It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Princes Ferry One Hand Sanders Historical Markets gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Mount Pleasant, SC is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“Best Senior Service Care in Charleston to work for. Christine and Rick are very positive”
“Very Professional and excellent staff.”
“Our family has been using the services of Always Best Care for the past six”
“I cannot say enough wonderful things about Always Best Care Charleston! I am truly blessed”
“Always Best Care caregivers have been taking care of Dad for over a year. We”
“Like most I was not prepared for the transition to being the responsible one for”
“We have had several senior services for my Mother that we were really not happy”
“Good Afternoon! I hope you're doing well! I wanted you to know that my dad”
“The absolute best caregiving company to work for hands down! Rick and Christine are genuine,”
“This is a great company to work for. All their caregivers are dedicated and caring.”
“These people are lifesavers! We searched for months to find an in-home care agency for”
“Always Best Care has constantly provided quality care services for my wife over many months”
“Couldn’t imagine a better team of people to take care of my loved ones. Rick”
“Rick and Christine, of Always Best Care Charleston, are the exact people I would trust”
“I've known Christine and Ricky Johnson for more than 30 years and would highly recommend”
“I joined Always Best Care as the Director of Operations about 3 months ago. I”
“I have known Christine and Rick for years. Their actions and words repeatedly demonstrate their”
“I couldn't be happier that Ricky and Christine Johnson have joined Always Best Care Senior”
“How fortunate the Charleston community is to have Always Best Care to serve the needs”
“I have known Christine and Rick Johnson both professionally and personally for over 20 years”
“Best Senior Service Care in Charleston to work for. Christine and Rick are very positive and supportive and for that I love my Job.”
“Very Professional and excellent staff.”
“Our family has been using the services of Always Best Care for the past six months and are grateful for the assistance provided to my elderly parents. Initially Rick, one of the owners, met with us along with my parents to closely assess their needs. His warm, friendly manner was helpful in persuading my father to give the assistance a try for two days per week. Rick listened carefully to choose the best match in caregivers, and we could not be more satisfied than we are with our parents' caregiver. She has quickly become essential in their lives and makes a huge difference in whether or not they can remain in their home. Her manner with my parents is professional, but loving, always--- always--- going the extra mile to meet their needs. She is knowledgeable, hard-working, caring, and trusted to do what is in their best interest. We are thankful that someone told us about Always Best Care and ever grateful for our caregiver.”
“I cannot say enough wonderful things about Always Best Care Charleston! I am truly blessed to be a part of such a wonderful team! Christine and Rick are very dedicated to the work that they are doing, and it shows in everything they do. I have never had the pleasure of working for a company with more passionate and involved owners. They show up for their clients and caregivers in every way possible. They go above and beyond to treat everyone like family and enrich the lives of those around them. I am so grateful to be able to be a part of this journey and cannot wait to see all the great things they will accomplish!”
“Always Best Care caregivers have been taking care of Dad for over a year. We appreciate Christine and Rick very much. Quentin, Ann, Alexus , you and others have been a joy to have in our home and doing whatever needs to be done. You show your care and concern for Dad’s physical and emotional well being and you have become part of our family. I really rely on you when we can’t be home and know Dad is in good hands!!! Keep up the good work!!! Love you all.”
“Like most I was not prepared for the transition to being the responsible one for my Mom. Looking back there were signs of memory decline but after emergency surgery and move to rehab the combative paranoid person my sweet, witty, well read , soft spoken Mom became was shocking. Medication and skilled care were prescribed. Several missteps were made with both. Mom’s dark side resulted in first skilled care company dropping us which I totally understood. I was very straight with Christine and Rick regarding Mom’s recent ‘trips out on the ledge’. Rather than politely taking a pass on us...they spent 2 hours in person with us, 3 cumulative hours on the phone asking me questions and strategizing how to avoid the triggers that put Mom ‘on the ledge’, and 2 twelve hour days observing, testing and tweaking strategies. We are approaching 2 months with no major or reportable incidents. I don’t know how long this again found quality of life will last. I am thankful that one of the nurses referred me to ABC. I am tremendously thankful to be their client for the remainder of this journey.”
