AC Repair in Mount Pleasant, SC

Plans to develop a small boutique hotel on a corner lot in Mount Pleasant’s historic Old Village neighborhood are being revived under a new majority owner.

Jeremy Graves of Village Inn LLC has submitted plans to build the Seabird at Hibben and Whilden streets. The town’s Commercial Site Review Board is scheduled to vote July 26 for final approval of the site, landscape and architecture plans.

Renderings show 23 guest rooms in one building with 1,185 square feet of restaurant space and a lounge.

I’On developer Vince Graham pursued a plan more than a decade ago for what then was called Earls Court Hotel that was to be an offshoot of the nearby Earls Court residential nook his company built.

The inn project faced early pushback from some Old Village residents and was stalled by years of legal squabbles with the town. A settlement was struck in 2019.

Village Inn LLC bought the property in 2021 for $925,000, and Graham remains a minority investor in the hotel project, according to a spokesperson. Graves did not respond to a request for comment.

Back at the BAR

Two notable downtown Charleston hotel projects are coming back before the city’s Board of Architectural Review on July 26.

The developer of South Carolina’s first Four Seasons property at 155 Meeting St. is requesting conceptual approval and the OK to add an eighth floor for a rooftop terrace, conservatory and pool.

Florida-based Strategic Property Partners plans to construct three buildings for the 1.9-acre corner site at Horlbeck Alley that will include a mix of hotel rooms and residential condominiums.

During the last review of the proposal in June, the BAR generally was in favor of what was presented, but members remained split over the request for the extra height.

The panel also is set to take up a boutique 18-room lodging for upper King Street.

Plans show a five-story building with parking, a rooftop area, meeting space and two ground-floor commercial spaces on a vacant lot between Line Street and the overpass where Interstate 26 merges into the Septima P. Clark Expressway.

Greenville-based Atlantic South Development is listed the developer.

Point of view

An upcoming luxury waterfront hotel went before the Board of Architectural Review earlier this month requesting final approval of exterior changes that would improve the view.

The Cooper, which is under construction at 176 Concord St., is expected to open in 2025 with 225 guest rooms on six floors.

It will be part of the locally based Beemok Hospitality Collection, which also is embarking on an overhaul of The Charleston Place across from the City Market.

The developer requested to switch from two-pane to four-pane windows on the top and bottom floors facing Charleston Harbor to improve the waterfront views from the penthouse, restaurant and lobby. Also, it asked for architectural columns on the top floor to be removed from the design plans.

The BAR had mixed feelings about the latter request. The item was deferred.

This streamlined Lowcountry home is set off Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant, SC. See how the family of 6 made it a perfect fit for them.

Shrimp boats, kayaking outfitters, and lively bars and restaurants line the commercial side of Shem Creek, the gem of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina's Old Village Historic District. But north of the Shem Creek bridge, the waterway winds through quiet neighborhoods where children roam on bikes and go crabbing off backyard docks. "My husband dreamed of being on the water, and we fell in love with this lot. We're drawn to older areas where kids can run around," says owner Maggie Bullwinkel. She and husband George, a Charleston native, had two young children when they began renovating this 3,200-square-foot house that was built in the 1970s. Their third child was 9 months old when they moved in. Maggie refers to her then-infant sidekick as "my design assistant."

While the Bullwinkels had renovated and sold houses before, this one would be a keeper. "It had great bones. We loved the back porch and knew this could be our forever home," Maggie says. Working with architect Hunter Kennedy and designer Sidney Wagner, they spearheaded family-friendly changes to the four-bedroom abode that have definitely paid off. Today, the Bullwinkels have four kids under age 10 and plenty of yard, a great porch, and a frequently used outdoor kitchen to accommodate their active lifestyle.

"Overall, the footprint didn't change much," says Sidney, who squared off the kitchen to make it more functional. As the home's command center, it now opens up to a bright eating nook, which is one of Maggie's favorite spots. "Family dinners are a priority," she says. What was previously a formal dining room, adjacent to the kitchen, became the kids' playroom. They removed an attached garage to make way for a new mudroom/laundry area off the kitchen. "It's basically where I live," quips Maggie. They also elevated and enlarged the back porch to be a seamless open-air extension of the family room, ground zero for entertaining during Clemson University football season. "I love that we really do live in each space," Maggie says. "We use it all."

