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If you didn’t already hear, there was a massive announcement made this past week that will change the face of downtown Charleston forever – and for the better.  It was announced that the Charleston Port Authority will sell the 65 acre waterfront property that lines the copper river shoreline of the peninsula from the Ravenel Bridge to the cruise shop landing.  Charleston billionaire business man Ben Navarro will buy the property with the intention of developing it in a way that will enrich the community and boost the economy – considering the needs of the citizens and not trying to solely maximize profits with hotels and apartment buildings. He wrote an Op-Ed in the Post & Courier detailing his plans and intentions that I found interesting. We will actually have waterfront restaurants and open spaces an effort to solve the low income housing crisis. The Charleston Port will move up river closer to the Naval Yard – These ships come from Japan .. what’s 2 more miles? I’ll post some links, but I’m curious how everyone feels about this? Are we excited, annoyed, don’t care?

https://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/commentary/benjamin-navarro-explains-union-pier-plan/article_7a4b4b2c-e62d-11ee-8282-531f4ac02c71.html

https://www.live5news.com/2024/03/19/union-pier-property-sold-lowcountry-businessman/?outputType=amp

 

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I am skeptical of any billionaire that says he’s not looking to maximize profits.

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I worked on tour boats in the harbor for a long time and we used to drive past Union Pier every day. Cruise ships take up way too much space in the harbor and those warehouses need to go. I think whatever ends up there is going to be better than what is currently in place.

The story on the waterfront is that this deal has been in the works for a long time. We used to tell people that there was an ongoing legal dispute over the land. I never knew that it was Navarro on the other side of the deal.

Wonder what’s going to happen to the old rice mill wall over there. I’m sure they will find some way to turn it into a gift shop.

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FoxyG said:

I am skeptical of any billionaire that says he’s not looking to maximize profits.

Good point.. Don’t piss on us and tell us it’s raining..

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Billionaires shouldn’t exist. This property is near the new IAAM. I recently heard that North Charleston has only 5% black-owned business. I can’t imagine how much lower Charleston’s is. This space should’ve been for community, not more grasstops exclusivity.

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Maybe they will put another nice restaurant over there. I’ll be happy to have a place to drink an overpriced beer and look out over the harbor without having to wait an hour for a table at Fleet Landing.