“We have had several senior services for my Mother that we were really not happy with, then we found Rick and his staff with Always Best Care. There name says it all ... always the best care. Their staff are warm, caring and assist my Mother seven days a week, and she loves seeing Rick. I couldn't ask for better care & highly recommend them to anyone who needs this type of service.”
“Good Afternoon! I hope you're doing well! I wanted you to know that my dad LOVES Rick and so does Amya!! I can't thank you guys enough for all that you guys are doing, not only for my father but me! Rick went out of his way today and that truly meant a lot :) My dad is so happy and that makes me happy! you guys rock!! thank you!!!”
“The absolute best caregiving company to work for hands down! Rick and Christine are genuine, loving individuals which make them amazing business owners/ bosses. They do not hesitate to make their employees and clients happy. I’m so thankful to have met these amazing people and be apart of their outstanding company.”
“This is a great company to work for. All their caregivers are dedicated and caring.”
“These people are lifesavers! We searched for months to find an in-home care agency for my aging mother. Previous agencies we used had high turnover and repeated no-shows, leaving us scrambling to adjust and worried sick about Covid exposure from a revolving door of caregivers. Christine and her staff came to our rescue and changed all that. Their caregivers were patient, loving, dedicated and RELIABLE. They provide service at the highest level and we would wholeheartedly recommend them to others. My mother deserves the best care and I wouldn't use anyone else.”
“Always Best Care has constantly provided quality care services for my wife over many months of required assistance. The caregivers provide professional services with a loving touch. They have always addressed any questions or concerns immediately with kindness. The administration checks with me, periodically, for a review and any input for improvement. I highly recommend this company.”
“Couldn’t imagine a better team of people to take care of my loved ones. Rick and Christine are the kindest and most genuine people. Their years of work in the customer service industry truly show through the care they provide to others. Aside from the physical and emotional care they provide, which is most important, they are reliable, punctual, trustworthy, and their connections with others last a lifetime. Everyone is family with Rick and Christine.”
“Rick and Christine, of Always Best Care Charleston, are the exact people I would trust and choose to care for my aging loved ones. They are loving, patient, knowledgeable and extremely detail oriented. They have decades of experience in the customer service industry and truly value the relationships with each of their clients.”
“I've known Christine and Ricky Johnson for more than 30 years and would highly recommend their services! They've built businesses from the ground up and this one is / will be a perfect fit for them and their clients. They come from, and have created, a large family where assisting others is part of their everyday lives. Their caring nature, solid work ethic and integrity will be highlighted through Always Best Care Senior Services Charleston and will be to the benefit of clients' loved ones.”
“I joined Always Best Care as the Director of Operations about 3 months ago. I bring 15 years experience in senior living to this brand new non medical home care company. We have put together an excellent team of personal assistant’s and are ready to accept new clients.”
“I have known Christine and Rick for years. Their actions and words repeatedly demonstrate their high expectation of what it takes to nurture a loving family and to be active members of a positive, supportive community. Both clients and employees will benefit from their consistent standard of compassionate honesty & integrity as well as the positive energy they bring to every encounter. I recommend them without reservation.”
“I couldn't be happier that Ricky and Christine Johnson have joined Always Best Care Senior Services. From years of experience in dedicated customer service to the love and care of their own (and extended) family, this is a wonderful fit! The Johnson's tireless work ethic, attention to detail and heart for people should give family members of clients absolute confidence and trust in their care. Bravo!”
“How fortunate the Charleston community is to have Always Best Care to serve the needs of seniors. Rick and Christine Johnson, known for their dedication to helping others, have prayerfully commited to finding and nurturing the best team possible to assist them on this mission. Thank you, Rick and Christine, for offering families peace of mind for the care of loved ones.”