Brighten It Up

A monochrome kitchen keeps Maggie happy. "It helps to have a clean look in a busy room," she says. Streamlined light fixtures by Cedar & Moss and vintage Lucite barstools scooped up at a local antiques mall add to the airy feel in the room.

Remember That Simplicity Rules

"With four kids, there is plenty of chaos," says Maggie. Namibia marble countertops and Benjamin Moore's Simply White (OC-117) paint make her kitchen a calming space. Plus, they allow the Hampton Faucet by Waterstone to shine as the statement piece.

Let the Landscape Lead

Reorienting the kitchen to open into a family dining area was Maggie's top priority. Hunter bumped out the eating nook to add windows on all sides, inviting in sunlight and creek views. A mid-century modern table and slipcovered chairs keep lines simple, and Roost's whimsical light fixture "softens all the hard surfaces," says Sidney. The fabric used for the curtains (Katana by Kelly Wearstler) is also on the barstools, where it's laminated to be indestructible.

Choose Flexible Design

"We needed comfortable pieces that are easy to rearrange," says Sidney, who was mindful of not blocking the French doors that open to the porch. "I love how the vintage-reproduction chairs are movable and sculpturally interesting from whatever angle." A sofa slipcovered in Crypton fabric is ultrapractical, and bare windows keep things light and airy while connecting well with the porch, she says.

Lean On A Natural Palette

Sidney painted the porch floor in Benjamin Moore's Kennebunkport Green (HC-123), the same color that's used on the exterior trim, and added soothing blue accents to complement the surrounding outdoor hues. "We didn't want to distract from the view," she says. Wicker chairs from CB2 add natural texture, and a fun Annie Selke rug anchors the blue tones. Floor-to-ceiling screens and a vaulted ceiling help the porch feel cool in summer.

Prioritize All-Purpose, All-Season

Two years after moving in, the Bullwinkels worked with architect Chris Heinlen of Heinlen Design to add a backyard shed with a full attic to supplement the home's limited storage. Adjacent to that, they created an outdoor kitchen and entertaining area. "This is our favorite spot for birthday parties, neighborhood suppers, or sometimes sunset sips after the kids have gone to bed," says Maggie. A metal roof, green trim, and white siding tie the shed to the main house.

Stretch Family Space

"I love the playroom right off the kitchen. It's our cuddle area," says Maggie. A big barn door can be closed to contain toys and messes. Commissioned pieces by local artist Michelle Owenby add grown-up flair to the room, designed to one day transform into a family hangout space.

Control Clutter

Maggie believes that tidiness is key, even in the playroom. Each child has (and uses!) a designated toy-and-book basket, and a rotating gallery helps solve the what-to-do-with-endless-kids'-art dilemma.

Invite Some Drama

" 'Are you sure about going this showy?' my husband asked about the paint color, and I was—including covering the ceiling," says Maggie of the vibrant Benjamin Moore Slate Teal (2088-20) she chose for the laundry room. "I love how the boldness brings you in." Custom cabinets add extra pantry space.

Be Bold And Functional

Next to the laundry room, the bold color continues in the mudroom with an added touch of graphic wallpaper. Each kid has their own space for coats and bags in the blue storage wall.

MOUNT PLEASANT — A 20-year-old home overlooking Charleston Harbor at the mouth of Shem Creek has set a new residential sales record for South Carolina’s fourth-largest municipality.

The 7,015-square-foot, Southern-style mansion at 100 Haddrell St. in Mount Pleasant was sold April 17 for $14.95 million, far above the previous record of $8.65 million set two years ago for another home in the town’s pricey Old Village area.

The new owner is 100 Beach LLC, according to Charleston County land records.

The sale appeared to be an all-cash deal, as no mortgage has been recorded with the Register of Deeds. It was an off-market transaction, meaning the home wasn’t publicly marketed or listed.

