Mount Pleasant Magazine March/April 2021

156 www. TopTenHomesSo l d. com | www. Fi ndMPAgent . com | www.MountPl easantHomes . com We are a Charlestonian owned business. Our word and the quality of our work means everything to us. Licensed & Insured Over 32 Years of Experience Ralph Martin 843-964-0200 Nick Fazi 843-754-0477 voltelectriclp@gmail.com CALL RALPH OR NICK FOR ALL YOUR ELECTRICAL NEEDS Volt Electric LOCALLY OWNED Un certain ty hits state, local b udgets By Patrick Hoff phoff@scbiznews.com T he S.C. state budget is in limbo after the coronavirus pandemic short-cir- cuited the General Assembly’s process in mid-March. The state House passed its budget at the end of February, but the General Assembly was sent home before the Senate could finish its deliberations and vote. The Senate passed a continuing resolution last month to keep the government open if a budget isn’t passed by June 30, when the fiscal year ends, but the House has yet to vote on that measure. Complicating the budgeting process is the uncertainty that looms over two of the state’s revenue sources: sales taxes and income taxes, which have slowed as more than 341,730 South Carolinians have filed for unemploy- ment and nonessential businesses were closed for most of April. A report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a nonpartisan research insti- tute based in Washington, D.C., said states could face up to $105 billion in budget short- falls this fiscal year, which for most states ends June 30. Next fiscal year, the report said states could see up to $290 billion in shortfalls. In a separate report, the center said one- third of states are unprepared for a moder- ate recession. South Carolina was not one of them; according to the report, SouthCarolina’s reserves were about 16% of the state’s gener- al fund, which are about where they should be. In general, the center said, states should aim for reserves equal to at least 15% of their budget. Still, the center said states’ reserves won’t INSIDE Upfront ................................ 2 SC Biz News Briefs ................ 3 Best Advice .......................... 4 In Focus: Hospitality and Tourism ..... 15 List: Area Attractions ......... 20 At Work .............................. 21 Viewpoint ........................... 23 Academic upgrade The Citadel prepares to replace Capers Hall with more modern building. Page 8 Airlifted aid Boeing Dreamlifter used to bring face masks for Prisma Health, MUSC from China to the Upstate. Page 3 Long road ahead Experts say full return of Charleston’s tourism industry may be years away. Page 15 Rolling on Food trucks transition business from private parties to serving neighbors. Page 19 See BUDGETS, Page 5 VOLUME 26 NUMBER 10 ■ CHARLESTONBUSINESS.COM MAY 4 - 17, 2020 ■ $2.25 Part of the network BEST ADVICE Gillian Zettler, CharlestonWine and Food PAGE 4 By Patrick Hoff phoff@scbiznews.com H alfway through a study on how to protect the Charleston peninsula from coastal flooding, the Army Corps of Engineers is seeking public input on a potential solution: a wall around the city. The Army Corps of Engineers Charleston District began its $3 million coastal flood- ing study of the Charleston peninsula in October 2018 with funding from the federal Holding back the sea Army Corps presents potential solution to coastal flooding An 1849 map shows the peninsula after construction of the High Battery sea wall. Over one-third of the present-day peninsula was “reclaimed” by landfilling the intertidal zone, which exacerbates flooding issues. (Map/Army Corps) See FLOODING, Page 6 Horses on hold Carriage companies struggle during peak season as COVID-19 halts in-person tourism business. Page 15 By Patrick Hoff phoff@scbiznews.com T hough business owners are eager to reopen after weeks of coronavirus-in- duced closures, they’re doing so with caution to ensure the safety of customers and employees. “First in mind is, obviously, the protocols of what to do and how to do it well,” said Jeff B rower, regional direc tor of operations for NorthPointe Hospital ity Management, which operates Hotel Indigo in M ount Pleasant and the Holiday Inn Express in d wntown Charleston. Gov. Henry McMaster lifted an executive order earlier this month that had l mited traffic on the road only to commuters going to and from work at essential businesses, as well as people visiting family, obtaining essential goods or services, attending reli- gious services and recreating alone or with family outside. Additionally, re staurants were allowed to begin outdoor dining starting May 4. Is coronavirus a contractual ‘act of Go d? ’ By Patrick Hoff phoff@scbiznews.com C ontracts with force majeure clauses have typically standardized a compa- ny’s failure to perform in the event of uncertain circumstances, such as a fire, flood, war, accident or natural disaster. But in facing today’s new normal, compa- nies may have may have a new legal gray area to deal with, when contracts are interrupted by a pandemic. “I think that there’s a lot of concern ... about basically having the buck stop with them financially, particularly if they’re unable to perform and their provision in their con- tracts ... that make them responsible for delay,” said Kyle Dillard, attorney and shareholder at Ogletree Deakins’ Greenville office. Force majeure is a clause in a contract that removes liability from a company if they are unable to uphold their end of the deal because of unforeseen circumstances. Typically the clauses have certain events spelled out, such as fire, flood, government action and labor dis- putes, but most clauses also excuse a company Reopening a calc ulated d ecision for businesses INSIDE Upfront ....... ......................... 