Mount Pleasant Magazine Sept/Oct 2016

“This was the ideal fit. Here, we can walk clients to

lunch or paddle board along the creek for team-building

after work,” said CEO Joseph Hann.

At the same time, expansions are taking place throughout

town, most notably with Verge Solutions, Mount Pleasant’s

largest tech company, now located in the Automated Trade

Desk Complex off Johnnie Dodds Boulevard.

Elsewhere, the town partners with the Mount Pleasant

Business Association on educational efforts and with

the Harbor Entrepreneur Center – whose flagship site

is located on Coleman Boulevard – to provide startup

assistance such as flex office space and accelerator services.

Meanwhile, in 2015, the long-standing Local Vendor

Partnership Program helped funnel 78 percent of general

fund expenditures to Mount Pleasant businesses.

“Businesses want to locate and grow in a place

where they not only feel valued but also are supported,”

Livingston said.

The Look

Most Council members, as well as town administrative

officials, speak in similar terms when it comes to the

ultimate outcome for Coleman Boulevard, with words

such as “vibrant,” “eclectic” and “walkable” popping up

repeatedly.

Exactly what that all looks like, however, has caused

consternation on the Council. Newer members have

rebuffed the height and density of projects such as The

Boulevard and the office building/garage at Mill and

Coleman. And recently the Council overwhelmingly gave

initial approval to lowering heights to 45 feet throughout

most of the corridor.

Smith, the Economic Development chair, was the

outlier in an 8-1 vote, citing lack of study on the issue

or the chance for nearly 300 property owners to weigh

in. Still, the voting numbers speak for themselves, and

Councilman Jim Owens said he thinks the town can stay

true to its Coastal roots while attracting high-paying jobs

to the de facto city center.

“My vision is something that is more coastal and

eclectic that has pitched, tin roofs, Hardieplank

siding, three stories and attracting businesses of all

kinds,” Owens said. “Insurance companies, attorneys,

architectural firms, engineering companies. I think you’ll

find that all of those pay a salary that is commensurate

with living in Mount Pleasant.”

The aesthetic debate will likely roil on for some

time, but the continued arrival of well-paying jobs near

Coleman will likely help foster the “main street” live/

work/play vision put forth by the Coleman Revitalization

Advisory Board in 2008.

Said Livingston, the business development officer: “We

designed a master plan to increase walkability and create

activity zones – all in the effort to create an ecosystem that

affords our citizens and businesses the opportunity to live,

work and play in one place.”

Which leaves at least one question: Has the town

trademarked the term Silicon Creek?

1993

A revitalization

program is

announced

for Coleman

Boulevard.

2005

The Arthur Ravenel Bridge opens,

replacing the two Cooper River

bridges. Two traffic lanes lead

directly onto Coleman Boulevard,

where Palmetto trees and

decorative lighting greet those

entering Mount Pleasant.

2008

A revitalization/enhancement is announced for

Coleman Boulevard as part of the “Main Street”

project. Decorative crosswalks, landscaped

medians, on-street parking and a traffic circle

at the intersection of Coleman, Ben Sawyer and

Chuck Dawley boulevards are planned.

2009

The town funds improvements at Moultrie

Middle School and Shem Creek, and, by

mid-summer 2013, the Beach company has

already rented more than 125 apartments

of the Boulevard, an imposing 325-unit

complex that will be one centerpiece of

Coleman Boulevard’s renaissance.

2016

A parking garage/office

building is currently being

built at the corner of Coleman

Boulevard and Mill Street.

Other improvement plans for

Coleman are in the works.

MPBM