The 1.32-acre property last changed hands in 2010, when the previous owners bought the five-bedroom, 5½-bathroom house for $7.5 million, setting a new record residential sale price at the time for Mount Pleasant.

Built in 2003, the waterfront house includes a dock, elevator, three-car garage and a saltwater pool.

Nancy Hoy with Carolina One Real Estate represented the sellers. Alex Brener, who was with William Means Real Estate at the time of the sale but has since joined Carolina One, represented the buyer.

The transaction suggests that the upper stratosphere of the residential market is largely unaffected by rising interest rates and other economic challenges.

Last month, a few blocks southeast of Shem Creek, a home at 205 Ferry St, was sold for $8.4 million.

Last week, in downtown Charleston, a pre-Revolutionary War-era house at 13-15 Meeting St. changed hands for $12.6 million.

On Sullivan’s Island, three homes have fetched prices ranging from nearly $8 million to more than $10 million this year.

“As Charleston continues to grow and gets more and more exposure, we are definitely attracting more serious high-dollar buyers to our community,” said Michael Scarafile, president of Carolina One, the largest-volume residential real estate agency in the Lowcountry.

The uptick in interest by deep-pocketed buyers for luxury housing started with COVID-19 as people began to work remotely and sought a better quality of life, Scarafile said.

“That hasn’t stopped,” he added.

Lyles Geer, president of William Means Real Estate, said the recent flurry of big-ticket purchases is being driven in part by low inventory levels for top-tier homes.

“There is a lack of supply in the ultra-luxury market,” Geer said. “When those homes do become available, they fetch a much higher price.”

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCBD) – With temperatures warming up as the Lowcountry approaches summer, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) is reminding people who live near bodies of water along the coast, like marshes, ponds, or rivers, to be cautious of your surroundings.

Kristan Leader, who is a stay-at-home mom, learned about an uninvited visitor in the driveway of her home in the Brickyard Plantation of Mount Pleasant when her neighbor called to alert her.

An alligator was underneath her SUV.

“My first thought was what could have happened if they had run out there because their tiny little legs would have been right there,” said Leader, who was concerned about her children’s safety.

The family, who was watching from an upstairs window, waited as Mt. Pleasant’s Animal Control attempted to catch and release the gator.

Leader said Officer Heather Cumbee “came on her day off and came with another girl and they wrangled it within 15 minutes.” One of several calls Officer Cumbee has taken regarding alligators so far this season.

“It’s a great feeling to go out and be able to educate and help the animals get to a safe place as well as keep the public safe, and hopefully the animal doesn’t end up back in that situation,” said Officer Cumbee.

Experts say relocating gators from places like driveways or garages can come with difficulties.

“Adult alligators have a strong homing instinct. They want to establish a home range and they will return to that home range even if relocated and they’ll walk over land to do that,” said Morgan Hart, who is the Alligator Project Leader for the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.

Hart explains more alligators are moving around as people move into spaces where those alligators are already living.

“Alligators are often moving from pond to pond or from river to pond. They tend to try to move over land in a straight line and sometimes that means they end up in places they shouldn’t be like garages or under cars,” said Hart.

A place where Leader said she will now check underneath from now on.

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MOUNT PLEASANT — About 12 acres of wetlands will likely disappear in the town’s northern end to accommodate Charleston County’s contentious plan to alleviate traffic along S.C. Highway 41.

Cost for the project, which County Council unanimously approved in 2021, also has increased about $37 million to a total of $185 million. The county recently secured $62 million in funding from the S.C. Transportation Infrastructure Bank to help offset the increase. Transportation taxes will pay for the remainder.

The project focuses on revamping a 9-mile stretch of the road from U.S. Highway 17 to the Wando River bridge. Officials have been working for at least seven years to address traffic along the busy corridor, which now serves multiple subdivisions with thousands of homes.

The approved design, dubbed “a road to compromise” after residents across Mount Pleasant expressed outrage over previous iterations, calls for widening most of Highway 41 to four lanes.

It adds a new two-lane road through the edge of Laurel Hill County Park, connecting the highway to Park West Boulevard and providing alternatives to Joe Rouse and Bessemer roads.