2 Best Advice .......................... 4 SC Biz News Briefs ................ 5 In Focus: Ports, Logistics and Distribution ................. 13 List: Motor Freight Lines ..... 19 At Work .............................. 21 Hot Properties ..................... 27 Viewpoint ........................... 31 Pivoting port S.C. Ports Authority mapping new path to continue business growth. Page 13 Repaired to reopen Upstate automotive manufacturer resumes production after one-two punch of coronavirus, tornado. Page 12 Online itinerary Software allows dockworkers to schedule shifts outside union hall. Page 13 Chicken out Poultry producers keep watch on viral threats that jeopardize U.S. exports. Page 5 Produce panic Farmers worry that shoppers may move away from fresh produce as they hunker down in quarantine. Page 14 See IMPACT, Page 6 See FORCE, Page 7 VOLUME 26 NUMBER 11 ■ CHARLESTONBUSINESS.COM MAY 18 - 31, 2020 ■ $2.25 Part of the network BEST ADVICE Phyllis Martin, Tri-County Cradle to Career PAGE 4 CRITICAL C ARGO Boeing S.C. partnered with government and health officials to land three planes loaded with personal protective equipment in North Charleston from China for Medical University of S.C. health workers statewide. Story, Photos Page 8-9 Photo/Boeing Co. By Patrick Hoff phoff@scbiznews.com C llege of Charleston Presi dent Andrew Hsu said when he first came to the college, what stood out to him were fou P’s: prestige, place, program and people. But after a year of leading CofC, an ther P comes t mind: potential. “If we go in the right direction, it (the col- lege) will be at a very different level,” Hsu said. In lin e with Hs ’ vision, the College of Charleston has adopted an ambitious 10-year strategic plan to compete agai st the top uni- versities in the country. The plan, approved by the college’s board of trustees last month, will be finalized and named this summer. Planning began in June 2019 and included more than 5,000 faculty, staff, students, administrators, alumni and community members who participated in workshops, focus groups and online surveys. CofC was assisted in the planning process by Blue Beyond Consulting, headquartered in Castro Valley, Calif. Magnolia site nearing cleanup completion By Patrick Hoff phoff@scbiznews.com A decades-long vision is coming clos- er to fruition on Charleston’s Upper Peninsula as utilities are installed and environmental cleanup work nears comple- tion on the long-empty Magnolia tract of land along the Ashley River. “What we’re trying to do is develop a major mixed-use urban center that is focused on and oriented toward the Ashley River,” said David Bodenman, president and interim CEO of Highland Resources, which owns the Magnolia site. Of the 140 acres that Highland owns, about 79 acres are developable, Bodenman said. The site is entitled for at least 1 million square feet of office, 4,000 residential units, 1,000 hotel rooms, 200,000 square feet of retail and a 23.7-acre waterfront park. Two acres of the property were also donat- ed to the city of Charleston for affordable housing. Years ago, Magnolia site was home to several industrial plants, including a Cof C sets a cour se for national status INSIDE Upfront ................................ 2 SC Biz News Briefs ................ 3 Best Advice .......................... 4 In Focus: Human Resources .............. 13 List: Office Supply and Equipment Dealers ............. 17 Bonus List: Employee B nefit Brokers .................. 18 At Work .............................. 19 Hot Properties ..................... 21 Viewpoint ........................... 23 Retu rn to the office Flexibility required as employees begin returning to the workplace. Page 13 Coastal partners Upstate apparel brand partners with coastal conservation group. Page 3 Keeping calm 5 reasons not to panic over job losses and high unemployment rates. Page 15 Expanded program Gran funding used to increase utility line worker training opportunities. Page 3 Small business suffers S.C. businesses under 500 employees among most affected by COVID-19. Page 2 See COFC, Page 12 See MAGNOLIA, Page 6 VOLUME 26 NUMBER 12 ■ CHARLESTONBUSINESS.COM JUNE 1 - 14, 2020 ■ $2.25 Part of t he network BEST ADVICE Brig. Gen. Hank Taylor PAGE 4 The Harbour Cl b is crossing the peninsula, stretching across 25 years and reimagining corporate hospi ality in an elevated venue designed to serve professionals the way they work. Page 8 FROM THE COOPER TO THE ASHLEY Jim Coyne, general manager of The Harbour Club and partner with BNG Hospitality, tours the site at 22 WestEdge in May along with Susan O’Sullivan Sellers, principal with Flair Marketing in Charleston. (Photo/Andy Owens) By Patrick Hoff phoff@scbiznews.com G oose Creek has filed a lawsuit against Santee Cooper over the city’s right to provide electric utility service to cust me s who will be annexed into the city. special referendum passed in December allows Goose Creek to establish a municipal electric utility. The sole customer when the utility begins oper tion on Jan. 1 would be Century Aluminum, though 5,000 acres of surrounding property would also be annexed into the city and serviced by the municipal utility if necessary. Century currently receives its electricity through a contract with Santee Cooper; 25% of the electricity is at Santee Cooper rates and 75% is at open market prices. Goose Creek says it can provide