Home Care In North Charleston, SC

The Cosgrove and McMillian Avenue overpass will now bring safer pedestrian and vehicle access to nearby neighborhoods and businesses in North Charleston.

The $59M overpass and pedestrian bridge now extends Cosgrove Avenue to the new Navy Yard Charleston Development and Riverfront Park.

“Access for the public to get down to the rivers edge. The opportunity there is tremendous. I don’t believe there’s anything like it in the state of South Carolina,” said Steve Dudash with Navy Yard Charleston.

The project extends Cosgrove Ave above the port rail yard to the Ashley River. Allowing trains to move to and from the Navy Base Intermodal Facility, without impeding local traffic or limiting safe pedestrian access.

“When this railyard is bustling with the activity driving the economic engine of the state of South Carolina, we know we need to provide you with fluid connectivity to the waterfront,” said Butch Weber, the Vice President of Engineering and Facilities for SC State Ports Authority.

The new 12 foot wide, 4 lane, multi-use path is separated by a barrier that now runs along the bridge. Which provides safe access for pedestrians to nearby neighborhoods and attractions.

That separation is extremely important, Dudash explained, and it’s safe for a child.

“The multi-modal multi-use path being on here and connecting the parks and the pedestrians and bicyclists and all of that is part of the master plan” said Dudash.

The bustling area was once heavily industrialized. Over the years it has transformed into a mixed-use destination, popular for locals and visitors. Which signifies another step in the revitalization of North Charleston.

Mayor of North Charleston, Reggie Burgess expressed how emotional it is for him to see this growth, as he grew up down there and the community didn’t have anything.

“This is a great time for the city of North Charleston. We thank the South Carolina Ports tremendously for connecting this bridge, not only with the Navy Yard, but with the citizens, so we can actually experience this great, great environment that we call the Navy Yard.” said Mayor Burgess.

Leaders expressed they hope the bridge helps promote connectivity and smart growth in North Charleston for future generations.

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NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Newly released state records detail years of neglect allegations at a North Charleston rehabilitation facility, including complaints of residents left in filth, insect infestations, unanswered call bells and chronic understaffing.

For Charlean Kelly, those allegations against Riverside Health and Rehab are not just words on paper. They mirror the treatment she says her mother, Ethel Kelly, endured at the facility.

When dementia and physical challenges made it difficult for Charlean Kelly to care for her mother, the family placed her at Riverside, expecting safety, compassion and dignity. Instead, Charlean Kelly says, they found neglect, filth and cries for help that went unanswered.

“She meant everything to us and to have to leave her day after day, I felt horrible,” Charlean Kelly says. “It’s like someone took a bucket of urine and poured it on her clothes.”

A serious fall at the facility, the family says, broke not only Ethel Kelly’s body but the family’s trust.

Newly obtained records from the South Carolina Department of Public Health show dozens of complaints in recent years alleging unsanitary conditions, a pervasive stench, dirty walls and floors, staff arguing in hallways and loud music blasting from nurses’ stations.

“The facility has no clean linen, towels nor washcloths,” one complaint reads. “The residents’ call bells ring and no one answers them. Residents lay on a dry pad but underneath pad bed wet with urine or feces. There are bugs crawling throughout the facility. Staff sit around [a] desk using profanity with music loud while dancing.”

One complaint alleges ants bit a resident. Another describes a wheelchair without footrests that caused an open sore when a resident’s foot dragged against the wheel.

“[The] resident fell and was found on the floor in [a] pool of blood,” a different complaint reads. “[The power of attorney] had a meeting with the facility. The head nurse stated if a resident wants to fall it is their right.”

One complaint details a resident’s death they considered to have involved a “high concern for neglect.”

The S.C. Department of Public Health cited the facility for some issues, including cleanliness, staffing, improperly administering medications, spiders and improper food preparation, but did not issue a citation after investigating others, documents show.

The facility submitted correction plans following the citations, according to state records.