Highway 41 will expand to three lanes in the historic Phillips Community, with a travel lane in each direction plus a new center turn lane. Multi-use pathways and sidewalks are also part of the design.

Applying for a permit

Charleston County officials submitted its permit application to the Army Corps of Engineers as part of the federal review process. The county hired an outside consultant to do an initial assessment of the road project. Among the findings:

The Army Corps will issue Charleston County a permit for its Highway 41 project unless it’s determined to be against public interest. The project’s benefits must outweigh its potential detriments, according to the Army Corps’ policy.

Residents weigh in

Kristin Zeaser-Sydow lives on Horlbeck Creek. She paddles its waters nearly every day and enjoys walking through Laurel Hill park. She has several concerns about the proposed route.

The zoomed-in maps of the project area are ambiguous, Zeaser-Sydow said. They don’t show how the new and widened roads will be built, such as height and material.

And she fears many more wetlands than the acres listed in the county’s application will be destroyed. Water in parts of the creeks that will be filled has to go somewhere, she pointed out, and flooding in the area is already bad.

According to the Army Corps’ policy, the county would be violating its permit if more wetlands than the ones outlined in the application are affected.

Residents of both Park West and Dunes West — planned developments off Highway 41 totaling about 5,000 homes — have also voiced disapproval of the chosen route. They previously vowed to fight the project through its federal permitting process.

The Park West community, which sits northeast of the highway, continues to be opposed, said Travis Korson, vice president of its Master Association. Among their concerns: flooding mitigation, protection of historical resources, endangered species, wetlands and wooded area, as well as safety.

The new Laurel Hill Parkway will run through Park West, bisecting many residents from community amenities like pools and tennis courts. The highway also is a hurricane evacuation route. Many residents don’t think the county’s design will effectively move traffic in an evacuation, Korson said.

The association notified residents about the county’s application and the corresponding public comment period, along with instructions for how they could provide feedback, Korson said.

County officials view their design as a compromise that doesn’t put the burden of development on a single Mount Pleasant community. An initial proposal called for widening Highway 41 in Phillips from two lanes to five, causing many residents to lose at least portions of their property.

The Phillips community, founded after the Civil War by formerly enslaved Black people, sits on either side of the road. Many families have lived there for generations.

The Phillips community association decided at a recent meeting it would submit a comment to the Army Corps in favor of the county’s design, President Richard Habersham said. The new proposed road will help alleviate bottlenecks at Joe Rouse Road and Dunes West Boulevard, he said, which bookend the historic neighborhood.

Virtually any road construction project in East Cooper will result in the loss of wetlands and wooded land, Habersham said.

“Look at the alternative: Come through Phillips and people lose their homes,” he said.

The Coastal Conservation League, a nonprofit protecting natural resources and quality of life along South Carolina’s coast, has long been an advocate of preserving the Phillips community.

The organization is still highly supportive of the county’s Highway 41 plan, Program Director Robby Maynor said. The league has always focused on balancing nature and community, and the proposed design reflects this nuanced approach.

“How can we increase capacity for cars while also making it safer for people, while also reducing the environmental impacts?” Maynor said. “And I think that this project checks all of those boxes in terms of having the least impact, and the most equitable impacts.”

Zeaser-Sydow is glad the chosen design largely spares the Phillips community. But the new road built to avoid it will destroy the best part of Laurel Hill park, she said, and many of the elements that make living in East Cooper so incredible.

She mentioned a high-ground, gravel road that runs through much of the park’s center and connects with other high-ground roads. She encouraged project engineers to think outside the box and bisect the park instead of building a road through its edge. This design could show off the park’s beauty and preserve more wetlands, she said.

The county proposed in its application purchasing freshwater and tidal wetland mitigation credits to offset the project’s disruption, as required by state law.

The Army Corps is collecting community feedback on the application until July 10. Anyone can submit comments or request a public hearing via email (Jeremy.M.Kinney@usace.army.mil) or mail (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: Regulatory Division, 69A Hagood Ave., Charleston, SC 29403). Identify the project by its file number, SAC-2018-00205.