City mayor seeks council approval to pursue $30 million purchase of Morrison Drive site for workforce housing

The mayor told the Community Development Committee that the city has offered $30 million to Charleston County to buy a 6.43-acre site at 993 and 995 Morrison Drive with the aim of developing workforce and affordable housing.

The mayor said the county "are open to accepting our offer for $30,000,000" and proposed that the city require deed restrictions making 50% of residential units workforce or affordable housing, layered by AMI tiers. He also proposed asking the county to agree either to provide permanent access easements for two narrow strips of land on the site or to reduce the purchase price to reflect prior payments the county received for those strips.

The proposal matters because the site is located in the Laurel Island planned-unit development and within the Laurel Island and Cooper River TIF districts; the mayor said the city would likely use TIF proceeds for acquisition and possibly to support future vertical construction. He told the committee there is a 180-day inspection period in the proposed purchase agreement to complete title, environmental and routine due diligence.

Committee members questioned affordability levels, long-term financing and whether the county could contribute the land or otherwise partner to lower subsidy needs. Councilmember Appel said a joint-venture or in-kind contribution by the county could free up the $30 million to be used instead as subsidy, calling it "a little bit odd for one government to be putting this amount of money in another government's pocket when we're all trying to do the same thing." The mayor replied that the county had previously considered contributing the parcel but opted to sell, and that the $30 million figure reflects appraisals the county has received.

Councilmember Mitchell (by comment) urged a deeper focus on lower AMI tiers than 60% for keeping residents on the peninsula. Councilmember Gregory raised questions about how the deed restrictions would be structured and what would happen to the remaining 50% of units; the mayor said the intent is mixed-income development so market-rate units could help subsidy the affordable portion.

After discussion the committee amended the agenda to allow action on the item and approved a motion recommending that council approve the general terms outlined and task the mayor and staff to continue negotiations with the county to reach agreed price and terms. Councilmember Parker announced she would abstain, saying she wanted more time to review the slides and materials.

Next steps: the mayor and staff will continue negotiations; any final purchase contract would be negotiated with the county and return to City Council for formal consideration and three readings.