The city controls zoning and permitting for the buildout of this site. | Photo provided by the City of Charleston
Downtown’s Union Pier redevelopment is getting a boost from Charleston County School District (CCSD): In a 5-4 vote, the board of trustees approved a tax increment financing district to help fund the high-profile project. Here are a few new things to know.
A redevelopment refresher
The Union Pier project aims to transform ~70 acres along the eastern edge of the Charleston Peninsula into a multi-use hub that promises to connect the community to waterfront spaces. South Carolina Ports Authority sold the site to local business mogul Ben Navarro in the spring of 2024.
What is a TIF?
A TIF is a public financing tool used as a subsidy for redevelopment. A TIF district helps fund new developments by using tax funds from rising property values in an area.
Charleston City Council voted unanimously to establish a TIF district for Union Pier in August 2024, sending the process over to Charleston County Council + CCSD.
How will the TIF deal work in this case?
As the Charleston Business Journal reports, the city will be able to collect property taxes on Union Pier that would usually go to the county and CCSD, and those funds will be used for the pier’s redevelopment.
In exchange for collecting those taxes, the deal would give CCSD 30,000-sqft of office space at 75 Calhoun St.
CCSD’s chief financial officer estimates the school district will see $13 million in revenue upfront. The city estimates Union Pier could eventually bring in ~$22 million annually, but the school district would not see that money for 30 years — the end of the financing period.
What’s next?
The TIF district proposal will head to the Charleston City Council for a second reading. We know there’s a lot of back-and-forth on this project — we’ll keep an eye on the developments, and meet you right back in your inbox.
Events
Events
Wednesday, Oct. 30
Paranormal Charleston | 3:30-4:30 p.m. | Bees Ferry West Ashley Library | Free | Charleston is an old city, and this talk will focus on the spookier side of local history.
Holy City Halloween | Through Saturday, Nov. 2 | Times vary | Holy City Halloween | $25+ | It’s the final stretch of this haunted house attraction — enter if you dare.
Moncks Corner Halloween Festival | 5:30 p.m. | Main Street, Moncks Corner | Price of purchase | Main Street will be closed off to traffic for Halloween fun including trick-or-treating, a costume contest, games, and a haunted house.
Thursday, Oct. 31
Virtual Event: Skeletal Secrets | 11 a.m.-12 p.m. | South Carolina Aquarium | $15 | Hop on Zoom for this virtual discussion about skulls and how they tell us a lot about the diet and habits of species — they’re not just Halloween decorations.
Halloween Carnival & Witches Dance | 5 p.m. | Folly River Park, Folly Beach | Free | Celebrate Halloween with costume contests, games, prizes, and the enchanting Witches Dance at 6:45 p.m.
Live Under The Oaks Concert Series | 6-8 p.m. | Mt. Pleasant Towne Centre | Free | Grab your chair and takeout from your favorite restaurant and enjoy classic folk + rock covers from Skyler Waddell and the Stono River Project.
Friday, Nov. 1
Eli Young Band | 7 p.m. | The Refinery | $35+ | The Grammy Award-nominated country crooners headline in the Holy City.
South Carolina Stingrays vs. Florida Everblades | 7:05 p.m. | North Charleston Coliseum | $20+ | It’s Rays Cancer Awareness Weekend — our home team will be wearing special purple jerseys and there will be a wall inside the coliseum where fans can write messages of support for those impacted by cancer.
Saturday, Nov. 2
Charleston Scottish Games + Highland Gathering | 8 a.m.-5 p.m. | Riverfront Park, North Charleston | $45 | The Scottish Society of Charleston hosts its annual event showcasing Scottish culture, history, and scotch tastings.
Friday, Nov. 8
Quoizel Lighting Warehouse Sale | Friday, Nov. 8-Saturday, Nov. 9 | 8 a.m.-4 p.m. | Quoizel Lighting, Goose Creek | Prices vary | For two days only, Quoizel Lighting will offer its products directly to the public at significantly discounted prices. More than 600 items will be available at up to 80% off.*
The Steeplechase of Charleston planned for Sunday, Nov. 10, has been canceled due to safety concerns. Event officials said the Lowcountry’s prolonged drought has created a surface that isn’t suitable for racing. Ticketholders can seek a refund, transfer their ticket to the 2025 event, or convert their ticket into a donation.
Open
Bar Copa, a new Mediterranean bar + restaurant at 3297 Maybank Highway, Ste. 302 in Johns Island, is generating lots of buzz. The spot specializes in tapas + curated cocktails — try the whipped feta and Golden Passport cocktail. It’s open Monday-Saturday; happy hour is Monday-Thursday, 4-6 p.m.
Closed
Mount Pleasant’s White Duck Taco Shop has closed. In a message to customers, the team said the impact of Hurricane Helene has left White Duck Tacos’ headquarters in Asheville, NC devastated. They are putting an extra focus + effort on rebuilding its WNC home.
Biz
LATAM Airlines Group — an airline based in Santiago, Chile — is purchasing 10 Boeing 787 Dreamliners assembled at Boeing South Carolina in North Charleston. The airline dreams of growing its fleet to 52 Dreamliners by 2030, and might buy five more from the local Boeing hub down the line. (Charleston Business Journal)
Coming Soon
Yes, chef.Middleton Made Knives will open its first brick-and-mortar store this Saturday, Nov. 2 in Storyhouse Row at Navy Yard Charleston. The shop will offer a curated selection of the SC-based brand’s handcrafted knives, plus sharpening services for professional chefs + home cooks. Visit Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Number
$10.2 million. That was the economic impact generated by the 2024 Black Food Truck Festival held this past spring at the Exchange Park Fairgrounds in Ladson. The three-day event featured 40 Black-owned food trucks + vendors and drew in more than 13,000 attendees. Organizers are seeking sponsors for the 2025 edition.
Sports
It’s Saturday Wednesday in South Carolina. USC’s Board of Trustees approved a Request for Proposal + is now looking for an architecture firm to focus on Phase One of reimagining Williams-Brice Stadium. Our friends at COLAtoday shared renderings and five things to know about the upgrades.
Your business… in our newsletter… in as little as two days. Make it happen.
Finance
Rates just dropped — now could be the time to tap into your home equity. Calculate your payment.*
Category
Eat
🍬 CHS, you’re so sweet
River Street Sweets has pralines for days. | Photo via @riverstreetsweets
Halloween is upon us, so let’s talk treats (we don’t do tricks, thank you).
While the most popular Halloween candies in South Carolina are Butterfinger, Sour Patch Kids, and Skittles, you know we tend to veer a little more local. We’ve rounded up a few Charleston-area shops where you can stock up on sweets.
With shops in Charleston + Savannah, this biz offers all kinds of candy, including Halloween-themed trays. For year-round treats, the shop’s signature Acrylic OMG Boxes make the sweetest gifts.
This Mount Pleasant shop specializes in Southern confections made fresh daily, like its Original Charleston Pralines, Praline Pecans, and famous fudge. If you’re looking for wrapped candy for trick-or-treating, stock up via the store’s candy jars.
A great deal for the holidays ahead — get 18 bottles of wine for $79 plus shipping. Choose from red, white, or a variety pack of red, white, and rosé. Hello, stocked bar for holiday hosting season.
Glizzies are having a glow up. Lamar’s Sporting Club + Sir Wieners have started offering $60 wiener towers, a tiered platter of five hot dogs, truffle fries, and dipping sauces. The specialty item — which is having a moment on social media — is available Friday-Sunday. We’re going to need to take a long lunch at CHStoday to tackle this one.