In an email, Riverside officials say the facility is committed to quality care and takes every complaint seriously. Complaints are a routine part of regulation and should not be portrayed as proof of systemic neglect, the email states.

As for the Kelly family’s concerns, Riverside leaders say they have no record of getting complaints about hygiene or unanswered call bells. The facility says it understands how frightening it is for families to learn of a fall, but adds federal privacy laws limit what it can share publicly about residents.

Sam Brooks, the director of public policy for the advocacy group The Consumer Voice, says inadequate staffing is at the heart of most nursing home failures.

“Inadequate staffing results in harm, results in poor care to residents and overall it really underpins most of the bad occurrences that happen in nursing homes,” Brooks says. “Unfortunately, if you’re living in a for-profit home or for-profit chain, it’s very common you’re going to receive bad care, and it’s gotten even worse since the pandemic.”

Riverside has faced scrutiny before. Previous Live 5 Investigations show former complaints, some confirmed by the state, others dismissed, have included allegations of urine-soaked beds, maggots in wounds, bug infestations and overfilled catheter bags. Court records show dozens of lawsuits against the facility alleging medical negligence, wrongful death and preventable suffering. Many cases have been settled, some were dismissed and others remain pending.

Charlean Kelly says she wanted to move her mother from the facility, but she had to keep her at Riverside because of her mother’s insurance.

“I want her to have good, decent treatment,” she says. “It was killing me because I wasn’t able to give her the 100 percent care that she needed and deserved.”

Brooks says improving care will require stronger staffing standards, tougher enforcement and a commitment to treating every resident with dignity.

For Kelly’s family, that commitment is personal. They want Ethel Kelly’s story to spark change.

“Now that she’s no longer with us, it’s like, ‘Mom, I’m going to make sure that I pursue this just to make sure justice is done in some type of way,” Charlean Kelly says.

Riverside’s Administrator De’Shaon Davis sent the following statement via email:

As always, we appreciate the opportunity to address the concerns raised and provide some context to the issues you’ve highlighted.

As background, I feel it is important for you to understand the purpose of the complaint process in South Carolina nursing homes. This mechanism is in place to help facilities like ours stay compliant with federal and state regulations and to address and correct issues when they are identified. We view it as a tool for continuous improvement and welcome guidance from the state on all fronts. However, it’s crucial to note that a complaint from a resident, family member, or even facility staff, is not an automatic validation of wrongdoing, and the existence of a complaint does not make it inherently true. Every complaint we receive is investigated and addressed through our internal grievance procedures, and if required under the law, it is reported to the state for an independent investigation. Sometimes, individuals report concerns directly to the state without notifying us first, which is their right. Either way, we strive to address issues promptly and take appropriate corrective actions when necessary to prevent recurrence.

Regarding the specific complaints from the state that you provided to me, we wish to clarify that the majority of these were from as far back as almost two and a half years ago. Each complaint has been thoroughly investigated and addressed as necessary. We caution against turning the complaint process, which is a standard and necessary procedure in all nursing homes, into a sensational news piece. It’s essential to present a balanced perspective that takes into account the proactive measures we take to identify and resolve any issues and the improvements made as a result of the complaint process.

With respect to the complaints from Ms. Kelly’s family, I am sure you are aware by now with as many pieces as you have written about our facility, that we are limited in what we can share with you about her care due to federal and state privacy laws. However, after looking into the concerns you raised, we can say we do not have a record of receiving any complaints from Ms. Kelly’s family regarding her hygiene or our staff’s alleged failure to answer calls or assist Ms. Kelly. We are disheartened that Ms. Kelly’s family feels there was “limited transparency” regarding her fall but we understand how scary it is to learn that your loved one fell and the frustration that comes with dealing with insurance companies during such difficult times.