“I have known Christine and Rick Johnson both professionally and personally for over 20 years now. I know them to be caring and loving. I with no reservations would have them care for my 93 year old father, If I still lived in the Charleston area. I can not state a higher praise to their character and integrity than that. Allen Sandridge”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Langdon's Restaurant & Wine Bar or visit Old Village Historic District, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Mount Pleasant, SC, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Mount Pleasant, SC understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Mount Pleasant, SC 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
MOUNT PLEASANT — Future redevelopment plans for Mount Pleasant Towne Centre are dead for now as the owners of East Cooper's largest shopping and entertainment destination failed to secure the necessary votes from elected officials to move forward.The denial is a blow to Continental Realty Corp., which has sought for four years to change a development agreement approved in the late 1990s. The Baltimore-based investment firm wants to add another hotel, hundreds of housing units, more parking garages and more greenspace to the prop...
MOUNT PLEASANT — Future redevelopment plans for Mount Pleasant Towne Centre are dead for now as the owners of East Cooper's largest shopping and entertainment destination failed to secure the necessary votes from elected officials to move forward.
The denial is a blow to Continental Realty Corp., which has sought for four years to change a development agreement approved in the late 1990s. The Baltimore-based investment firm wants to add another hotel, hundreds of housing units, more parking garages and more greenspace to the property on Highway 17 near the Isle of Palms Connector.
Following more than an hour of public comments Aug. 12, Mount Pleasant Town Council voted 7-1 to deny the request, with Howard Chapman dissenting.
In a statement to The Post and Courier, Continental Realty CEO JM Shapiro said he was "disappointed" by the decision to reject a plan that would "reimagine and protect Towne Centre."
"We believe this is a missed opportunity to address Mount Pleasant’s critical need for housing and that it is counter to proven smart-growth strategies," said Shapiro, whose company paid $147 million for the property in 2020.
While the town’s Planning Commission on June 18 recommended approval of the amendment, a separate panel deferred the issue in July and made no recommendation after meeting this month to hand up to town council.
Continental returned for another crack at approval Tuesday with a plan based, at least in part, on the possibility that anchor tenants Belk or Regal Cinemas could move out of the shopping center someday.
Big-box retail stores are increasingly more challenging to fill, the company has previously stated. The vacant Bed Bath & Beyond at Towne Centre has been held up as a prime example. The 34,650-square-foot space is still empty after nearly two years.
Mount Pleasant resident Pam Ireland questioned why the redevelopment changes are on the table now.
“Theoretically, this plan could be on ice for 28 years," she said.
Ireland added warned that the town should be cautious about approving long-term zoning entitlements it can’t take back later.
Resident Brenda Dye also requested denial, saying the plans are "overwhelming" and don’t benefit local citizens. The area already is “mired in traffic,” she said, adding that Towne Centre isn’t a tourist destination that needs another hotel.
“None of this will improve the livability of our town,” she said. “On the contrary, the owners and investors will profit, but their financial gain will come at the expense of our quality of life and further deterioration of the livability of our town.”
Belk and its senior management have been among the most vocal opponents. Executives of the chain showed up again Tuesday to express concerns about elevated building heights and other changes could hurt the company’s two stores at Towne Centre.
Janet Smith, a senior vice president for the company, said Belk’s leases run through 2053 and 2043. She also reiterated to officials that the department store chain is in strong financial condition and is not going anywhere.
Smith added there are “no assurances that the concept plan presented is what the community will ultimately receive" — and that includes the proposed affordable housing.
Under the current agreement, the property owners are allowed to build as many as eight units per acre if half are dedicated to attainable housing.
Wendi Frost, vice president of real estate operations for Charlotte-based Belk, said the shopping center owners have been free to build homes for years but have "yet to build one."
In contrast, Josh Dix, a local housing advocate, spoke in favor of the plan. He said the proposed residential component is a way for the town and shopping center to utilize existing infill space rather than outlying areas to meet housing needs.
He added the plans "could be a model for a lot of the redevelopment" and emphasized people need to "think differently" and "wiser" with how they use land.
Shapiro, the Continental Realty CEO, and Merritt Abney, the company's lawyer, stressed that the plans don't alter Belk’s lease or authorize construction on Belk-leased premises.
"This shouldn't be about Belk," Shapiro said during public comments.
Abney added the proposed amendment is all about "long-term flexibility” and has the “support of nearly all tenants" at Towne Centre.
