51 www.ReadMPM.com | www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.MountPleasantPodcast.com on the coast Bending with the Times Georgetown steel mill redevelopment to revitalize riverfront BY SARAH ROSE On Oct. 13, 1967, an article for a special edition of The Georgetown Times informed its readers that a German-based company called Korf Industries had chosen a 30-acre tract of land along the banks of the Sampit River as the site where it would develop the Georgetown Steel Corporation. The report stated that the $7 million manufacturing facility would offer approximately 200 jobs initially. In an interview for the story, German industrialist Willy Korf explained why Georgetown was selected for its new location. “The Port of Georgetown has been an American port of entry for over 200 years, underscoring the importance that trade and commerce between nations has held for this county,” Korf said. For nearly 60 years the steel mill, which was bought and sold several times over the decades, has provided jobs that fueled the local economy. Yet the unsightly landmark bookended the entrance to the charming old port city, deterring some would-be tourists from exploring the darling shops, cafes and museums on historic Front Street. That landscape is about to change. State House District 108 Rep. Lee Hewitt revealed that since the steel mill closed its doors in October 2024, he has been approached by a developer who is under contract for the purchase of the property. “Although plans haven’t yet been discussed and talks are in the early conceptual stage, I’m here to help improve how Georgetown could look,” he said. “I’m all for opening it up from the heavy, rusty industrial aesthetic and connecting the riverfront area with more shops, restaurants, waterfront parks, public access to water and workforce housing.” Hewitt added, “The buyer understands that with the closures of the steel mill and the International Paper Mill, the people of Georgetown have been hit hard over the last year. He’s going to bring high-paying jobs back to the community so that folks can make a good living here with the clean-up, rebuilding and construction processes.” Pointing to a similar project at Bethlehem Steel in Pennsylvania, which closed in 2003, John Olszewski, Photo courtesy of Paige Sawyer.
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