Finally, while we understand your interest in an on-camera interview, we believe that our focus should remain on the well-being of our residents and the smooth operation of our facility, and therefore will not be participating in an in-person interview at this time. Again, thank you for your understanding and for giving us the opportunity to address these concerns. We remain committed to providing the quality care to all of our residents.

NORTH CHARLESTON — Ingevity Corp. has lined up a buyer for most of its struggling industrial chemical products business, including a refinery next to the former paper mill along the Cooper River.

The $110 million all-cash deal with Mainstream Pine Products LLC is expected to be finalized early next year. The sale price could rise by as much as $19 million depending on how well the business performs for the new ownership group over the first 36 months.

The soon-to-be neighbors said the terms include a series of cross-selling agreements to supply each other with various products and services.

Ingevity estimated the sale will cost it about $130 million in annual revenue.

“We believe Mainstream is a natural next owner to optimize the business going forward, and we expect this will be a mutually beneficial relationship between our respective companies,” Ingevity chief executive officer David Li said in a written statement.

Mainstream Pine is committed to "building a strong, enduring partnership with Ingevity," CEO Rob Helwick added.

The sale is part of a $300 million restructuring plan that the North Charleston-based chemical company announced in late 2023 that led to factory shutdowns in Arkansas and Louisiana.

Earlier this year, Ingevity began seeking buyers for its declining industrial chemicals products line under a plan to focus on higher-margin goods and to increase profits.

The plant Mainstream is acquiring is between Virginia Avenue and the Cooper River near Interstate 526 and next to the old WestRock mill. It processes an obscure viscous byproduct of the papermaking process known as "crude tall oil."

The site employs about dozen workers, who are expected to join Mainstream Pine, according to Ingevity.

The refinery is part of a larger "performance chemicals" manufacturing operation in North Charleston where Ingevity is investing $53 million over several years. The rest of the site isn't part of or affected by the Mainstream Pine deal.

Ingevity reported sales for the industrial chemicals segment tumbled 49 percent last year from 2023 to about $266 million. Revenue has slid another 27 percent to $99 million through the first half of 2024

Last year, Ingevity announced it will stop using crude tall oil, saying the substance is "limited in supply" and subject to punishing price swings that have hurt its bottom line. It's been pivoting to other raw materials, such as soybeans and canola, and focusing on customers in the road-paving business and other industries that generate bigger profits.

Ingevity was started decades ago as a division inside the neighboring paper mill, which WestRock Co. mothballed two years ago. The landmark factory was sold to the Port of Charleston for $105 million in 2024.

Ingevity employs about 1,600 workers in 31 countries. The chemicals it makes are sold around the world for use in products ranging from adhesives to inks to pollution-control devices.

Ingevity's stock price has jumped more than 46 percent since early August. Shares of NGVT briefly climbed to a 52-week of $59.40 after the sale to Mainstream Pine was announced Thursday.

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - The Cosgrove Avenue extension project completion offers returned connectivity to North Charleston.

The South Carolina Ports Authority, Navy Yard Charleston and the City of North Charleston cut the ribbon to a completed overpass that extends Cosgrove Avenue.

A $59 million bill for construction costs covered the overpass and additional road improvements to the connecting North Hobson Avenue roadway. Road resurfacing, replaced utilities, as well as curb and sidewalk improvements, were among the roadway’s upgrades.

South Carolina Ports Authority leaders say the overpass was built above the authority’s rail yard. The overpass’s location will allow trains to navigate to and from the facility without any effects on traffic or neighboring residences and businesses.

The overpass restores connection for drivers and residents between the city’s waterfront Naval Base District to the Ashley River.

City of North Charleston Mayor Reggie Burgess says he remembers the city’s impact of social decay after the Naval Base shut down in the area in 1996.

Burgess says the reconnection is tremendous for the city’s future growth, including upcoming grocery stores to battle food insecurity.

“We have to increase density,” Burgess says. “We have to actually help with the AMI, the average median income. “When you connect things, that means businesses come. When businesses come, that means the area grows,” Burgess continues. “And there lies the truth. There comes a grocery store.”