“The request is reasonable. It advances the town’s established land-use goals. And we request that you approve," he said.
The Beach Co. CEO John Darby, whose family-owned Charleston-based real estate firm is an investor in Towne Centre with Continental Realty, called on officials “to make a decision.”
“Honestly, a deferral tonight will be viewed as a 'no' vote,” he said.
His son, J.C. Darby, closed out the public comment section and didn't pull any punches against Belk.
"The last several days Belk has thrown a grenade on the last four years and all the work we've done to get here," he said. "We've tried to reason with them, but cannot."
Following nearly two hours of discussion, council member John Iacofano said the plans in the end still weren't "there yet" and not concrete enough.
GM Whitley, who served the chairperson pro tem in Mayor Will Haynie's absence, said the Belk dispute is "irrelevant" and her "no" vote was against Continental's "if/when" proposals.
"What I do know is that if all this is entitled into this property, the valuation of this property goes up significantly," she said, adding she was “not comfortable giving the gift of hundreds of millions upon millions of dollars to a developer in exchange for a hundred affordable housing units when we have developers in our community who are building affordable housing."
Before voting, council member Lauren Hyatt said, "I've had an issue from the beginning that this is just a request for entitlements without a plan, and that, to me, is not something that I can vote for."
Chapman, who broke from the majority and was in favor of deferring the issue, said the town "has been sort of whiplashed into deciding between Belk and the owners of Towne Center, and I don't think that's fair."
"I would like to see us figure out a way to have this resource, Towne Centre, which is a jewel, ... get the only business in Towne Centre that has objected to come to terms with what eventually can be done, but most of all what can be done right now," Chapman said.
He and council member Daniel Brownstein recommended Belk and Continental get together ahead of any future proposals.
"I kind of take issue with some of the ultimatums that have been made on both sides tonight, that if we deny this we're turning our back on Towne Center or we're against attainable housing," Brownstein said. "But I don't want that to be misconstrued (that) I don't think things need to change at Towne Centre. I think there's a big opportunity to add some vibrancy."
The property owners must wait at least year before submitting a new proposal, and they could appeal the town’s decision.
MOUNT PLEASANT — After months of waiting, a new tenant is moving into the empty Harris Teeter grocery store in The Shoppes at Seaside Farms.Construction Resources has announced it will be opening a CR Design Center next spring where the supermarket chain operated for 12 years before closing at the end of May.The new tenant said the space will provide "designers, builders, remodelers, and homeowners with a seamless one-stop destination for every stage of their project and an unparalleled selection of premium brands.&r...
MOUNT PLEASANT — After months of waiting, a new tenant is moving into the empty Harris Teeter grocery store in The Shoppes at Seaside Farms.
Construction Resources has announced it will be opening a CR Design Center next spring where the supermarket chain operated for 12 years before closing at the end of May.
The new tenant said the space will provide "designers, builders, remodelers, and homeowners with a seamless one-stop destination for every stage of their project and an unparalleled selection of premium brands.”
The location sits at the back of the Mount Pleasant shopping center — bordered by Rifle Range Road and the Isle of Palms Connector — and is adjacent to the Seaside Farms residential subdivision and multiple apartment and condominium buildings. A Target store sits at the other end of the shopping area.
Harris Teeter’s closure deprived that section of the shopping center of much of its foot traffic, said Todd Weiss, owner of Top Hat Wine & Liquors just steps from the former grocery store.
“Without them, it’s been a ghost town,” he said. “Without them here we’ve been down at least a third of revenue.
The Yamato Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar, which had been the second-largest business in the rear portion of the shopping center, also shut down earlier this year. Plans to redevelop that property as a hotel have been rebuffed by Mount Pleasant Town Council.
Weiss said seeing a new tenant in the large, vacant grocery store space should help his business, though not as much as a high-traffic supermarket would.
The more than 45,000-square-foot CR Design Center will be Decatur, Ga.-based Construction Resources’ newest location, the company said. Last year, it opened its flagship showroom in Atlanta, and the company has been expanding in the Southeast.
