Granite Countertops in Cane Bay, SC

BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. (WCIV) — Last Tuesday, there was a meeting within the Berkeley County School District to discuss changing attendance lines within the county because of overcrowding in the Cane Bay area.

Although the measure was not voted on, the problem of overcrowding remains within the area.

Berkeley County as a whole has experienced a 34 percent increase in population over the last decade. That’s the second highest rate of any county in the state.

This is partially due to the popularity of the area’s school system and community. It’s why Cane Bay resident Ashley Hill moved to the area two years ago.

“The reason that I like it here so much is because we have a sense of community and how Cane Bay trails, I get to experience that and golf cars and stuff like that,” Hill said.

But the space has started to become crowded. Since 2010, the Cane Bay population has grown from 1,321 people to 12,362 residents.

Right now approximately 75 percent of the land is permitted for expected build-out.

“They are going up so quickly,” Hill said, “It has grown tremendously. The traffic around here has gotten a lot more aggressive. I believe that even with school days, I mean, just trying to figure out how to get into the elementary school or the middle school because they're so close to each other, it makes it difficult for the people who are trying to go to work.”

Cane Bay currently has 5,941 building permits issued and 510 are under construction.

That means the number of residents may grow even more than the current population of 12,000.

There are also 7,950 entitlements for expected build-out in the Cane Bay area.

So that begs the question: Are Berkeley County officials prepared to deal with the growth in the community?

I took that question straight to Berkeley County Supervisor Johnny Cribb and here was his response:

“In the last several years, there's not a whole lot that we've rezoned or approved, but it's really the entitlements that that are out there.”

Cribb says that he hasn’t approved many building permits during his three years in office. But despite that, there are still thousands of permitted builds that have yet to take place.

So I asked him what his plan for the future was.

“If you look at what's going on in the world right now, anybody pretends to know what's going to happen is they're playing make believe,” Cribb said.

He said that the current market place, partially due to the coronavirus pandemic, has made it hard to predict when build-outs will happen and what the area will look like in the future.

Not satisfied with the answer to my question, I went to other officials to get more answers.

I asked the Cane Bay representative of the Berkeley County Council Caldwell Pinckney about the growth in the community.

He said that council does realize the threat the growth in the area has and it will be dealt with eventually. However, he said it has “not gotten to the point where we have had to sit down and talk about it.”

“Even in the most aggressive scenario, [build-outs are] years away. So two or three years, there's no way you could build out all that out in two or three years,” Cribb said.

When asked if a building moratorium would be considered to slow down some of the developments in Berkeley County ,both Cribb and Pinckney said it wasn’t on the table at this time.

Cribb does say that he believes the main solution, and the focus for him right now, is the roadways around the Cane Bay area.

“You put $65 million to widen 176, $82 million for Nexton I-26 interchange, so people would have their own interchange and doing improvements in the community.” Cribb said, “The biggest thing is, for us, almost three years now I have been relentlessly pursuing what I can control. And it's any new things that come in, and frankly, how can we improve the quality of life for the people that have moved out there who are the ones that created the growth.”

Cribb also said he is working with water and sewer officials to prepare for the influx of houses coming in the area.

One question I did pose to Pinckney was if the county would consider utilizing impact fees to help fund the building of new schools in the Cane Bay area. Pinckney said that he does believe impact fees are in place to an extent, but are not covering the whole budget.

But for residents like Hill, they believe that there is a lot being overlooked which only adds to their concern about the future of Cane Bay.

“I'm concerned with the overpopulation. I do not feel like the county has taken any hasn't thought about with all these, you know, kids that are coming in. Where they're supposed to go.”

The Hudson, a 300-unit multi-family apartment complex in Summerville’s Cane Bay neighborhood, was recently sold in an off-market transaction to a private equity firm for $79.5 million.

The sale was announced in November 2021. New York-based developer Monday Properties sold the complex on Owl Lane to Columbia-based PassiveInvesting.com, which invests in multi-family properties in the Southeast and Texas.

“This off-market transaction was an excellent opportunity for both the buyer and seller, and ultimately the residents within the community,” said Frank Craighill, vice president of development at Monday Properties.

PassiveInvesting.com is now offering qualified investors a stake in The Hudson for a $50,000 minimum commitment.

The Hudson is the only multi-family project located in the Cane Bay community. A Publix-anchored retail center was just added across the street.

Monday Properties broke ground on The Hudson in October 2019 and delivered the first buildings in April 2021 with 10% of the project pre-leased and 21 units occupied. The Hudson experienced a steep pace of demand and is now more than 58% leased with 160 units occupied at sale.

The spacious studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments have private balconies and patios, open-concept floor plans, stainless steel appliances and nine-foot ceilings.

