Mount Pleasant Business Magazine 2016

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Iwas somewhat dismayed and mildly confused recently to learn from an
obviously uninformed acquaintance that “Mount Pleasant is closed for business.” He was reacting – overre-
acting is more like it – to recent efforts by the Town Council to place a moratorium on residential construc-
tion. The Council brought new apartment development to a halt, for six months, at least, but failed to put a
temporary end to all home-building.
The Council’s efforts to slow the growth of residential construction is in no way a reflection of its attitude
toward new commercial construction. It’s true that a few recent projects have been, shall we say, a bit contro-
versial. OK, so the parking garage/office building currently under construction at Coleman Boulevard and Mill Street
made more than a few people mad, spawned several lawsuits and cost three incumbents their seats on the Council.
However, the controversy surrounding that one building has done little to slow commercial growth up and down
Coleman Boulevard. Take a short drive from the Ravenel Bridge to where the boulevard meets up with Chuck Dawley
and Ben Sawyer, and you’ll get a look at two office buildings that are expected to be ready for occupancy early next year.
Both of them will also be home to popular restaurants.
Meanwhile, not far off Coleman, at Patriots Point, local developer Michael Bennett is putting together several projects,
including one that could take 10 to 15 years to build and will include hotels, restaurants, office space and an amphitheater.
In this publication, the premiere issue of MP Business, you can read about all this development on and near Cole-
man Boulevard. Based on what’s happened in Mount Pleasant in the past couple of years, it’s a pretty good bet that few
readers will be happy about everything we’ve written – and that’s a good thing. Our goal is not to blindly support the
town officials who are doing their best to lead Mount Pleasant in the direction they think it should go. Nor is it to sing
the praises of the developers whose financial reward almost always comes with financial risk.
Our goal is to inform our readers – and maybe even to convince them that everything doesn’t have to be absolutely right
or dead wrong. There’s always something in between that, in the long run, will turn out to be what’s best for Mount Pleasant.
When your population is increasing at a greater rate than in any other municipality east of the Mississippi, isn’t that
the only smart way to grow?
Brian Sherman
Managing Editor
T he first cover of MP Business Magazine was shot
at a popular Mount Pleasant location – Shem Creek Park. It was an
afternoon of mixed clouds and sunlight, but the gray sky parted just
in time for our charismatic photographer, Jenn Cady, to capture a
little bit of that “pleasant” blue.
Pictured from left to right we have Mikell Harper of Gramling
Brothers Real Estate & Development; Michael Bennett of Bennett
Hospitality; and Mount Pleasant Councilman Jim Owens. When we initially revealed
this cover concept to our colleagues and friends, I have to admit they were surprised, and
maybe even flustered, to see the likes of Jim Owens, champion of honoring Mount Pleas-
ant’s past, pictured with two major developers. But we at MP Business think it’s a testa-
ment to how challenges can be worked out if people are willing to open their minds.
So, in response to that age-old question, Can’t we all just get along? – the answer is a
resounding yes.
Enjoy the issue. And share the link with friends: .
Yours,
Denise K. James
Editor
PROGRESS
MOUNT PLEASANT’S TEAM SPORT
COLEMAN
Our Boulevard of Dreams
PLANS FOR LAND
Chatting with Local Developers
MOUNT PLEASANT BUSINESS ASSOCIATION • MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY
MAGAZINE 2016
MPBM | |
From the editor
about the cover