Construction Resources said it held a roundtable discussion with top Charleston-based designers earlier this year to help shape the Mount Pleasant location.
“The region’s design influence is nationally recognized, and Seaside Farms offers an ideal setting to become part of a vibrant community where people live, shop and create,” CEO Mitch Hires said in a prepared statement.
Harris Teeter expanded into Seaside Farms in October 2013. Previously, the space with 40-foot vaulted ceilings was anchored by the former Piggly Wiggly Carolina franchise, which built it in 1996.
The former supermarket property joins numerous other sites in Mount Pleasant and elsewhere throughout the region where shuttered grocery stores have been replaced by other types of businesses including gyms, pickleball courts and specialty retailers.
At nearby Sweetgrass Corner, for instance, part of a former Bi-Lo that closed in 2019 near Highway 17 and the Isle of Palms Connector now houses a Trade Joe's store. Two other retail tenants, Golf Galaxy and Homesense, are backfilling the rest of the space.
Officials with the Clemson University Department of Plant Industry (DPI) are asking residents, arborists, construction site contractors and debris management companies to refrain from moving certain hardwood tree debris, including maple, from Mount Pleasant after inspectors detected Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) on the grounds of a commercial shopping center in the town.Clemson DPI and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant and Animal Inspection Service are collaborating to determine the extent of the infestation. They will announce...
Officials with the Clemson University Department of Plant Industry (DPI) are asking residents, arborists, construction site contractors and debris management companies to refrain from moving certain hardwood tree debris, including maple, from Mount Pleasant after inspectors detected Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) on the grounds of a commercial shopping center in the town.
Clemson DPI and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant and Animal Inspection Service are collaborating to determine the extent of the infestation. They will announce an official quarantine area in the coming weeks.
Officials are asking home and business owners to cooperate by giving the DPI and USDA inspectors property access as they conduct surveys to determine the extent of the infestation.
Private contractors working within Mount Pleasant should coordinate with the South Carolina Asian Longhorned Beetle Cooperative Eradication Program to determine how hardwoods can be properly deregulated and disposed of to ensure infested material doesn’t spread and eradication efforts remain effective.
The infestation was detected on August 24 by two off-duty DPI inspectors who saw suspicious insect damage on maple trees consistent with ALB and followed up.
The Mount Pleasant detection comes amid a five-year, multifront battle against the insect in Hollywood, S.C.
“It’s difficult to know how the insects ended up in Mount Pleasant,” said Steven Long, assistant director of Clemson Regulatory Services, who oversees DPI. “It’s frustrating that invasive insects can move in several ways, including on humans, vehicles, equipment, firewood, woody debris or on packing material from international goods.”
The Asian longhorned beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis, is a wood-boring beetle that threatens various hardwood trees, including maple, elm, willow, sycamore, poplar and birch. It is not a pest of the oak or pine species that are more abundant in South Carolina.
As the beetle bores into the tree, it interrupts the flow of life-giving sap and weakens it, ultimately killing it. Infested trees can also become safety hazards, since branches can drop and trees can fall over, especially during storms.
South Carolina was the sixth state to detect an Asian longhorned beetle infestation. The pest has been eradicated from New Jersey and Illinois; eradication efforts are ongoing in New York, Massachusetts and Ohio with guidance from the APHIS Asian Longhorned Beetle Eradication Program.
In addition to allowing state and federal inspectors access to property to survey for the pest, residents in the town of Mount Pleasant and in surrounding Charleston County communities are encouraged to also help by looking for the beetle and examining the trees on their property for damage that the beetles may cause.
“The number one thing we need is access to property in the inspection area,” Long said. “Survey crews will be operating in the area as we determine the extent of the infestation. Landowners’ cooperation ensures this pest doesn’t establish a foothold.
“The second thing we need is for people to help us look,” he said. “Our inspectors are experienced in examining the tree for signs of the beetles’ presence, but the more eyes we have looking for the insect and the more obvious damage it causes, the more likely we are to find it.”
The Asian longhorned beetle is shiny black with small, white spots on its body and abnormally long antennae. Adult beetles can grow an inch and a half long.
