Mayor Burgess outlines housing, transit and economic growth in State of the City

Mayor Billy Burgess delivered the annual State of the City address, laying out priorities and accomplishments in housing, zoning, economic development, public safety and infrastructure and previewing grant-driven projects for 2025.

The mayor told the City Council that in 2024 North Charleston emphasized people-first governance, citing expanded community engagement, a renewed housing focus and plans to rewrite the zoning code with a $1,000,000 federal grant application to support a unified development ordinance.

Burgess said the city advanced affordable and workforce housing initiatives, including redevelopment at the former Exit 218 site aided by an $11,000,000 grant (the mayor said $7,000,000 will be used for the site) and the completion of workforce townhomes off Azalea Drive through the Bridge North Charleston initiative. He said the city is working with the North Charleston Housing Authority on repairs at Horizon Village and planning a workforce housing project along Eagle Landing Boulevard near the planned Lowcountry Rapid Transit line.

The mayor announced zoning changes to encourage “missing middle” housing and said the city’s zoning department introduced an accessory dwelling unit ordinance to allow higher-density options while preserving neighborhood character. He said a housing coordinator position will be created to oversee affordable and workforce housing work.

On economic development, Burgess highlighted a year of large projects and a reported $615,000,000 in construction valuation citywide. He said Roper Hospital’s planned medical campus relocation and investment would improve health care access and create jobs; he also cited ongoing redevelopment of the former Navy base, revived mixed-use sites like Storehouse 8 and 9, and port-related investments and a proposed cruise terminal in early planning stages.

Burgess said the city streamlined permitting by adding plan reviewers and moving to a modern permit system, and he listed hospitality projects and the continued role of the Coliseum Complex in generating tourism and an estimated $147,000,000 economic impact.

On transportation and infrastructure, Burgess described Safe Streets for All and the city’s first Safety Action Plan, a rail-crossing elimination grant to plan a Durant Avenue overpass, and planned overpass widening near the future hospital campus to improve pedestrian access to transit. He listed planned drainage and paving investments (transcript-listed figures: $3,100,000 drainage, $3,100,000 roadway/paving, $7,100,000 sidewalk improvements, $7,200,000 facility upgrades) and announced a new litter-and-aesthetics crew founded in July to improve cleanliness.

Burgess reported reductions in several categories of crime in 2024 (violent crime down 9%, homicides down 24%, firearm assaults down 14%; nonviolent index crime down 14%; burglaries down 15%; stolen vehicles down 16%). He described use of strategically placed surveillance cameras and expansion of investigative and crime-scene capacity, and he noted programs addressing the opioid crisis and the hiring of an opioid prevention coordinator. He also said the police department received technical assistance through federal partnerships and that a temporary joint operational center (JOC) is in place pending construction of a permanent JOC.

The mayor credited grants for multiple initiatives and said the city managed 21 active grants totaling more than $11,000,000 from federal and state sources, naming the U.S. Department of Justice, Department of Energy and Department of Transportation among funders. He said future grant applications will focus on transportation, drainage, affordable housing, public safety and basic human needs.

Burgess closed by reiterating a focus on equitable investments, saying the city will continue to prioritize affordable housing, strengthen infrastructure, support small businesses and expand education and youth engagement programs.

Community reaction and council business that followed included public comment on neighborhood projects and several council votes that appear in separate coverage.