Centu- ry Aluminum, which is located in Berkeley County’s Mt. Holly community, with electrici- ty at nearly half the price it currently pays. Century has said if it is able to buy 100% of its electricity at open market rates, it could Colleton County boosting economic development effort By Patrick Hoff phoff@scbiznews.com E conomic development groups across the country are chasing a lot of the same industries — food processing, aerospace and automotive being among the highlights. For Heyward Horton, though, the target industry is any that’ll create jobs in Colleton County. Horton, executive director of the Colleton C u ty Economic Alliance, said the county’s goal is like that of any other area: Find ways to attract new jobs and new investment. “Economic development is always a process of filling a leaky bucket,” Horton said. “Com- panies end up closing, moving elsewhere for whatever reasons periodically, so you have to always be in pursuit of new investment and new jobs to bring in just to replace those that leave.” Approximately an hour from Charleston and an hour from Savannah, with Interstate 95 running through it, Colleton County is positioning itself as a reasonably priced spot for companies looking to locate in the Low- country. Goose Creek, Santee Cooper at odds over smelter INSIDE Upfront ................................ 2 SC Biz News Briefs ................ 3 Best Advice .......................... 4 In Focus: Architecture, Engineering and Construction ............... 15 Charleston Under Constructio .................. 15-23 List: Landscape Architecture Firms ............. 26 At Work .............................. 27 Viewpoint ........................... 31 Doub ling up onstruction com plete on dual-branded h otel and conference center in Summerville. Page 15 Mixed-use campus Investment firm to develop Pepsi property int multifamily, office, retail. Page 13 Financial pressure S.C. hospitals implement layoffs, furloughs to stay afloat during pandemic. Page 9 Virtually legal Law firms settle into working remotely despite technology hurdles with courts. Page 8 Coping with COVID The Business Journal asked businesses how they are shifting their business model during the pandemic. Pages 6-12 See GOOSE CREEK, Page 13 See COLLETON, Page 14 VOLUME 26 NUMBER 9 ■ CHARLESTONBUSINESS.COM APRIL 20 - MAY 3, 2020 ■ $2.25 Part of the network BEST ADVICE Anne Cleveland, Charleston Library Society PAGE 4 As essential businesses, construction companies shift how they wo k and serve customers through the COVID-19 outbreak. Page 15 STILL UND ER CONS TRUC TI ON A Trident Construction worker reviews work at the jobsite at the WestEdge development in Charleston. (Photo/Trident Construction) CHARLESTON UNDER CONSTRUCTION Who is building what in the Charleston area? Projects, companies, prices, projected timelines, photos and stories. Page 19 Nonprofit donations increase despite COVID-19 pressures By Alexandria Ng ang@scbiznews.com T he COVID-19 pandemic has taken its toll on the economy, bringing nation- al unemployment numbers to 13.3% in May and shutting down some businesses permanently. But donors across the country are rallying around nonprofits at a time when some say they are most needed. TimWinkler is CEO of theWinkler Group, Landlords, tenants told to be ‘human’ in renegotiations By Andy Owens aowens@scbiznews.com E ven with the state slowly reopening, the coronavirus pandemic has rendered certain commercial space less valuable for many small businesses — but that doesn’t mean you don’t have to pay your rent, accord- ing to a Mount Pleasant attorney. Alex Juncu, an attorney who specializes in contract law, including landlord and tenant issues, said landlords and tenants can save a lot of time when renegotiating a lease by knowing what’s in the lease and by remembering the “human component” in each transaction. “Exercise patience, but also be ready to make some concessions,” he said. “When you do collaborate, you’ll make a lot more progress than when you’re in an adversarial position.” He said landlords and tenants must INSIDE Upfro t ................................ 2 SC Biz N ws Briefs ................ 3 Best Advice .......................... 4 Vantage Point .................. 10-11 In Focus: Architec ure, Engineering and Construction ............... 19 List: Homebuilders ............. 32 At Work .............................. 35 St phen Slifer ..................... 36 Viewpoint .......................... 38 Ready for lifto ff Joint Bas e Charleston supports flight to space station with C-17 rescue crews on alert. Page 7 New chief exec Kion North America names new CEO for the company’s U.S. headquarters. Page 17 Indu trial partner Kontane Logistics opens warehouse facility in Berkeley County to serve Volvo. Page 14 In ubating life sciences Ch rleston Digital Corridor op ns incubator in WestEdge. Page 12 See NONPROFITS, Page 5 See LEASING, Page 12 VOLUME 26 NUMBER 13 ■ CHARLESTONBUSINESS.COM JUNE 15 - 28, 2020 ■ $2.25 Part of the network BEST ADVICE Angela Craig, executive director, Charleston County Public Library PAGE 4 WH AT’S NEXT? After a night of smashed windows, a car fire, looted inventory and questions about how public officials handled protests and curfews, Charleston-area companies try to restore order to their businesses once again. Page 6 Many storefronts were damaged on King Street during the protests in late May. (Photo/Shawnda Poynter) Begin your subscription today! Go to charlestonbusiness.com/subscribe to subscribe. 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