Granite Countertops in Ravenel, SC

RAVENEL, S.C. (WCIV) — A new development could be breaking ground in the Town of Ravenel.

On Thursday, a public meeting was held for developers to share their plans with the community. But for some, Ravenel is home.

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“I grew up here as a child and live right down this dirt road, my father still lives there and I’m with him, and he’s soon to be 80 years old and I remember this area being quaint, being cool, being pristine, I used to play in the woods," said Angela Brown who has grown up in Ravenel her entire life.

For Brown and many others, there may be change coming soon to the area.

"We've had a request of annexation and a planned development of roughly 350 new homes or residential units," Ravenel Mayor Stephen Tumbleston said. "Single family homes with a few town houses as well and it's got a commercial element to it as well."

But for residents like Angela Brown, this means more room for trouble.

A new development could be breaking ground in the Town of Ravenel. (WCIV)

"I'm thinking about the traffic, the increase in traffic," Brown said. "Right now, I can barely get out to check the mail, go across the street and check the mail. It's a two lane road. If you tear up everything, if you uproot everything that God put here, eventually we’ll have no trees, beautiful birds flying, animals, deer. We'll have none of that."

Officials hope residents know their concerns are being heard as they continue to move forward in the process.

"We're going to take the recommendation from council and consider those next Tuesday night, our first reading," Tumbleston said. "We'll have a public hearing before that meeting as well, so we can hear any additionally comments or concerns. We'll continue to try to do what’s best for our area while considering the future impacts of everything around us."

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Whether these plans get approved or denied, people like Brown will continue fighting for the town that they love.

"This is not the place, I'm not saying this isn't the time, but this is not the place," Brown said. "As long as I have the breath in my body, I'm going to fight for the community that I love."

The next public hearing will be on Tuesday, Feb. 28.

Old Town, a down-home upscale neighborhood in the South Carolina river town of Bluffton, is defined by its Southern hospitality and luxurious lifestyle.

“It’s the heartbeat of Beaufort County and what draws many people to the area,” said Dave Jarman, a broker with Corcoran HM Properties. “‘Charming’ is the first word that comes to mind. ‘Welcoming’ is a close second.”

He added that Old Town is so darn friendly that “it’s common for strangers to say ‘hello’ or ‘how are ya’ll doing?’ as they pass by.”

The atmosphere, according to Mary Vaux Bell, an agent with Daniel Ravenel Sotheby’s International Realty, is “relaxed, chic and very down to earth.”

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Boundaries

Old Town, which may be accessed via car or boat, is bounded by Bridge Street and the May River waterway on the south, Burnt Church Road on the east, May River Road on the north and Verdier Cove Road on the west.

Price Range

Noting that properties in Old Town don’t come on the market very often, Ms. Vaux Bell said that riverfront or marsh-front single-family houses, which typically are on 0.75 of an acre to 2 acres, generally run $1.5 million to $2.5 million.

The inner streets of the community, whose houses are set on a quarter to a half acre, are also desirable places to live, she said, adding that they typically sell for around $1 million.

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Housing Stock

The houses in Old Town, which is in a National Register Historic District and a Preserve America Community, were originally built and used as summer residences and typically feature significant porch space as well as interior space. They date from the 1800s to the present, and generally are on lots starting at one-tenth of an acre.

The architectural styles and materials, which range from clapboard siding and brick to tabby, vary.

“While there are new homes, many of the older ones have been updated or restored for a relaxed and understated yet posh coastal-cottage aesthetic,” Ms. Vaux Bell said. “The homes in the inner streets are mostly new but custom designed to blend in with the Spanish moss, mature oaks and oyster-shell driveways.”

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What Makes It Unique

Old Town’s location—Bluffton is only 30 minutes from Hilton Head Island and a couple of hours from Charleston, Jacksonville, Atlanta and Charlotte—makes it a premier place to live, Ms. Vaux Bell said.

She noted that in addition to the historic structures and welcoming atmosphere, Old Town basks in Bluffton’s numerous accolades: It made Travel + Leisure’s 2022 list of “8 Charming Small Towns in SC” and Southern Living’s 2019 list of “The South’s Best Small Towns.”

Mr. Jarman added that Old Town’s “true appreciation for historic elements and restrictions in place on commercial properties” makes it “a picturesque section of Bluffton.”

Its walkability, its boutiques and numerous social events, festivals and markets, he said, are other attractions.

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Luxury Amenities

Old Town sets the scene for many of the town’s activities and is a dining and shopping destination.

There are several restaurants in the community. They include The Bluffton Room, which serves classic American cuisine; the coffee shop Corner Perk Brunch Cafe & Coffee Roasters; FARM Bluffton, whose menu is new-American cuisine; The Pearl Kitchen & Bar, which offers coastal cuisine; Nectar Farm Kitchen, which prepares dishes with ingredients from the Lowcountry and the South; and Calhoun Street Tavern, which specializes in comfort food.

