Mount Pleasant Magazine Sept/Oct 2016

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“I don’t think that was something
I could morally, ethically and legally
bring myself to get comfortable
doing,” Smith said. “I’m old school.
A handshake agreement means
something. I’m a man of my word,
and I expect others to uphold those
standards as well.”
“I was uncomfortable because of
the contract with Tex and the spirit
in which the contract was drawn,”
Smith said. “But there always has to be
middle ground.”
Smith joined the majority and
voted to change the setbacks for
Church and Mill streets and to remove
public funding from the project. That
action was taken by the Council on
April 8, 2014, more than a year before
four candidates supported by the Save
Shem Creek group – Jim Owens,
Joe Bustos, Bob Brimmer and Will
Haynie – were elected to the Council.
Three incumbents – Chris O’Neal,
Chris Nichols and Ken Glasson –
were unseated. Longtime Council
Member Thomasena Stokes-Marshall
did not seek re-election.
According to Small, the building
will cost around $20 million, a figure
that includes impact fees paid to the
town and Mount Pleasant Water
Works and buying out Roper’s lease
on the property. Its exterior consists
of glass and brick, and concrete
stained to resemble wood. A financial
company and a law firm already have
leased space in the building, and
AVTEX will have an office there as
well. Small said 160 to 180 people
will work in the building.
“It’s not just about people who
come to the restaurants as patrons.
Each restaurant has a large staff. They
all need parking, too,” he said.
“It’s a very solid building,” he added.
“If there’s an earthquake or a hurricane,
that’s where you want to be.”
AVTEX, established in 1974, has
developed numerous residential, retail
shopping centers, office and industrial
properties in the Southeast, including
The Market at Oakland in North
Mount Pleasant.
The circled area is the location of the parking garage/office building at Coleman Boulevard and
Mill Street. The photo was taken from the air April 6, 2016.
Photo by Brian Sherman.
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