guaglianone plans to pay homage to the history, keeping some of those artifacts intact, including maintaining the brick façade and transforming the former screening room into a private theater.

“This is kind of a career project and it’s something we’ll take very seriously,” he said.

Guaglianone is going for an industrial-meets-coastal feel to mesh the large space with island living. He plans to add several new windows to brighten up to the blacked-out space.

Since the slab is compromised and the roof is "one storm away from blowing off," Guaglianone will demolish the flooring, pour new concrete and raise the structure as a drive-under house instead.

The home would have 20- to 25-foot ceilings, even with the raised level and a new roof. Once completed, it will be one of the biggest single-family homes on Sullivan's, one of South Carolina priciest ZIP codes.

At maximum, a new build can extend about 4,000 square feet, but the theater property was grandfathered in before zoning limits were put in place, Guaglianone said.

The renovation will cost several million dollars, with the windows alone upward of $1 million in work. Guaglianone estimates the project will take two years to complete.

“This project is so cool and really draws you in,” he said. “I was willing to take the risk on it.”

Big money

A Summerville apartment complex recently sold for a pretty penny.

NorthStar Real Estate Investments facilitated the sale of Bellary Flats, a 264-unit rental complex in Carnes Crossroads, for $58 million.

Columbia-based BF Summerville InvestCo LLC purchased the property at 11000 Eagle Hall Lane.