Old Town Dispensary, a tavern with pub grub, “is where residents head for some live music and refreshing drink,” Mr. Jarman said.

Palmetto Bluff, a gated community across the May River from Old Town that has the highest-priced properties in the area, includes a Montage Resort and several fine-dining establishments.

Other amenities at Palmetto Bluff include an award-winning golf course, a marina that offers water excursions, several pools, a spa and wellness center, a shooting club and a working farm with educational programs and events for children.

The Bluffton Oyster Co., which has been providing fresh-harvested seafood to the community since 1899, is the last hand-shucking house in the state. In addition to the market, it has an eat-in restaurant.

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Heyward House, a historic museum built in 1841, doubles as the town’s official welcome center, offering tours.

In addition to a weekly farmer’s market filled with local vendors, Bluffton hosts more than 30 festivals and events annually.

Mr. Jarman noted that in addition to water activities, Old Town is “an incredible place to walk. Shops and restaurants are all a short distance from your home.”

Residents have a choice of private schools. May River Montessori is a high school in the community.

In Bluffton and Hilton Head, there are several more schools. Christian Academy is a coed college preparatory Christian school for students in kindergarten through 12th grade; the coed Cross Schools enrolls students from 12 months through 12th grade; and St. Gregory the Great Catholic School is a coed middle school.

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Who Lives There

The community, which traditionally attracted a slightly older crowd, has seen an influx of younger residents in recent years, Ms. Vaux Bell said, adding that there are celebrities and “a ton of major execs and sports players.”

Notable Residents

The Montage resort is a celebrity magnet. Chris Pratt and his wife, Katherine Schwarzenegger, have spent time there, and Hailey and Justin Bieber held their wedding there, according to published reports. NASCAR driver Gus Dean and science writer Kitty Ferguson live in Bluffton, according to published reports.

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Outlook

Noting that prices in the Town of Bluffton have risen by 44.6% since 2018 and 25.4% since 2021, Ms. Vaux Bell said that the town’s market “has not slowed down. The inventory has waned a bit, but the demand is very much present.”

Even during the pandemic, the market flourished, she said, with “an influx of residents, mostly from the North, many of whom bought properties sight unseen.”

As far as Old Town Bluffton, “regardless of the market, there will always be a demand for these properties,” she said.

Mr. Jarman was also optimistic about the Bluffton and Old Town markets. Statistics for the town show that average cumulative days on market for houses that sold for over $1 million have dropped from 259 to 33 from 2018 to the end of 2022—a “shocking” decrease, he said.

He added that the pandemic has “forever changed” the market for the entire state as “the typical needs of buyers shifted. Cost of living is increasing in South Carolina, but it is still relatively low in comparison to other luxury neighborhoods on the coast.”

MOUNT PLEASANT − An initial study of the legacy contaminants housed within the nooks and crannies of the Yorktown aircraft carrier at state-owned Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum is now complete, a critical step in the cleanup process.

More than 900 compartments across the ship were investigated for traces of asbestos, lead paint, contaminated fuel and water and other hazardous materials that could trigger an ecological disaster.

Heading into the study, the Patriots Point Development Authority knew from a 2013 study an estimated 1.6 million gallons of toxic substances had accumulated during the Yorktown’s days as an active warship.

Museum officials said during their last board meeting that to their knowledge there were “no surprises” from the investigation. A more complete picture is expected to be available in about a month.

Research Planning Inc. led the latest assessment, with the help T&T Salvage.

Patriots Point spokeswoman Mary Edwards said the purpose was to identify and quantify exactly what hazardous materials remain on the carrier to provide a new cost estimate for their removal.

The remediation work has been put off for a number of years because of funding. The previous cost estimate was $4.4 million.

Gov. Henry McMaster signed an executive order July 11 directing the S.C. Office of Resilience to study how to remove the contaminants to prevent them from leaking into Charleston Harbor, saying at the time that “the chance of an environmental disaster only increases with each passing year.”

Carissa Cochrane, spokeswoman for the resilience agency, said the salt water the ship sits in is corroding the ship’s starboard hull in some areas. Before repairs can be made, the state needs to know the scope of work required to remove the contaminants.

The full environmental study, which includes the remediation plan and final cost estimates, is expected by the end of this year.

“The study will provide an overview of the contaminants that remain aboard the ... Yorktown, and will prioritize a remediation plan based on the potential risk,” Cochrane said. “The information provided by this study, and the eventual removal of any identified hazardous materials, will help to ensure ecological health of the nearby waters, the safety of visitors, and the longevity of the USS Yorktown as a museum.”

The environmental assessment and associated remediation cost estimates will be used to identify potential funding sources, Cochrane said.

While there’s no known immediate danger, continued exposure to saltwater and the elements will lead to further corrosion of the outer hull over time. If the hull is structurally compromised, the deterioration and failure of the tanks storing these contaminants is inevitable.

