Council says talks continue with City of Charleston on Morrison Drive unsolicited bid; seeks timeline and parking revenue protections

Charleston County council members said negotiations with the City of Charleston over an unsolicited bid for the Morrison Drive property are ongoing and that they will meet again with the city and county staff to resolve outstanding terms.

A council update said the city submitted a letter of intent and the county asked for additional specification on affordable housing restrictions. Council members Worman and Sass and others will meet with the mayor, county administrator and attorney to "hammer through" bulleted concerns and talk through terms. The council emphasized the conversations are continuing and that the committee has not "dropped the ball."

Several council members expressed impatience with the pace of due diligence and said if the city intends to use the property for parking in the meantime, any revenue should go to the county because the county remains the property owner. One member suggested setting a firm timeline: if the city cannot meet the county's timetable the county should put the parcel back on the market.

The council said the property had been cleared and observed that the city had previously indicated available funding for the West Edge project; members said they would insist on a clear timeline and financial assurances before finalizing a sale. Committee members who plan further talks said they will reconvene with the mayor and staff and report back at the next meeting.

Why it matters: The Morrison Drive parcel has drawn interest from the City of Charleston for redevelopment and affordable housing; county leaders said they want firm commitments and clarity about interim use and revenue while the transaction is pending.

Next steps: A follow-up meeting with the mayor, county administrator, county attorney and interested council members will be scheduled; staff will explore options for interim revenue capture if the property is used before sale.