Amenities include a clubhouse and business center, fitness studio and a saltwater, zero-entry pool with sun shelf. Rent prices range from $1,258 for a studio to $2,344 for a three-bedroom unit.

“The property was a great opportunity for our group to expand our footprint in the Charleston (metropolitan area),” said Dan Handford, managing partner of PassiveInvesting.com. “The high-quality asset fits nicely into our portfolio of multi-family properties.”

According to The Hudson’s investment offering, PassiveInvesting.com predicts a 26.3% annualized return on investment with a five-year hold period and the potential to more than double the investment through equity.

This transaction serves as the second multi-family property acquisition in the Charleston market for the firm. In September 2021, PassiveInvesting.com bought the 350-unit complex Bluewater at Bolton’s Landing in West Ashley. PassiveInvesting.com’s total portfolio has a current value of more than $742 million with a total of 4,233 multi-family units.

The sale of the Hudson at Cane Bay marks the second sale of a multi-family property by Monday Properties this year.

The company sold The Mason, a 264-unit multi-family community in North Charleston in June 2021 to American Landmark, a Florida company.

While Monday Properties focuses primarily on real estate markets in New York City, the greater Washington, D.C. metro area, Los Angeles and San Francisco, the team will continue to keep an eye on development opportunities in Charleston.

Monday Properties’ portfolio includes more than 2,700 multi-family units and more than 5 million square feet of commercial office space.

“We are energized by the current activity in the market and intend to seek future development in Charleston and similar growing Southeast markets,” Craighill said. “The successful delivery and subsequent sale of The Hudson is a direct result of the strength of the Southeast market, specifically the exceptional economic growth of the Charleston area.”

To highlight the role this connection will serve for public safety, the first vehicles to use the extension were a Berkeley County ambulance, a Berkeley County Sheriff’s vehicle, and a fire truck with Whitesville Fire Department (see pictures attached). This crucial connection will allow Berkeley County emergency responders to answer calls of service more efficiently, as well as provide another access point for those in the Cane Bay community.

We are gratified that this critical and long overdue public safety and quality of life project is complete. Facilitating additional access points for the Cane Bay community has been a top concern for my administration, and we expect that a third ingress/egress route will be completed by Gramling Brothers this fall. County Council and I thank Mr. Ben Gramling and the Cane Bay Development team, SCDOT Secretary Christy Hall, State Sen. Paul Campbell, and Rep. Sylleste Davis for their efforts and support. -Berkeley County Supervisor Johnny Cribb

This is another huge step for public safety in the Cane Bay community. The Sheriff’s Office recently opened a substation in Cane Bay. Completing this road project is critical to the safety and well-being of our citizens and deputies. This connection will reduce traffic, allow deputies to more efficiently navigate the area, and better serve the people they’ve been called to protect. –Berkeley County Sheriff Duane Lewis

This connection will play an incredible part in helping Berkeley County EMS more efficiently and effectively provide lifesaving aid. The road will help our team reach the community more quickly and strengthen our mission to provide the highest quality of medical care and transport to people in Berkeley County. – Berkeley County EMS Chief Wendy Lee

Helping this community is the pride and passion of Whitesville Fire Department. Timing is everything in the fire industry and the completion of this project will support our team and our new station in Cane Bay. It will not only provide firefighters an alternative route to reach emergencies but also allow citizens to reap the benefits of quicker response times. -Chief Tim Stephenson

The encroachment permit for the project was approved by South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) at the end of December 2019. The developer handled and oversaw the timeline of construction for this project.

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– Prepared by the Berkeley County Public Information Office –

Restaurant Brings Approximately 120 Full- and Part-Time Jobs to Community, Honors 100 Local Heroes with Free Chick-fil-A Meals for a Year

SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (Oct. 17, 2022) – A new Chick-fil-A^® restaurant will begin serving the Summerville community on Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022. Chick-fil-A, Inc. has selected Nadia Matson as the independent franchised Owner-Operator of Chick-fil-A Cane Bay. Located at 1726 State Road, in the Cane Bay Shopping Center, Chick-fil-A Cane Bay will be open for dine-in, drive-thru and carry-out from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Guests of Chick-fil-A Cane Bay can place an order for pickup, dine-in or delivery on the Chick-fil-A^® App or online. When joining the Chick-fil-A One^® tiered membership program, guests receive points on every qualifying purchase, which can be used to redeem available rewards. Visit chick-fil-a.com/delivery to view delivery options in your area. Chick-fil-A Cane Bay joins 20 other Chick-fil-A restaurants serving the wider Charleston market. Locally Owned and Operated As full-time, hands-on leaders in their restaurants and communities, Chick-fil-A Owner-Operators proudly reside in the communities in which they serve. In Summerville, Matson will be responsible for all day-to-day activities of the business, including employing approximately 120 full- and part-time Team Members, serving guests and cultivating relationships with local organizations and businesses. A Ukraine native, Matson immigrated to the United States with her family when she was one year old. Growing up, she worked as a cashier at her parents’ food store, learning the ins and outs of a small business and the importance of servant leadership and hospitality. When her parents sold the store during her high school years, Matson applied to be a Team Member at her local Chick-fil-A restaurant and began her 16-year journey with the company. After serving as a Team Member, she transitioned into a number of leadership positions within the company. She received a college scholarship from Chick-fil-A to attend Bob Jones University in Greenville, S.C., where she studied human resource management. Following graduation in 2011, Matson was selected for Chick-fil-A’s Leadership Development Program, where she would spend the next 27 months living and working in a total of 17 states before being chosen as the Operator of Chick-fil-A Northwoods Mall in North Charleston. Matson, with the support of her husband Jonathan, is thrilled for the new opportunity to open Chick-fil-A Cane Bay in Summerville, the place she has called home for the past four years. “I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to grow as a leader during my years at Chick-fil-A. I am passionate about creating professional development opportunities for my Team Members to thrive,” said Matson. “I look forward to empowering my team to reach their full potential and to be a bright light in the community.” Caring for the Summerville Community In honor of the opening, Chick-fil-A, Inc. will donate $25,000 to Feeding America on behalf of the new restaurant. These funds will be distributed to partners in the greater Charleston area to aid in the fight against hunger. In addition, Chick-fil-A Cane Bay is recognizing 100 local heroes making an impact in the Summerville area by providing them with free Chick-fil-A meals for a year. Matson’s restaurant will be participating in the Chick-fil-A Shared Table™ Program, an initiative that redirects surplus food from the restaurant to local soup kitchens, shelters, food banks and nonprofits in need. Team Member Investment Chick-fil-A Operators are committed to hiring, developing and retaining top talent and providing a positive work environment for people of all ages and backgrounds. Team Members have opportunities for flexible work hours and leadership growth, competitive pay and benefits, hands-on training and mentoring and the chance to apply for scholarships to support their continuing education. Delicious Food; Outstanding Customer Service Chick-fil-A is known for serving customers great-tasting food made with high-quality ingredients, including the original Chick-fil-A^® Chicken Sandwich. Made with a real, whole, boneless breast of chicken with no added fillers, the breaded chicken is pressure cooked in fully-refined peanut oil. Chick-fil-A was one of the first in the industry to eliminate chicken raised with antibiotics to ensure guests have an option for high-quality food on the go. To complement the great-tasting chicken, fresh produce is delivered to Chick-fil-A restaurants up to six times a week for the best quality and flavor. The fresh ingredients are raised and grown by farmers who share the company's elevated quality and safety standards, so guests feel good about their meal. For the latest news and updates on Chick-fil-A Cane Bay, visit the local restaurant’s Facebook page. For more information about Chick-fil-A and stories about the Brand’s food, people and customers across the country, visit chick-fil-a.com.

About Chick-fil-A, Inc.Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A, Inc. is a restaurant company known for the Original Chick-fil-A^® Chicken Sandwich and signature hospitality. Represented by more than 170,000 Team Members, Operators and Staff, Chick-fil-A^® restaurants serve guests freshly prepared food at more than 2,700 restaurants in 48 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and Canada. The family-owned and privately held restaurant company was founded in 1967 by S. Truett Cathy and is committed to serving the local communities in which its franchised restaurants operate. Known for its leadership and growth opportunities, in 2022 Chick-fil-A was named a Best Employer in America by Forbes and a top company for career opportunities for Black employees by Glassdoor. The company was also awarded the Employee’s Choice by Glassdoor honoring top CEOs and was named a Culture 500 Culture Champion in 2020. A leader in customer service, Chick-fil-A was named QSR magazine’s Drive-Thru Restaurant of the Year in 2021. More information on Chick-fil-A is available at www.chick-fil-a.com and @ChickfilANews.