The 2013 study found that 428 tanks and compartments on the ship contain about 160,000 gallons of petroleum residue and 1.7 million gallons of polluted water and toxic compounds. Since the last study, Patriots Point removed about 20,000 gallons of fuel.

“A release of existing contaminants could impact not only marine and other wildlife ... but could also impact the health of residents in the immediate area and have significant impacts on the economy, tourism, and the environment for the entire state and beyond,” Cochrane said.

The Navy donated the decommissioned World War II Essex-class carrier in “as is” condition to the state for use as a museum and waterfront tourist attraction in June 1975. It has been anchored along the Mount Pleasant waterfront ever since and draws about 300,000 visitors a year.

High taxes, rising costs, crime spur exodus to red states: Jonas Max Ferris, Danielle DiMartino

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South Carolina state Senator Stephen Goldfinch proposed a bill, dubbed the "Yankee tax," that would require new residents to pay up to $500 to move to the Palmetto State.

If passed by state referendum, new residents moving from out-of-state to South Carolina would be required to pay two one-time fees, $250 for new driver’s licenses and $250 for vehicle registrations.

Sen. Goldfinch shared with Fox News Digital that the proposal is not trying to stop people from coming from out of state, just for new residents to "catch up with the rest of us."

"I’m not trying to build a wall and this is not a fee against new residents it’s a fee for people to catch up with the rest of us," Goldfinch told Fox News Digital.

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The money raised from the additional $250 tax would go towards the state's infrastructure including roads, bridges, and common community spaces.

"I think there's a rational basis for requiring newcomers to catch up with the rest of us and contribute to the roads, bridges, schools and green spaces that we've [residents] always contributed to," Goldfinch shared with Fox News Digital.

His proposal comes after droves of people from the northeast have moved down to South Carolina in recent years. According to the U.S. Census, nearly half a million people moved to the Palmetto state in the past decade.

People flocked to the southeast during the pandemic and stayed due to a host of reason including work flexibility, lower taxes, and warmer weather.

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Sen. Goldfinch points to South Carolina residents as inspiration for the bill.

"Our quality of life has been diminished by the almost 4 million people that have moved here in the last decade." Goldfinch shared. "And we anticipate another million people moving here in the next decade. Everybody is concerned about their quality of life."

Despite the tax to newcomers, Sen. Goldfinch shared that he doubts the add $250 or $500 will discourage people to move to South Carolina.

"I find it hard to believe that $250 is going to dissuade anybody from coming." Goldfinch shared with Fox News Digital.

The New Resident fee referendum will be available for debate on the South Carolina Senate floor next week, Goldfinch shared. If passed, counties will vote on it in their general elections in 2024.

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South Carolina isn't the only state with similar legislation on their ballots. California and New York proposed legislation to tax people leaving the state.

"If you can charge people to leave, I don't see any reason why you can't charge somebody to come in the door." Goldfinch stated..

Charleston County deputies say a standoff that began Tuesday night at a Ravenel home has ended with a man in custody.

RAVENEL, S.C. (WCSC) - Charleston County deputies say a standoff that began Tuesday night at a Ravenel home has ended with a man in custody.

Michael Shawn Sweeney, 52, is charged with domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature, first-degree assault and battery, and four counts of pointing and presenting a firearm, sheriff’s spokesman Andrew Knapp said.

Deputies took Sweeney, who had barricaded himself inside a home in the 6400 block of Farm House Road, into custody at approximately 8:45 p.m. Wednesday, just over a full 24 hours after they first responded to the neighborhood.

“SWAT team members made entry in a tactical operation and located him,” Knapp said. “He was arrested without significant incident.”

Deputies received a report about a domestic disturbance involving a weapon at approximately 8:30 p.m. Tuesday in the 6400 block of Farm House Road, Knapp said.

Two people who were inside the home were able to leave without injury, but deputies learned that Sweeney armed with firearms remained and barricaded himself inside, refusing to come out.

Just before 11 p.m., deputies called in the SWAT team and crisis negotiators as they continued their efforts to establish contact with him.

At times during the hours-long standoff, the man has come out of the home only to walk back inside. On at least one occasion, he was seen carrying a shotgun in front of deputies, Knapp said.

Knapp said throughout the standoff that there was no known danger to neighboring homes, and people who live in the area were allowed to come and go.

Knapp confirmed Tuesday night that they do have knowledge of past arrests and past “domestic-type incidents” at the house.

Charleston County jail records state Sweeney was booked into the jail on a charge of third-degree domestic violence on June 8.

Neighbors and witnesses reported hearing multiple sirens at different points throughout the standoff.

”Throughout the course of a standoff like this, we use various tactics to establish contact with someone inside a home, and that’s just one of those,” Knapp said. “Obviously, for neighbors in this area it can be unnerving, but everything is OK.”

No injuries have been reported in this incident.

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