The beetle’s larvae feed by tunneling under the tree bark, where they live through the winter, forming feeding galleries in the trunk and branches. They chew their way out when mature, creating round holes about 3/8 inch in diameter.
Signs of infestation could include:
South Carolinians who believe they have found infested trees may report it online at https://clemson.edu/alb, by email at [email protected] or by calling DPI at 843-973-8329.
They may also make a report by calling the USDA’s Asian longhorned beetle hotline at 866-702-9938 or report online at www.AsianLonghornedBeetle.com.
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. —An Asian longhorned beetle has been detected at a shopping center in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, according to the Clemson University Department of Plant Industry (DPI).The infestation was detected on Aug. 24 by two off-duty DPI inspectors who saw suspicious insect damage on maple trees consistent with ALB and followed up.Clemson DPI and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant and Animal Inspection Service are collaborating to determine the extent of the infestation. They ...
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. —
An Asian longhorned beetle has been detected at a shopping center in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, according to the Clemson University Department of Plant Industry (DPI).
The infestation was detected on Aug. 24 by two off-duty DPI inspectors who saw suspicious insect damage on maple trees consistent with ALB and followed up.
Clemson DPI and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant and Animal Inspection Service are collaborating to determine the extent of the infestation. They will announce an official quarantine area in the coming weeks.
The department is now asking residents, arborists, construction site contractors and debris management companies in this area to refrain from moving certain hardwood tree debris, including maple, from Mount Pleasant.Officials are asking home and business owners to cooperate by giving the DPI and USDA inspectors property access as they conduct surveys to determine the extent of the infestation.
Private contractors working within Mount Pleasant should coordinate with the South Carolina Asian Longhorned Beetle Cooperative Eradication Program to determine how hardwoods can be properly deregulated and disposed of to ensure infested material doesn’t spread and eradication efforts remain effective.
The Mount Pleasant detection comes amid a five-year, multifront battle against the insect in Hollywood, S.C.
“It’s difficult to know how the insects ended up in Mt. Pleasant,” said Steven Long, assistant director of Clemson Regulatory Services, who oversees DPI. “It’s frustrating that invasive insects can move in several ways, including on humans, vehicles, equipment, firewood, woody debris or on packing material from international goods.”
The Asian longhorned beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis, is a wood-boring beetle that threatens various hardwood trees, including maple, elm, willow, sycamore, poplar and birch. It is not a pest of the oak or pine species that are more abundant in South Carolina.
As the beetle bores into the tree, it interrupts the flow of life-giving sap and weakens it, ultimately killing it. Infested trees can also become safety hazards, since branches can drop and trees can fall over, especially during storms.
South Carolina was the sixth state to detect an Asian longhorned beetle infestation. The pest has been eradicated from New Jersey and Illinois; eradication efforts are ongoing in New York, Massachusetts and Ohio with guidance from the APHIS Asian Longhorned Beetle Eradication Program.
In addition to allowing state and federal inspectors access to property to survey for the pest, residents in the town of Mount Pleasant and in surrounding Charleston County communities are encouraged to also help by looking for the beetle and examining the trees on their property for damage that the beetles may cause.
“The number one thing we need is access to property in the inspection area,” Long said. “Survey crews will be operating in the area as we determine the extent of the infestation. Landowners’ cooperation ensures this pest doesn’t establish a foothold.
“The second thing we need is for people to help us look,” he said. “Our inspectors are experienced in examining the tree for signs of the beetles’ presence, but the more eyes we have looking for the insect and the more obvious damage it causes, the more likely we are to find it.”
The Asian longhorned beetle is shiny black with small, white spots on its body and abnormally long antennae. Adult beetles can grow an inch and a half long.
The beetle’s larvae feed by tunneling under the tree bark, where they live through the winter, forming feeding galleries in the trunk and branches. They chew their way out when mature, creating round holes about 3/8 inch in diameter.
Signs of infestation could include:
South Carolinians who believe they have found infested trees may report it online at https://clemson.edu/alb, by email at [email protected] by calling DPI at 843-973-8329.
843.535.8387