Restaurant Brings Approximately 120 Full- and Part-Time Jobs to Community, Honors 100 Local Heroes with Free Chick-fil-A Meals for a Year

SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (Oct. 17, 2022) – A new Chick-fil-A^® restaurant will begin serving the Summerville community on Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022. Chick-fil-A, Inc. has selected Nadia Matson as the independent franchised Owner-Operator of Chick-fil-A Cane Bay. Located at 1726 State Road, in the Cane Bay Shopping Center, Chick-fil-A Cane Bay will be open for dine-in, drive-thru and carry-out from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Guests of Chick-fil-A Cane Bay can place an order for pickup, dine-in or delivery on the Chick-fil-A^® App or online. When joining the Chick-fil-A One^® tiered membership program, guests receive points on every qualifying purchase, which can be used to redeem available rewards. Visit chick-fil-a.com/delivery to view delivery options in your area. Chick-fil-A Cane Bay joins 20 other Chick-fil-A restaurants serving the wider Charleston market. Locally Owned and Operated As full-time, hands-on leaders in their restaurants and communities, Chick-fil-A Owner-Operators proudly reside in the communities in which they serve. In Summerville, Matson will be responsible for all day-to-day activities of the business, including employing approximately 120 full- and part-time Team Members, serving guests and cultivating relationships with local organizations and businesses. A Ukraine native, Matson immigrated to the United States with her family when she was one year old. Growing up, she worked as a cashier at her parents’ food store, learning the ins and outs of a small business and the importance of servant leadership and hospitality. When her parents sold the store during her high school years, Matson applied to be a Team Member at her local Chick-fil-A restaurant and began her 16-year journey with the company. After serving as a Team Member, she transitioned into a number of leadership positions within the company. She received a college scholarship from Chick-fil-A to attend Bob Jones University in Greenville, S.C., where she studied human resource management. Following graduation in 2011, Matson was selected for Chick-fil-A’s Leadership Development Program, where she would spend the next 27 months living and working in a total of 17 states before being chosen as the Operator of Chick-fil-A Northwoods Mall in North Charleston. Matson, with the support of her husband Jonathan, is thrilled for the new opportunity to open Chick-fil-A Cane Bay in Summerville, the place she has called home for the past four years. “I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to grow as a leader during my years at Chick-fil-A. I am passionate about creating professional development opportunities for my Team Members to thrive,” said Matson. “I look forward to empowering my team to reach their full potential and to be a bright light in the community.” Caring for the Summerville Community In honor of the opening, Chick-fil-A, Inc. will donate $25,000 to Feeding America on behalf of the new restaurant. These funds will be distributed to partners in the greater Charleston area to aid in the fight against hunger. In addition, Chick-fil-A Cane Bay is recognizing 100 local heroes making an impact in the Summerville area by providing them with free Chick-fil-A meals for a year. Matson’s restaurant will be participating in the Chick-fil-A Shared Table™ Program, an initiative that redirects surplus food from the restaurant to local soup kitchens, shelters, food banks and nonprofits in need. Team Member Investment Chick-fil-A Operators are committed to hiring, developing and retaining top talent and providing a positive work environment for people of all ages and backgrounds. Team Members have opportunities for flexible work hours and leadership growth, competitive pay and benefits, hands-on training and mentoring and the chance to apply for scholarships to support their continuing education. Delicious Food; Outstanding Customer Service Chick-fil-A is known for serving customers great-tasting food made with high-quality ingredients, including the original Chick-fil-A^® Chicken Sandwich. Made with a real, whole, boneless breast of chicken with no added fillers, the breaded chicken is pressure cooked in fully-refined peanut oil. Chick-fil-A was one of the first in the industry to eliminate chicken raised with antibiotics to ensure guests have an option for high-quality food on the go. To complement the great-tasting chicken, fresh produce is delivered to Chick-fil-A restaurants up to six times a week for the best quality and flavor. The fresh ingredients are raised and grown by farmers who share the company's elevated quality and safety standards, so guests feel good about their meal. For the latest news and updates on Chick-fil-A Cane Bay, visit the local restaurant’s Facebook page. For more information about Chick-fil-A and stories about the Brand’s food, people and customers across the country, visit chick-fil-a.com.

About Chick-fil-A, Inc.Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A, Inc. is a restaurant company known for the Original Chick-fil-A^® Chicken Sandwich and signature hospitality. Represented by more than 170,000 Team Members, Operators and Staff, Chick-fil-A^® restaurants serve guests freshly prepared food at more than 2,700 restaurants in 48 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and Canada. The family-owned and privately held restaurant company was founded in 1967 by S. Truett Cathy and is committed to serving the local communities in which its franchised restaurants operate. Known for its leadership and growth opportunities, in 2022 Chick-fil-A was named a Best Employer in America by Forbes and a top company for career opportunities for Black employees by Glassdoor. The company was also awarded the Employee’s Choice by Glassdoor honoring top CEOs and was named a Culture 500 Culture Champion in 2020. A leader in customer service, Chick-fil-A was named QSR magazine’s Drive-Thru Restaurant of the Year in 2021. More information on Chick-fil-A is available at www.chick-fil-a.com and @ChickfilANews.