Panera Bread is the latest prospect for the Corner at Wescott – on the site proposed and rejected last year for a gas station. The plans are not yet finalized, but they’re well along. This popular restaurant could be up and running by Christmas 2018. I’ll keep you posted.
Bids will be opened Thursday afternoon for the Aquatics Center complex on Patriot Boulevard. If the costs are within the proposed budget ($20.5 million) work could begin within 30 days. This project includes a new roadway into the Fort Dorchester High School campus. If all goes well, this could be in use by late summer, in time for the beginning of the next school year.
Special thanks to S.C. Representative Chris Murphy and Senator Sean Bennett. They led and coordinated efforts that produced the first ever grant of state parks and recreation development funding to North Charleston facilities. The $47,000 is part of the state allotment to Dorchester County. The money will be used to upgrade high-use surfaces at the Wescott ball fields and to improve the grading, drainage and surfaces of the very popular dog park at Wescott Park.
The Wescott Boulevard “Mess” is going to be getting better – let us be hopeful. I attended an on-site status meeting Friday morning involving all the contractors working on this project. This has been a woeful comedy-of-errors. But our city’s chief building inspector and public works engineers have been assured that the work will soon be completed and the sidewalks and right-of-way restored. One aspect of the project is to provide sewer connections for the new apartment complex. The latest bore was inches too high and required a reset of the entire operation. The city refused to allow a cutting of the Wescott Boulevard pavement which would upset traffic flows for days. So, the work will continue, but the sidewalks and right-of-way restorations will begin immediately. Additional “safety” signage and Jersey barriers were also ordered by the chief building inspector. Improvements were already visible Saturday morning. The contractors were also put on notice that many residents are concerned that trees in the buffers along Wescott Boulevard have likely been damaged. This will be monitored by city horticulturists and a tree surgeon retained by the contractors. March 9 is the latest projected once-and-for-all completion target. In the meanwhile, please be cautious as you drive by this site.
Proposed changes to the Wescott Boulevard traffic circle planned development zoning documents were reviewed by HOA leaders last week. Basically, the developers want to eliminate a convenience store with gas islands option and emphasize town homes. The focus is the northeast quadrant directly across from the Landing at Wescott, the new assistant living complex. The forum was a lively and constructive discussion. The proposed changes will now be presented to the Planning Commission and ultimately to City Council.
City Council last week gave final approval to a special traffic study focusing on school year congestion on Patriot Boulevard, between Wescott Boulevard and Palmetto Commerce Parkway. (A thought: More than 1,000 residences, a new school and a myriad of new commercial buildings have been built in this stretch of Patriot Boulevard with planning and general zoning decisions made in 2008 or before. This part of Patriot Boulevard is in both Charleston and Dorchester counties. Patriot Boulevard has not been widened nor improved to accommodate ever-rising traffic volumes, nor has there been any addition signaling. The city has limited powers, but we continue to encourage our county government colleagues to recognize the need for major improvements.)
Another review now underway focuses on the conditions at the intersection of Ashley Phosphate and Saddle brook Drive. The issue is the left turn options exiting Saddlebrook onto Ashley Phosphate, which can be tricky and dangerous, especially during peak traffic hours. The S.C. Department Transportation will update its data and decide on whether a “right-turn-only” control is needed.
Weather conditions have compounded the annual “fire ant” infestations, and these pesky insect hills are very evident in public rights-of-way. The city’s landscape maintenance crews will spray, as they mow and trim.
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