A 12-foot wide multi-use pedestrian path also runs along the bridge for pedestrians and bicyclists in the area.

Nonprofit organization Charleston Moves Executive Director Katie Zimmerman says the connection is long overdue, as she calls the pedestrian access point a “game changer”.

“Finally connecting the community back together with businesses that have been here for a while. We’ve got industry ongoing out here and then of course neighborhoods right over here and surround us,” Zimmerman says.

Zimmerman says she appreciates the access points’ design with a wide pathway, a hard separator from the roadway, and crosswalks that promote pedestrian safety in a state with high fatalities.

South Carolina ranked third highest in the nation for the number of pedestrian fatalities in 2023, according to the .

Zimmerman says the Charleston and North Charleston metro areas are one of the deadliest areas nationwide for pedestrians. She says ensuring safe, affordable transportation and connectivity is vital, especially when it comes to the state’s disproportionate impact on Black and senior communities.

“It’s really, really vital that we’re not only providing these transportation and recreation options for folks that are affordable and connected, but they got to be safe so that we are actively protecting not only quality of life for folks, but also their lives,” Zimmerman says.

The bridge construction plays a role in a greater development for the district. Development includes the continued construction of the South Carolina Ports Authority’s Navy Base Intermodal Facility. Another development expected for the area is to complete construction on a 15,000 square foot community recreation center in the North Charleston Chicora-Cherokee neighborhood this fall.

CHARLESTON — Shoppers at Tanger Outlets in North Charleston will soon have new options for both fashion and food, including South Carolina’s first Shake Shack restaurant.

The popular "elevated burger" chain along with Lululemon Athletica, Auntie Anne’s and The Children’s Place are the latest tenants announced for the outdoor shopping center, which is in the final stages of a major renovation.

Opening dates weren’t immediately available.

New York-based Shake Shack is planning to unveil a 3,500-square-foot restaurant that will serve its signature ShackBurgers, chicken sandwiches, crinkle-cut fries and hand-spun milkshakes.

Its arrival dovetails with Tanger’s strategy to add more dining and entertainment options at its properties to encourage shoppers to stay longer and spend more.

The nearest Shake Shack to the Charleston area is in Charlotte. The fast-casual chain and the shopping center owner have collaborated on at least three other Tanger mall locations — in San Marcos, Texas, in Nashville and on New York’s Long Island.

Last month, Shake Shack told investors it plans to add 80 to 90 restaurants this year.

Also at Tanger, retailer Lululemon will launch a limited-time pop-up space featuring its yoga-geared apparel and lifestyle products near the Banana Republic clothing store and Tanger’s new Play Park.

It will be the Canadian athleisure chain’s fourth location in the local market, joining others on King Street in downtown Charleston, in Mount Pleasant Towne Centre and at Freshfields Village on Kiawah Island.

Elsewhere at Tanger, The Children’s Place will open a 5,125-square-foot store near the Old Navy outlet, offering clothing and accessories for newborns through tweens.

And a co-branded Auntie Anne’s and Jamba Juice shop will open near the Zales and Coach outlets, giving shoppers the chance to grab pretzels, smoothies and snacks on the go.

“These new tenants each bring something fresh and in demand to the center, expanding our retail and dining options and enhancing the experience for shoppers,” said Andrea Gervacio, marketing director for the shopping center.

Tanger, which is based in Greensboro, N.C., opened its 382,000-square-foot retail outlet near Interstate 526 and International Boulevard in 2006. The company said in its most recent quarterly report that the property is nearly 100 percent leased. The 85 or so retail tenants include Sephora, Victoria’s Secret, Kate Spade and Pandora.

Recent closings included jewelry retailer Clarie’s and the L’eggs Hanes Bali Playtex, which shut down in June.

Tanger owns four other South Carolina outlet malls — two in Myrtle Beach and two near Hilton Head Island.